Ebay T5 Lighting Units

[s0101216]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/4x39W-T5-Lighting-ha...1QQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone have any views on these T5 units?

They are seriously cheap compared to my loclal shop! Any horror stories about these or are they good value??? The bulbs alone would cost around the same price locally!

Any views appreciated!

 

[superman]

T5 lights are great, but it is hard to know if that lighting unit is good quality, I didn't see a brand anywhere on the auction, I wouldn't get it unless you know it is a good unit.

 

[Siamese Fighter05]

Hi

I have had one of those units (Although Arcadia) come through this morning. I think the unit looks smart and does a good job while sitting on the tank but when you want to pull it back to get into the tank the unit seems too loose. If you get one be extra careful when you hang it off the tank

Dan

 

[Chac]

I have read mixed reports on Bavaria trading, they seem to be very slow in solving any problems or issues, the build quality is no where near Arcadia but then for the price what can you expect

I have seen a number of U.R. members buying these units & are happy with them & others that have had bad experiences & would recomend against them.

Sorry that really isnt a lot of help

 

[s0101216]

Thanks for that!

I see they do both 30w and 39w versions and have not been able to find any 30w bulbs for sale? The Arcadia 39w T5 bulbs are however available everywhere.

Does anyone know if there is a differernce in size or particular difference in output? Could you just put the Arcadia 39w bulbs in?

Cheers!!!

 

[Aquascaper]

Having read through all their feedback it looks like the 5ft T5's are the ones that have all the problems. At the end of the day they're cheap but far away (and German), pot luck really!

 

[andyk]

has anyone one heard of the bulbd...made by ch lighting?

 

[Aquascaper]

I did a VERY stupid thing!!!!!

I bought a Halide off these guys -

It's taken them 4 weeks to deliver (they took my money on day one)
It's arrived broken
It looks secondhand

The company is a joke! They sell stuff they don't physically have but wait till they have a big enough order to get a cheap bulk discount of their suppliers. Then then send it uninsured by a courier service that cannot be tracked and they deny any responsibility for damage unless you refuse the delivery (basically if someone signs for it and doen's check it you're stuffed)

My advice..................stay well away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Try the local freeads instead.

 

[Fatty]

I got a brand new T5 unit of ebay, 4ft, two white bulbs one blue, hang over tank brackets, looks good does the job an only £39!!!

And why shud they be so expensive anyway? it's just a fluorescent tube light!! anything more is a rip off!

Ok so no english instructions, but brand new and works fine.

Far east electronics are always the cheapest and just as good as anywhere else, if anywhere else makes em?

 

[shiftingsands]

Hi Fatty, was the seller Bavaria Trading? I have been tempted to bid on them a few times, but resisted so far.

Hi Fatty, was the seller Bavaria Trading? I have been tempted to bid on them a few times, but resisted so far.

 

[Aquascaper]

If you want a full and detailed report on Bavaria-Trading then PM me.........

Suffice to say they are rubbish!

 

[Paul_MTS]

Righty I bought one of these 4ft 'T5' units ages ago and on the page it was advertised as what you would expect from a 4ft T5 bulb, but when it came through there just bog standard T5 bulbs and not the high output ones that everyone else sells.

So if you ever need to change your bulb you can't get specific aquatic ones, you just have to go to a electrical store and replace them, I'ved already done this as I didn't want a blue in there.

But I had a go at them and they sent me a 2ft unit with 2x 55w PC tubes (which I choose) they were going to send me a address to send my 4ft unit to but never did.

So I still have both today and all for about £90.

At the end of the day if you want a cheap unit to light a tank go for the T5 ones. But if you want good lighting either go for another make or get there Halides. As Aquascaper has pointed out the service has gone down the drain, a mate is still waiting for a 6ft unit he paid for before x-mas.

 

[Aquascaper]

As much as it pains me to say it the Halide is good, the service however is not. My unit arrived very late and very damaged, the company have refused to do anything about it as I didn't pay extra for insured delivery. This isn't actually an option when you buy from them and when I pointed this out I was told to read the disclaimer:

" Nicht versichert gegen Bruch, wenn dies nicht bei Unterschrift vermerkt
wird:
Not insured against breaking if not mentioned by receiving the parcel:"

Not exactly giving you the option to purchase additional cover is it? When I told them that I had signed for the item as 'Unchecked' and then emailed them immediately once i'd found the damage they suddenly went very quiet.

Needless to say this is now in the hands of PayPal Disputes