What Is The Difference Between T5 And T8 Lights?

[Hawkins]

My Juwel Rio 125 light unit has had some problems recently, and I have fitted a temporary light in the tank. however, it is not very safe and it is not as good as the light used to be.

Just wondered what the difference was between T5 and T8. I have found a unit on eBay which is the opposite of what I had.

Thanks! ! ! !

 

[Ed Green]

My Juwel Rio 125 light unit has had some problems recently, and I have fitted a temporary light in the tank. however, it is not very safe and it is not as good as the light used to be.

Just wondered what the difference was between T5 and T8. I have found a unit on eBay which is the opposite of what I had.

Thanks! ! ! !

Hi there

i guess as you have the rio 125 the replacement T5's are the Juwel 'HighLite' tubes. They are the replacements for the T8's and well worth swapping. They are brighter and cost less to run - bargain.

Also a lot better if you want to grow plants.

Cheers

Ed G

 

[Hawkins]

Yes I thought the T5 was better, but they are 28W, and the one listed on eBay is 18W.

Also noticed that the T5 is 5/8", and the T8 is 1" thick.

The price of the one on eBay is £59.99, i'll have a look for a T5 unit.

Thanks!

Edit: T5 unit is £72.95, which does not include any tubes. the other one does

 

[OldMan47]

The number on the T series is the number of eighths of an inch the thing is in diameter. A T-8 is one inch, a T-5 is 5/8 inch, a T-12 is 1.5 inches. Be aware that T-5 come in two types . There are regular T-5 bulbs that are a bit more light efficient than a T-8 but not a whole lot brighter for the same wattage. There are also T-5 HO bulbs and fixtures. For a given tube length, a T-5 HO is much brighter and also uses more power than the similar size T-8. The only ones of any of these bulbs that can be interchanged on a single fixture is the T-8 and T-12. The two pins on the ends of both of those are spaced the same distance apart so you can put a T-8 bulb into a T-12 fixture and it will work just fine, at least in the US and Canada.

 

[Hawkins]

Thanks, I think i will just go for the cheaper option. If I get T5 then it will cost &73 for the unit, then I have to buy the bulbs.. I only paid £150 for the tank when it was new, so it just doesn't make sense to spend about the same amount just to fix the lighting.

 

[Haych]

try other places too, ebay isnt always cheapest.

if i usually want something i google it, LOADS of for sale ads pop up

 

[raptorrex]

indeed Haych, i find its, almost, always cheaper in a local LFS. and most of th LFS i visit can be trusted. not something you can say about many ebay sellers.

 

[Haych]

yep, i just bought a heater of ebay that COOKED my water and now he has the returned item he wont reimburse me!

 

[Hawkins]

I can't say i have had a bad experience with eBay. and I don't think my LFS will have a light unit

 

[alchemist]

I can't say i have had a bad experience with eBay. and I don't think my LFS will have a light unit

It is worth asking them - my LFS doesn't stock much lighting hardware other than bulbs - but they happily ordered what I wanted from their distributer. When your spending so much money over a long period of time - I think it's well worth building up a relationship with the LFS - the manager gave me some free filter foams the other day for example.

 

[Truck]

Is this a planted tank? If so you're going to need pressurised co2, or is his the marine one you've been planning? If so t5's will he great!