T5 lights...MORE POWER needed!

[Tiggs]

i have a 350 Trigon corner tank.

at present i have 2 X 39w T5 arcadia plant pro tubes and the 2 original 15w tubes.

after a hood revison i will have room for 2 more tubes, shall i get:

2 more T5 arcadias (over £100) or 2 X 55w Interpet T5 compacts (half that cost)

the interpet tube is 7000k...good?

and on top of that should i replace the little 15w tubes at the back with 2 more T5 compacts (have to be interpet as i cant get arcadia tubes that small to go in there!

tanks 350 litres

T

 

[Waterloo Kid]

If you want more light do you really have any other option, except MH?

WK

 

[Tiggs]

no room for a setuplike that......with 2 T5 compacts i will have 39w+39w +55w + 55W +15w+15w........surley enough for 90 gallons?

 

[houndour]

well that comes to 2.4 watts per gallon.

I have the interpet t5 lighting (just 1 55 watt tube over 19 gallons). Which bulb were you looking at that was 7000k?

I was using the triplus and someone said that was 10000K. I've changed it to the daylight tube now, but havent had it long enough to make a recommendation.

 

[Tiggs]

i was offered the tripplus which they said was 14,000 or the dayligh which was 7000k

 

[cheshire hawk]

Hi Tiggs - I'm REALLY ineterested in what you have to say about you're Trigon 350. I have a Trigon 190 and just can't get enough light into the tank with the x2 18 watt tubes [even with reflectors] to grow the kind of plants that I want to. Did you have the same problem with the 350? What have you done to increase the light? Can I do the same? Would really appreciate any guidance here. I phoned even called Juwel today and they could not help!

 

[Tiggs]

the 350 is worse than the 190 (although it has better lights as standard) as its sooooo deep.

I have got a local plastics place to make me a new hood.

basically it will just be a lid that sits 20mm higher than standard...this will allow me to get more lights underneath via a DIY job.

my brother has the 190 and will look to do the same as im doing...juwle are useless and just except that "people dont grow plants properly"...err, thanks guys!

 

[cheshire hawk]

seems an expensive way to add more light to an already expensive tank! Still, I guess there's no other way. What about these T5 tubes you mention? Can I use these in place of the crappy excuses for lights I have now?

 

[Tiggs]

T5 tubes can be added but you would need to bin your current lights.

cost is tricky. The T5 bar was £130 with tubes, the new T5s will be another £130 and the hood will be £180.......but whats the alternative?

With hindsight i shouldnt have got the Trigon and should have got a custum corner tank made to my own spec....would have prob been the same cost!