Juwel T5 High-lite /t8 ?

[jollyroger]

JUWEL T5 HIGH-LITE or the Juwel T8
is there any differance apart from the price?
my ballast has gone or is going, been having problems with the lights going out, changed the seals thinking it was water getting in the tubes,
but they are still going off after a while. if i give the top of unit a tap they come back on again and stay on all day.

thanks advance for ideas or advice

 

[aaronnorth]

T5:

more efficient
penetrate the water more
put out more lumens per square inch
dearer.

T5 are better if you are wanting plants, otherwise stick with T8.

 

[Essjay]

If you decide to go with T5, have a look at the Arcadia I bar before buying a Juwel one. They're supposed to be better quality. I'll definitely be looking into them if my new Juwel light bar doesn't last longer than the last one!

 

[flash22]

T5 over the T8's anyday changed the t8 on my rio 180 to t5's much brighter and with reflectors the fish need sun glasses lol

The T5 ibar doesnt come with tubes so there an extra but shop around got my rio 180 Ibar plus 1 day and 1 colour tube with 2 reflectors for £118. Juwel tubes are a bit pricey but arcadia do the right size tube for 5-8 quid less each

 

[Nick16]

alternatively, go for T6, 40% more output than t8 and really cheap, as not many people use them! lampspecs - check it out.

 

[jollyroger]

thankyou all for your replys and advice
will probably get the T8 as its cheaper and comes with lamps already
i dont have real plants in tank, just fake ones so T8 it will be
thanks again

i reckon its a T8 in tank, had it now 3 years?

 

[pauly]

You'll have T8s yeah. They're 25mm, the T5s are thinner at 16mm.

I've had mine for just over a year now but am having difficulty in trying to get a replacement from Juwel/Pets at Home through the 2 year warranty.

Does anyone know if the bulbs are likely to go before the light unit? I understand that even if one bulb goes then neither will work. The only way to test it is by buying two new bulbs.

Paul.

 

[jollyroger]

thats where i bought mine from
Pets at Home
the first 8 months the pump went, waited 4 weeks for them to get me a new one, and until i wrote to there head office complaining having to wait so long, 'after i was told be a few days' lost all my fish' they contacted the store, who then had to take one out of shop display.
one of the bulbs went after a year and i was told that was not covered by warranty, so had to buy new ones. had two lots go on me, evening using a surge proctector socket,
now looks like the ballast has gone, cant remember if it stay lit if one bulb went, you could take one off and see if the other still lights up?

 

[pauly]

thats where i bought mine from
Pets at Home
the first 8 months the pump went, waited 4 weeks for them to get me a new one, and until i wrote to there head office complaining having to wait so long, 'after i was told be a few days' lost all my fish' they contacted the store, who then had to take one out of shop display.
one of the bulbs went after a year and i was told that was not covered by warranty, so had to buy new ones. had two lots go on me, evening using a surge proctector socket,
now looks like the ballast has gone, cant remember if it stay lit if one bulb went, you could take one off and see if the other still lights up?

My filter and heater went too. I bought a new external filter and better heater though. I won't buy from Juwel again. However the lighting units are expensive so I want a replacement.

How did you know it was the bulbs the first time, and what makes you think its the ballast this time?

I can't be bothered packing up my lighting unit, posting it off to Juwel for them just to come back and say its ok just replace your bulbs. But then I also don't want to buy two new bulbs for them not to work either.

 

[jollyroger]

when the bulbs went first time, 'am sure it was tjust the front light as the back one was still on' i bought 2 new ones so i know when they where lasted change,'Arcadia 24” 18 Watt T8 Original Tropical Lamp' as they only cost about £8 so i kept the old one spare,
this time all light failed,so i tried the spare one, but this time none of the lights came on, but when i give the unit a bang, they light up checked all tubes and they lit up, so its the ballast its been flicking on and off now, some times just go off and i have to switch it off but after a hour or so they come back on again

took the ballast off and let it dryed out for 8 hours, as i first thought water got in tubes, but after all that and changing seal caps, still the same, changed the fuse? even cut off the on/off switch and put a new one on as i thought it might be faulty, works one day fine, the next goes off after 5 mins or can stay on most ot the day,
so i have ordered a new T8 unit with bulbs £53 free postage

could try buying one tube and trying, if it does not work, keep receipt and bring back to store asking to exchange for something else, tell them your tube was working after all , just loose, they might refund or buy something for fish tank as a exchange?