Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: Aquamaid on January 07, 2015, 03:18:57 PM
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Sorry guys if this has been asked a million times before, i did look in search but couldn't find specific answer. I want to replace my second hand T5 39w (850mm) 34" tubes, one is a lovely pink "tropical" but the other i think is Aqua One specific and says it's "sunlight" which says it is "bright white light" and cost £16.99 +pp. I have found this site, with 3 for 2 but they say "marine" bulbs, chatted to sales guy and he recomended the "white marine" one, and reckons they are not as bright as Freshwater bulbs, but reading reviews, they sound bright blue white to me, what do you think, they seem a very good deal price wise, but dont want stark white light, will the tropical pink one compensate?
http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/bulbs/t5-fluorescents/39w-t5-850mm-34.html
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T5 refers to the width of the tube - it is 5/8 inch wide. The other common size is T8 which is 8/8 inch wide, ie 1 inch exactly. They are not interchangeable. If the connectors on your tank are for T5s you have to replace them with T5s.
Marine bulbs are usually a different colour from the bulbs needed by freshwater fish, often bluish. Maybe someone else can say for certain, but I don't think marine tubes are a good idea on freshwater tanks.
RichardW also recommends using general household fluorescent tubes as they are much cheaper than those made as aquarium tubes.
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Marine lights are very blue-white, designed to promote growth of corals.
If you are going to keep the pink one, I'd recommend a daylight (6500K) to go with it.
Try this for an example of price difference :
http://www.energybulbs.co.uk/t5+tube+39w+34%5c+(863mm)+-+3+pack%22/2481216512
Pack of three for £8.99!
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Wow that's a better price lol, i didn't realise you could use ordinary fluorescent bulbs in water contact area, so thank for the money saving Richard, just hope the lenght is correct as they seem to vary so much.
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Tubes should be the same length for the same wattage*. I have found in the past that some makes include the pins in the quoted length while others do not include the pins. This is why I always measure the old tube when shopping at real shops, then measure the new tube before buying!
*Except Juwel tubes. They want to make you buy just their tubes so they make them slightly different sizes from everyone else. And even then you can find the odd make that does 'Juwel compatible' tubes.
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Tubes are tubes are tubes. I bought mine from a similar supplier (forgot who) to the one I mentioned here and they have all been fine. However, you would probably have to go to an aquarium supplier for one of the funny coloured ones e.g. marine.
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All good to know thank you both :)
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I have just got 6 Halequin Rasbora in my tank and i can tell you, by day they are beatiful silver and shades of purple, but under the pink tropical bulb they glow brighter orange than the heater light lol they are on fire, wonderful to see ;D