Aquatic Life T5 Fixtures

[creefer]

As some of you may or may not know, I'm working on a new system. Small, but new nonetheless and I'm pretty excited about it. Details on the planning are located http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/basics/planning-new-system-18902/page3.html#post137242 here. (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/basics/planning-new-system-18902/page3.html#post137242)

I have a line on a 36" 6-Lamp aquatic life T5 for a **** of a price. I need some opinions on this fixture. I really would like to go LED but to get what I want out of LED I'm talking tons of cash, even for DIY. So, from the experts, I need some opinions. This is one of the final pieces of the puzzle that I need before I can bring the equipment in the house and do a leak test, fill it, and transfer livestock.

[binford4000]

As some of you may or may not know, I'm working on a new system. Small, but new nonetheless and I'm pretty excited about it. Details on the planning are located http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/basics/planning-new-system-18902/page3.html#post137242 here. (http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/basics/planning-new-system-18902/page3.html#post137242)

I have a line on a 36" 6-Lamp aquatic life T5 for a **** of a price. I need some opinions on this fixture. I really would like to go LED but to get what I want out of LED I'm talking tons of cash, even for DIY. So, from the experts, I need some opinions. This is one of the final pieces of the puzzle that I need before I can bring the equipment in the house and do a leak test, fill it, and transfer livestock.
aquatic makes a fairly good fixture,should have no problems keeping anything you want.I would put ATI bulbs or Giserman's and it will create plenty of par !!

[creefer]

aquatic makes a fairly good fixture,should have no problems keeping anything you want.I would put ATI bulbs or Giserman's and it will create plenty of par !!

That's what I was wondering. The fixture that I have a chance to buy is a **** of a deal and has all ATI lamps in it. The seller claims that they were used for about 5 months but I have no way to tell if that's the case or not. But again, for the price he's willing to let it go, I may not be able to beat it.

I sure would like to do another LED tank, but due to the footprint of the tank, I need 2 modules of any fixture. Then, I looked into a DIY and I'm still into the $500 territory and that's just not in the budget right now.

[larryandlaura]

My aquatic life is awesome. Great customer service at a decent price. And they are loaded with features.

[creefer]

My aquatic life is awesome. Great customer service at a decent price. And they are loaded with features.

This is one of the reasons I'm attracted to the fixture. That and the price for a 36" 6-lamp fixture is hard to beat. The one think that I'm hesitant about is that I'll lose the shimmer I get with my current LED set up but I could always supplement down the road........confused....:hypnodisk:

[binford4000]

Yup no shimmer with t5's you could add some cheap panaramics to get the shimmer tho.food for thought

[MizTanks]

I love my Aquaticlife 4x24w with all ATI! My clams doing great as are my sps and everything in between :) the shimmer I get from the Lunars at night? Well it's just perfectly peaceful :)

[CalmSeasQuest]

This is one of the reasons I'm attracted to the fixture. That and the price for a 36" 6-lamp fixture is hard to beat. The one think that I'm hesitant about is that I'll lose the shimmer I get with my current LED set up but I could always supplement down the road........confused....:hypnodisk:

Grab the fixture and add a ReefBrite strip for the shimmer (and more PAR, not that you'll need it.) This is a 36" tank with a 4 bulb T5 fixture with a ReefBrite added.

The video shows the color and brightness of just the Reef Brite, then adds 2 tubes of T5s, then then all 4 tubes of T5s (It's not quite as bright as it appears in the video.)

http://youtu.be/RiuKRPkkqeo

Not only does it add the shimmer missing with T5s, the actinic "pop" is much better than any T5.

[creefer]

Thanks, Binford, Tom, and Jamie,

Binford and Tom....you have confirmed my thoughts about this. I really believe that with a 6-lamp fixture that I can add the missing shimmer using either a reefbrite strip or panaramic stunners. I'll be getting most of what I need in terms of PAR and PUR from the T5. It's very hard for me to look away from this fixture at the price point.

[creefer]

Well I bought the fixture. I'll be using it as is for a while and will eventually remove a lamp and add some LED.

[MizTanks]

Great choice!

[binford4000]

Well I bought the fixture. I'll be using it as is for a while and will eventually remove a lamp and add some LED.

no pic !!! come on man!! LOL It would be cool to see a before and after to show others how well an added LED adds shimmer/Food for thought

[creefer]

no pic !!! come on man!! LOL It would be cool to see a before and after to show others how well an added LED adds shimmer/Food for thought

I will get pics.....trust me. I hope to meet the dude this week to pick it up.