Guys, I'm looking for a 36" T5 fixture

[Dendro Dave]

Originally Posted by JimO

I haven't found a direct comparison yet between a standard T5 and a T5HO bulb, but the 36-inch T5HO bulb is a 39-watt bulb that puts out 3,220 lumens. Standard 27-watt compact fluourescent bulbs (that substitute for a 100 watt incandescent bulb) puts out 1,750 lumens, so the difference isn't 3x as I indicated before. I have to run, but now I'm curious and want to find a direct comparison of a standard T5 to an HO T5.

You can look at the bulbs listed on these two pages and compare them...

1000Bulbs.com | F21/T5/865 - 21 Watt - 6500 Kelvin - T5 High Efficiency Fluorescent

Vs.
1000Bulbs.com | F39/T5/HO/865 - 6500 Kelvin - T5 High Output Programmed Start

It basically looks like with HO you are looking at 1.5 to over 2x the lumen output. You should be able to get a fairly accurate average lumen per watt number by dividing total mean lumens by the number of watts in the bulb...I would divide by mean Lumen since that is the average output of the light and not its peak output when brand new.

I don't know what Plusrite brand is doing, but their bulbs especially in the HO line look to put out way more lumen then the GE...the only thing that concerns me is they look almost a half inch shorter, so it makes me wonder if they aren't including the pins in their measurement or something. But my guess is the bulbs still fit most standard sized fixtures...seems pretty silly to make a "standard size" bulb that doesn't. 1500+ extra mean lumens for the same size/wattage as the HO GE bulb...thats nuts, they either make kick ass bulbs or are fudging the numbers some how.

[ubstrong]

I buy all my fixtures through hydroponic dealers on the internet. any quality you want.

[karag]

Petco online site have Aquasun 36" HO 2x T5 on sale $79.99 and bulbs are $11.99 plus free shipping...

[JimO]

Originally Posted by Alpha Pro Breeders

Heres a pic of the Deep Blue lights on one of my tanks.

Deep Blue is the brand of fixture that I bought thinking it was an HO fixture. The 24-inch single lamp is only 14 watts. With the plants I have, it was not adequate for a 29-gal tank.

It all depends on the plants selected. I've been told that most broms need high lighting to maintain their color, otherwise they'll turn green. The moss I grow needs higher intensity lighting and doesn't grow in shaded areas of my vivs. I'm sure that a standard T5 fixture is fine if you have plants that can tolerate moderate lighting. It certainly doesn't matter to the frogs.

BTW-Deep Blue has recently come out with HO fixtures as well. They seem reasonably priced and I like the fixtures. It was just my inexperience with the terminology that resulted in me buying an underpowered fixture for my needs.

I will say this though, ZooMed's T5 fixtures are fantastic. Like I pointed out earlier, swapping that for my Coralife fixture transformed my reef tank.

[Dendro Dave]

Originally Posted by karag

Petco online site have Aquasun 36" HO 2x T5 on sale $79.99 and bulbs are $11.99 plus free shipping...

I'd rather get this, even if it isn't UL listed...
36" T5 Light HO Aquarium Marine Reef Cichlid 156W Lunar - eBay (item 300465831549 end time Oct-09-10 07:02:56 PDT)

4 bulbs and moonlights almost same price, and reviews are pretty good on these, they seem to have gotten more reliable in recent years.

Here is a 2 bulb model with no moon lights...but cheaper.
36" T5 Lighting Aquarium Light Hood Marine Cichlid 78W - eBay (item 300464361467 end time Oct-05-10 14:34:51 PDT)

Here is the ebay store for the seller incase links die...
topdogsellers items - Get great deals on Filter, T5 HO Fixture items on eBay Stores!