Interpet T5 Compacts

[simonbrown403]

I've been looking at options for upgrading my lights, and was wondering how you rate these.

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=396

I was thinking of but 2 * 55watts tubes and a double starter, for my juwel record 96ltr/22gal, i know you can never simulate natural day light but 110watts over a 22gal (UK) 5watts per gal sounds a lot, would i be better with 2 * 36watt version instead?

 

[oldwhitewood]

If you have pressurised CO2 the bigger wattage versions should be fine. I run the 36w version over my RIO125 with two 18w 6500 T8s and I find I get excellent growth. A word of warning though, they are particularly difficult to fit inside the juwel hoods though and the rubber housing for the tube sockets gets REALLY hot, if it touches other plastic it will melt it. I kinda balance mine on my bracing bar and they've melted the plastic on that, however if you suspended them in some way they would be fine I think.


Nice discus btw

 

[Ste_J]

Simon, I've been running a single 55W Interpet unit for some time now and they kick out a fair bit of light for the size, take note of the heat issue though as they do get very hot - now running 3 55w compacts 2 of which are via a double unit.

The single unit is going back due to the heat problem, after taking my tank apart today I found that the rubber housing had virtually melted and that the tube had snapped clean off

 

[RYO]

Ive just binned a 6 mth old set of twin 36w as the end holders get so hot and brittle the crack (tubes fell to bits too). The things are a pig to fit, the bracket is next to useless on some lids.
That said for the size the kick out some serious light (and heat)

 

[Ste_J]

RYO, did you ever speak to Interpet about this? I now have 3 of these with a total of 165W - now thats gonna get hot!!! Just finished making my hood which has an extra bit of height to allow for the heat of these babies.

 

[zig]

Well ive had problems as well, i was running a double 55watt version so 110 watts in total, and basically the endcaps melted and became brittle, so brittle that i couldnt remove the tubes without breaking them, the whole lot, tubes and all are going back to the retailer on Monday, the retailer in question is Aquatics online, my lighting setup is just 6 months old and they are knackered.

So probably not the best idea in the world Simon unless you run a fan inside the hood and have plenty of ventilation, this is what i am going to try next, i have another double Interpet unit which i am going to rig up next week im going to use ASL tubes to see if they make any diference, the ASL tubes are cheaper anyway, im just going to fit 1 fan for the moment and keep a close eye on things.

The 55 watt version get very hot and they give out a huge amount of light so for a 20 gallon id say you would be up against it unless you are really on top of things with the tank as regards ferts co2 etc.......no room for error i would imagine.

 

[Ste_J]

i am going to rig up next week im going to use ASL tubes to see if they make any diference, the ASL tubes are cheaper anyway, im just going to fit 1 fan for the moment and keep a close eye on things.

Nice find on the ASL tubes wish I'd found them earlier! As to the fan idea I was thinking this through although I've just finished making my hood which should allow for the extra heat - 6 inch high with vent running full length at the back.

 

[zig]

i am going to rig up next week im going to use ASL tubes to see if they make any diference, the ASL tubes are cheaper anyway, im just going to fit 1 fan for the moment and keep a close eye on things.

Nice find on the ASL tubes wish I'd found them earlier! As to the fan idea I was thinking this through although I've just finished making my hood which should allow for the extra heat - 6 inch high with vent running full length at the back.

Im not quite sure how i am going to mount the fan, i imagine it running the air down between the 2 light units and in my case the hood will have to be vented at the back as its a tank made to fit in an alcove, but yes i would say definatly the more venting the better, i will have to start working on this tomorrow.

The ASL tubes are a bit cheaper, £2.50 cheaper i think, TBH they look exactly the same as the interpet ones so i dont know how they will really help unless they run a bit cooler, but i doubt it somehow, i think the key will have to be in the cooling methods you employ, talking of which i remember Simonbrown403 having plans in the DIY section for a hood incorperating a fan.

I do know that ASL tubes run on ASL fittings do not have the same issues as Interpet, they dont overheat.

 

[hunterm8]

I have had the same problems the rubber ends becoming brittle and splitting! also the palstic end of the tube sticking in the rubber and coming away from the tube!

how my last tube ended up!!

this is how my juwel vision 180 lid looks before fans fitted

i have 2 fans fits at the front which draw air up i leave the back slightly ajar so the air is drawn from back to front

I dont think the compacts are very good but what other cheapish options are there?

If you cant see the pics its due to my allocated data transfer rate being used up

 

[George Farmer]

Judging by the obvious poor design of the Interpet PCs I'd personally avoid them. I know of four members now that have had problems with them.

I'd stick with full-spectrum T8s and good reflectors or go for a T5 luminaire.

 

[simonbrown403]

Judging by the obvious poor design of the Interpet PCs I'd personally avoid them. I know of four members now that have had problems with them.

I'd stick with full-spectrum T8s and good reflectors or go for a T5 luminaire.

Ummmmmm! it dosnt look good i thought i'd hit on something there, time for plan B

 

[ali68]

Just a quick note on the fans, I find myself visiting the "salty side occassionaly" and they swear by having one fan extracting air from tank and the other blowing air into the tank keeping things a lot cooler apparently.

 

[simonbrown403]

Just a quick note on the fans, I find myself visiting the "salty side occassionaly" and they swear by having one fan extracting air from tank and the other blowing air into the tank keeping things a lot cooler apparently.

I,m not douting it for a min, but my fans are over a planted tank, i, runing it on 6volts at the moment as 12volts was causing to much movement on the water surface, to have one sucking and one blowing, would cause even more.
I have presurised co2 injection, the hole point in a planted tank is to reduse surface irigation to retain your co2.
I'd be wasting it if i did this.

 

[oldwhitewood]

Well it seems that I'm not the only one that's had problems with these lights, I too have had that happen to me on numerous occasions, where you try and change the tube (due to me smashing them by mistake) and the rubber holders become really brittle and snap the tube.

I must interpet are really at fault for this and I think they should re-address their starter units!

 

[Ste_J]

I must interpet are really at fault for this and I think they should re-address their starter units!

I'm going to give them a call in the morning to see what they say about the issue, hopefully I should be able to get a replacement unit.
Just added a double 55W unit over the weekend and it looks like the rubber has already started to melt on the side closest to the hood lid Only been running for under a day!

From looking at the way these rubber surrounds melt it appears that they need a fan attaching right next to them! Can't believe that this has not been detected during testing.