What is T5 ?

[alexlean]

I heard there is a new kind of lighting system called T5. Anyone know about this and what are they ? Can anyone enlighten me ?

Thanks

[Tanzy]

T5 stands for the diameter of the tube. They are high output fluorescent lights. I suppose you mean good as in light output, then they are one of the most efficient lighting system available. Lumen/watt they are higher than MH plus they use very little space.

[dodo]

alexlean,

do u have lobang wea sell such bulb/tube? seems interesting according to wat Tanzy had explained?

Or anyone else knows a place that sell such thingy?

[Achilles Tang]

I will have some info on that coming soon...

[dodo]

looking at MH at the moment...but might consider T5 if it is as good as MH

[anakjoh]

AT, would appreciate if u could also cover how to recognise T5 - will there be any indication on the tube

I have seen some tubes which my LFS claim are T5 but I'm not sure. Just wondering if it could appear in KL, how come it has not in Singapore?

[alexlean]

thanks AT .. I am looking for a good lighting system that doesn't take up too much wattage.

Learn lots from this site

[alexlean]

I am trying to check with electrical suppliers whole salers to see if they have. Contacted Woosan at Ang Mo Kio but they say I need to order for they don't keep stock of that. Will check for more info and get back to you guys.

[Hon]

T5 lightings can be found in most of Singapore lighting shop, especially those located at Geylang.

There is even T4 in Singapore. The main problem is those lighting fixture sold here is not meant for aquarium use as it's not water-proof and they do not carries light tube of desire colour temp we need. I have check with them, the best tube they have is only 4300K, for home or office use.

By the way, my office block is using T5 for their ceiling lights...kee..kee...

For all your convience, Holly Lighting at Geylang Lor 13(not sure which lorong liao) do carries T5 lighting but light tube is 4300k only.

[alexlean]

Which is the best K? 10000 or 6500K. Do they have a 10000K one ?

[dodo]

i thk Hon mentioned they dun sell anything above 4300k

jus interested to know wat's the diff between a T5 and a PL/FL/MH?

Hon,

is T5 classified as VHO lamp?

[Hon]

I dun know are they consider as Europe VHO or not.... But T5 output is 30%-50% brighter than PL. And Because of their think tube, you can squeeze more given your tank width.

[dodo]

blurr liao....hopefully AT & Tanzy can come out wif something...like wea to get a T5 tube locally

Hon

[Achilles Tang]

Yes T5s are considered as VHO... they require an e-ballast to run.

T5s for marine is being developed now... so you will be getting it in a few weeks/months time. Standby for news from me... as usual... my HK connection happens to be the best T-52 distributor in Hk... he's sending me a sample in a month's time for product review!

[dodo]

i guess have to wait lor....

[Tanzy]

T5 is classed as HO not VHO but it is very bright plus it can be overdriven at the expense of bulb life. The Icecap 660 ballast will push a 54W tube to 75W.

It can never replace MH because it's lacks the intensity to punch deep into a tank and it doesn't give very nice caustic lines (glitter). Generally, FL and PL will produce more lumen/watt compared to MH.

I can get Quicktronic T5 e-ballasts from UK if you guys want but I think you can source it from Singapore. Arcadia has some decent marine tubes and even a true actinic in T5 size now.

T5 is only suited for small shallow tanks of less than 1.5' deep or for use as supplements to MH.

[Achilles Tang]

I thought anything HO than PL is considered VHO?

[Tanzy]

It's up to you to class them. PL is sort of grey area cause it's a folded over NO FL tube.

[alexlean]

check with local distributors. They say there is a 6500K T5 on sale in the market but have to make special order. Yeah . .told me need to use a special e-ballast too. Different watt from PL or FL ballast.

Hope AT can come out with something soon. Very interested in this.

[anakjoh]

So difficult to find the best light - most shops don't even know what they are selling technically.

Does e-ballast immediately qualify a light as HO or VHO?

[Tanzy]

No. There are NO eballasts too. It's the ballasts AND tubes that determine if the lighting is NO, HO or VHO. Usually, it is possible to downgrade the ballast or overdrive the tube, in other words, use a VHO ballast to drive a NO tube but not the other way round.

[anakjoh]

Tanzy, does downgrading the ballast push the NO to a higher watt then?

[Tanzy]

I know that Icecap e-ballasts do that but not sure for the other brands of e-ballast. Don't try it with normal tar ballast! The output is increases at the expense of bulb lifespan. The NO bulb will last about 6 months before it darkens considerably.

[dodo]

blurr again need time to digest especially wif my peanut brain half thinking about work...half thinking abt T5,eballast,MH etc.

[alexlean]

anyone has picture of a T5 tube ? Or any website we can view