I believe a couple of you got them from kens fish, I'm thinking of getting them , do any of your have any good pictures or videos of them please mainly the dual light t5 not HO though. Also would my aqueon t5 HO light bulbs be okay in these if the fixture not HO? Idc bout light just if it works okay. Thanks!
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
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Bought 3 of the dual 48"s. No pictures but they're solid and come with moonlights to boot. They've gone from $52 to $59 since, but still a great deal. Wish the prices were as sweet for the shorter lengths.
Bought 3 of the dual 48"s. No pictures but they're solid and come with moonlights to boot. They've gone from $52 to $59 since, but still a great deal. Wish the prices were as sweet for the shorter lengths.
Wblaze
Members
I have two of them. No pics right now but great lights for the money
Charlutz
Members
There's a critical thread open at ECC.
http://forums.eastcoastcichlids.org/showthread.php?t=11513#post92769
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http://forums.eastcoastcichlids.org/showthread.php?t=11513#post92769
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Makes me rethink my decision :/ originally I wanted zoomeds t5ho but I want a canopy and it doesnt work without one. N so far I have an aqueon while decent, I wan more stylish ones. I may get the 48 deepblue dual t5NO anyways lol please if anyone has pictures id liked to see I cantfind good pictures online
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
Good to know.
Thanks for that. I don't use/own any HOs so can't speak to them, possible that DB uses the same housing package for the HOs as they do for the low output bulbs and they just can't take the extra heat. I have a couple of older DB T5 fixtures that I bought used that are nearly two years old, no issues as yet, might be better to switch/revert back to Coralifes that are about the same price but don't come with moonlights. Periodically it's just fun to switch on all the LEDs at night on the tanks that have them...
Thanks for that. I don't use/own any HOs so can't speak to them, possible that DB uses the same housing package for the HOs as they do for the low output bulbs and they just can't take the extra heat. I have a couple of older DB T5 fixtures that I bought used that are nearly two years old, no issues as yet, might be better to switch/revert back to Coralifes that are about the same price but don't come with moonlights. Periodically it's just fun to switch on all the LEDs at night on the tanks that have them...
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
No problems I can see
When I went to take out the protective acrylic "cover", it was warped in the slots so badly, that I had to break it out to get to the bulbs. Then one side quit working completely, and 2 weeks ago, the other one quit as well. So I decided I was going to retrofit a good HO ballast(Sylvania Advance) to get it up and running again. I was stunned when I opened it up. The "reflector" is so thin, it bends at the slightest pressure. It is literally one step above aluminum foil. I needed to trim it to accomodate the new ballast, and I was able to use household scissors! The individual "state of the art" ballasts were cheapo plastic encased and hot glued to the case. When I pried them away, the cover was breaking off. You could see the discoloration on them from, I'm guessing, when they gave up. The ends of the fixture are also a nightmare to get on as well. There are about 3 spots that need to line up, and I even had to spread the case a bit to get them back in.
- from the ECC thread
Out of curiosity I just tore down one of my old 48" non-HO DB fixtures and there are no issues I can see. The reflector is thin but it's definitely not "foil" like, and there's no reason it should be thick and heavy since all it does is reflect. The ballasts are indeed glued to the case, but the wiring is competent, I found the pressure-plate end-cap arrangement sort of elegant, and I didn't have any trouble putting it back together at all. I know nothing about ballasts but not sure what plastic casing has to do with anything relevant or why one wouldn't be able to cut them free of the housing without basically destroying anything. If and when the ballasts ever need replacing I don't see why it should be a problem - certainly a far cry from the "nightmare" referenced above and nothing to discourage me from buying more of them, at least the non-HO units anyway. I do wish the moonlights were on a separate circuit but it is what it is.
When I went to take out the protective acrylic "cover", it was warped in the slots so badly, that I had to break it out to get to the bulbs. Then one side quit working completely, and 2 weeks ago, the other one quit as well. So I decided I was going to retrofit a good HO ballast(Sylvania Advance) to get it up and running again. I was stunned when I opened it up. The "reflector" is so thin, it bends at the slightest pressure. It is literally one step above aluminum foil. I needed to trim it to accomodate the new ballast, and I was able to use household scissors! The individual "state of the art" ballasts were cheapo plastic encased and hot glued to the case. When I pried them away, the cover was breaking off. You could see the discoloration on them from, I'm guessing, when they gave up. The ends of the fixture are also a nightmare to get on as well. There are about 3 spots that need to line up, and I even had to spread the case a bit to get them back in.
- from the ECC thread
Out of curiosity I just tore down one of my old 48" non-HO DB fixtures and there are no issues I can see. The reflector is thin but it's definitely not "foil" like, and there's no reason it should be thick and heavy since all it does is reflect. The ballasts are indeed glued to the case, but the wiring is competent, I found the pressure-plate end-cap arrangement sort of elegant, and I didn't have any trouble putting it back together at all. I know nothing about ballasts but not sure what plastic casing has to do with anything relevant or why one wouldn't be able to cut them free of the housing without basically destroying anything. If and when the ballasts ever need replacing I don't see why it should be a problem - certainly a far cry from the "nightmare" referenced above and nothing to discourage me from buying more of them, at least the non-HO units anyway. I do wish the moonlights were on a separate circuit but it is what it is.
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
Best ask someone else
No idea, but I suspect that they won't.
No idea, but I suspect that they won't.
Andrewtfw
Global Moderators
High output t5 bulbs are not designed to work with a standard t5 ballast.
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
Word
Web says it may work but won't be as bright.
Web says it may work but won't be as bright.
Beeman
Members
Hey Sam, I put one on my 90g SA tank last Feb. The HE version. I like it so much I just bought 2 more, one for my new 55 african tank. Looks fantastic!!! You'll have no regrets I assure you. My humble 2 cents worth
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Plenipotentiary-at-large
Maybe better still
http://www.aquariumguys.com/aqualight-planted-fluorescent-fixture.html
At $41 for a 48" dual freshwater T5 unit this is really hard to beat and $18 cheaper than the DB 48" fixture from Ken's. I have a few of the 30" and 36" Coralife dual freshwater T5s and far as I can tell they're solid.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/aqualight-planted-fluorescent-fixture.html
At $41 for a 48" dual freshwater T5 unit this is really hard to beat and $18 cheaper than the DB 48" fixture from Ken's. I have a few of the 30" and 36" Coralife dual freshwater T5s and far as I can tell they're solid.
Hawkman2000
Members
I was looking at the ZooMed Lights at petcrap today. and I was impressed with the design and construction. They actually show a picture of the ballast on the back of the box. Looks like an Advance Electronic ballast. Problem is, a 36 is 100$, and it has no moonlight LEDs, and it doesn't even come with bulbs.
Avatar, that fixture resembles my aqueon t5ho fixture too much :/ I like my fixture more because it's black though very nice n low profile and very reliable build from aqueon strong metal however the reflector is like paper thin or even less
I kinda want moonlights now and well just want another light fixture lol
I kinda want moonlights now and well just want another light fixture lol
Hawkman2000
Members
One more thing - using HO bulbs on an NO ballast will cause the bulbs to burn out faster. It also puts more strain on the ballast/starter coil due to the fact that the HO bulbs require more power to ignite.
After thinking about it, it seems to me that the two best options would be to either get the Deep Blue fixture, get Fulham Pony ballast and replace the ballast. The second would be to get the Power Compact retro fit kit from http://www.ahsupply.com and retrofit either a Perfecto or AGA/Aqueon fixture.
After thinking about it, it seems to me that the two best options would be to either get the Deep Blue fixture, get Fulham Pony ballast and replace the ballast. The second would be to get the Power Compact retro fit kit from http://www.ahsupply.com and retrofit either a Perfecto or AGA/Aqueon fixture.
