Starter Units?

[adam98150]

I was just wondering if it mattered what type of starter unit you had and how it would effect the bulb.

 

[Fwapp]

The 18" 15W tubes you've just bought will require a 15W Starter unit each, or will need to be fed by a 15W Dual starter. The 15W starter will also run lower rated (W) tubes.

If you have higher rated tubes, they will need a higher rated starter, usually about £20.

If you run higher rated tubes in a lower rated starter, you risk the starter failing at best, and potentially a fire at worst

However, if you want greater light levels, You can pick up T5 starters for less than £40, with 16" long, 36W lamps for about £15.

Aquaessentials have these, with the T5 version of the daylight plus tube, which is apparently quite good for plants.

 

[George Farmer]

There are two main types. Magnetic and electronic.

The older style magnetic type get hot, are inefficient (if you had 50w of light then you'd be using over 100w in power, 50w+ lost in heat). Most also make the tubes flicker upon start up. The plus side is less cost (except bigger electric bill).

The electronic run cool, are more efficient and there's no flicker. More expensive to buy (cheaper to run). Apparently the bulbs last longer with electronic, I presume due to no flickering.

The Interpet PC T5s are magnetic.

Aqua Essentials also do HO T5 with intergral electronic starter. When the tube goes you replace the whole unit.

I've had good results with the Hagen electronic units. Reasonably priced too.