What T5 Tubes To Get?

[Rorie]

I Need two 54W T5 tubes (48 inches long). But what ones to get?! There is so much choice!!

I want ones which help plant growth.

I was also wondering about different colours.... is it only marine ones that come in different colours, or can you get them for tropical that show off the colours of the fish better?

Thanks!

 

[StandbySetting]

The difference plant growth tubes make is negligible, go for what looks good on your eye, order them from www.lampspecs.co.uk if you're in the UK, they're much cheaper and are just as good as aquarium brand tubes, try to go for tubes with a high CRI rating also.

 

[minnnt]

I was advised to have a normal light of your choice at the back and a blue one at the front to display the colours in the fish more. Don't know if this is true, but seems logical to me. HTH's Rorie.

 

[markandhisfish]

http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/?gclid=CIq738rjg6kCFQRP4QodggIvTA

dont get ripped off buying from aquatics places , you can get t5 tubes here much much cheaper .

 

[jacko32]

http/www.lampspecs.co.uk/?gclid=CIq738rjg6kCFQRP4QodggIvTA

dont get ripped off buying from aquatics places , you can get t5 tubes here much much cheaper .

interesting website but iquatics on ebay is cheaper

http/stores.ebay.co.uk/iQuatics-Online?_trksid=p4340.l2563

 

[Rorie]

Cool, thanks for the website. But where do i start haha. Any of these aimed at plant growth?

Anybody else heard about different colours for showing off fish?

Under the pet care section
PET CARE

They have have different kelvin range, Oceanic, and blue.... what to get?!

OR do i just get normal T5?

 

[StandbySetting]

You don't need to buy pet care tubes, standard industrial tubes are fine, and as I said before, you don't need plant specific tubes, there will be no visible difference between plant growth tubes and standard tubes, go for the colours that you prefer, that's why I'd recommend the cheap lamp specs tubes, they're about £3-5 each so you can buy a few and experiment. What tubes will bring out the colours of your fish will depend on the fish themselves.

 

[minnnt]

Pass. I believe i have aqua glo and sun glo. No idea what each one does though.

 

[jacko32]

check this out

http/ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=555

 

[Vin Swords]

interesting website but iquatics on ebay is cheaper

iquatics is rubbish.. not worth the money..

talking about the lights.. i am playing with LED setups.. actualy i build a 'good' one today. cost me 40 quids and 2 hours.
its a 3 foot unit. 105 bright white LED (8500K) & 105 true blue actinic LED (470nm)... total of 210 high power LEDs boxed in wood( cool running.)

planing to test run one unit on my mates marine tank and one on a planted tank. lets see how it gos..

any hoo.. we all love some pictures.

.

photos taken from iphone 3gs (rubbbbbish!)

 

[hackmaster]

Could you link me as to where you bought the LEDs and circuits for them please as I can't seem to fining them a where

 

[Rorie]

I have read that LEDs do not work for plant growth.

I get a lot of stuff, and advice from the Green Machine. Their tanks are just amazing. They ran a few trials with premium LED set ups, and as a result of their findings, now refuse to sell LEDs! I still have them on my breeding tanks as they were cheaper, but not in tanks that have plants.

 

[ian]

have a look at this Rory...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/276528-once-upon-a-time-at-the-riverbank/

all ran with LEDS, as much as i like TGM and Jim, they are very much bound by what they can sell by ADA and the likes. Plants will adapt to LEDS. If your thinking of using LEDS i would drop Supercoley a PM and he'll help you out.

also

courtesy of George Farmer.

George uses LED light tiles and grows some great plants!

 

[Rorie]

Thanks for that post! I dont know much about lights, but i was taking their lack of success as a good indication that it wasnt going to work. But i guess everybody has different successes!

 

[Vin Swords]

Could you link me as to where you bought the LEDs and circuits for them please as I can't seem to fining them a where

from e-bay UK based sellers.
there is lots of useless LEDs r there for pennies.. so do a good research on what you after. good luck.