Gettin T-5 Actic today!

[heedicus]

Wahoo,
I am getting my actinics today! The new LFS carries them and I have a trade account=)
I cant decide between 2 or 4 4ft bulbs. I think I am going to go with 2 then if its not enough get the other two. What do youall think? Should I just go with the 4 right off the bat? how bright are these things anywho?
t

[Dale W.]

I would go with the 4' as the actinics are not very bright in comparison to daylight bulbs.

[slipknottin]

You sure there T5s?

The actinic bulbs and the 2ft versions of the 6500K bulbs arent being sold yet.

[Dale W.]

I thought about that same thing and was assuming that it was a t-8 bulb. I dont think they even manufacture a t-5 in a 4' length do they?

Edit:
Hey Slip. I just read the post over and the question is to go with 2 or 4, 4ft bulbs, not 2ft bulbs. OOPS.

[slipknottin]

The actinic 46.5" bulbs are just reaching the US now...

I get them before they are avaliable to sell to the general public and mine are still in transit.

I have no personal experience with how bright the actinic bulbs are (yet) but according to the specs, they each 54 watt T5 should be about as bright as a T12 110 watt VHO bulb.

Id say at least 4 bulbs to make any sort of color difference with those iwasaki MH bulbs.

[heedicus]

hey all,
there are the 4' t-5s.
The guy at this lfs has some sort of hookup and is getting his off of the first shipment for them to the us. they are the actinics. Apparently they were stuck in customs for a while held up but they got there this morn!
so 2 or 4?
t

[slipknottin]

i say 4.

I should be getting my actinic and 50/50 bulbs any day now, very exciting.

[Dale W.]

Cool, something I didnt know :D

What ballast do the t-5's require in a 4 foot length? I have to check these guys out. I would agree with Slip on using 4 bulbs for your set up.

[slipknottin]

Both the icecap and fulham ballasts will run them.

the 46.5" bulbs are 54 watts, and the 60" (im not sure if there exactly 60) are 80 watts. There are also smaller bulbs, but I have no idea where to get them.

There are 6500K bulbs made by starcoat that are selling now. The actinic and 50/50 bulbs are coming from Europe and should be selling anyday now.

The waterproof endcaps are currently getting UL tested and should be out within a month or two.

[heedicus]

thare is also an advance ballast that I have in my hot little hands with the bulbs right now!
icn-2s54
cant wait to fire these up!
t

[slipknottin]

How much did you pay for those bulbs? There supposed to retail for around $40

[heedicus]

ahh the beaty of it,
I am helping out at the lfs and so $25 for each bulb and $40 for the ballast=)
wahoo for me! (although I think he is selling for the same price)
t

[slipknottin]

wow, thats pretty cheap. Hes selling them for less than hes paying for them.

[heedicus]

I dont think he is selling for less than he is paying.
would seem kinda silly.
but they are the starcoat t-5 bulbs i have em right in front of me=)
t

[slipknottin]

starcoat?

those are 6500K bulbs


The actinic and 50/50 bulbs are made by Narva.

[heedicus]

yea I was messing around with a 65k bulb too,
I am thinking about going t-5 on the seahorse tank and wanted to see the color. didnt know they were different brands but hopefully tommorow morn I can crank these babies up! (pulling out the light rack on the tank is a huge ordeal and I wanted to wait till the end of the light cycle.
But shoo those 65k bulbs rock, them babies are bright. I had seem them in his store over his tanks but wow when I got just one over my tank it was awesome!
t

[slipknottin]

:D yea they are pretty sweet.

[heedicus]

oh yea the actinic are up and a runin,
they rock!
t