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  • AquaticLife lights

    Just got one of the new AquaticLife 24" T5 and initial out of the box impression is good.

    I am replacing the fixture on my ADA 60P, currently I am using the Coralife Lunar Aqualight Deluxe with (2) 65W PC (130W total)

    The new fixture has (4) 24W T5 HO (96W total) [I am replacing the 420/460 actinic bulbs with 10K]

    Also, understand that watts/gallon is being reduced, but T5's are much more effenciant than PC's.....I hate using the old W/G rule.

    Like I said before this is on a ADA 60P my impressions are as follows

    Pros
    • better light distibution over the entire tank than the Coralife that was used before
    • easy to use timer, I think it has a battery back up as it rembmered my programming from me playing with it before installing.
    • one power cord to unit vs the Coralife's 3 cords
    • moon lights (if you like them) are much brighter than the Coralife fixture
    • pre build for a hanging installation (you have to rig the Coralife
    • comes with legs already, you have to buy the Coralife legs sepratly
    Cons
    • has more bulk than the Coralife, feels more like a tank hood than a light fixture
    • when using legs, there is not much room to get your hand into the tank hanging is probably the best option for tank size used.
    I will update as the fixture breaks in and plants adjust and grow in.
    Houston Areas Aquatic Plant Society

  • #2
    I got the 72" T5HO fixture, and I completely agree with everything you said. But on the 72" I dont have the access issue with the legs cause there is so much more room vs. your 24"

    I have been using the fixture for about 2.5 months now, and really like it.
    380G For Sale $3000 Acrylic tank & stand
    300G Petrochromis Trewavasae and Tropheus mpimbwe Red Cheek & Duboisi
    180G For Sale $1,100 Oceanic Cherry with Stand, T5HO Lights, (2) Eheim 2262
    150G Tropheus Annectens Kekese & Ikola

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    • #3
      I have a different T5HO fixture. They are 6x54W and I finally found a bulb combination that I like. I also use near the same combination on my 4x39s for my plant tanks. I "stole" the bulb combo from one of LFS.

      6bulb- midday/aquaflora/pure actinic/aquablue+/midday/aquaflora (I think that is right)
      4bulb-midday/pure actinic/aquaflora/aquablue+
      using Geismann bulbs

      I built a hanging system attached to my stand. And I love it.

      What I've visually noticed:
      my 324W T5HO look brighter than my 520W PCs - during the 2 I run only 2 bulbs and when I want to show off the tanks, I turn on all 6
      300+RR (8-10 ft x 30"x30") - Waiting to find it... Lake Tanganyikan
      225RR (72"x24"Wx29"H) DSA - Lake Tanganyikan WC Murago
      210RR (60"x24"Wx32"H) AGE - Lake Tanganyikan WC IN PROGRESS
      160RR 1/2 cylinder (60"x30"Wx30"H) AGE - Altum Biotope IN PROGRESS
      90RR (36"x24"Wx25"H) NEO DSA - Rio Meta Biotope
      90RR (36"x24"Wx25"H) NEO DSA - Lake Valencia Biotope
      __________________________
      2x46 Bowfront- Q/Holding Tank

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