[GSAS-Member] Speaking of lights... anyone using T5 HO fixtures?

[Matt Staroscik <matt@wrongcrowd.com>]

While I am repairing the fixture I mentioned elsewhere, my lighting system
is kind of ugly and inconvenient. I have TWO 110W 48" PC strips over my
tank, and because it is a bowfront they don't really sit on there very well.
A fair bit of light is lost where part of the fixtures sit over the plastic
hinge or rear plastic deck. In fact, the clearest light-passing area on my
tank is about 7.5" x 46".

That makes a compact T5 HO strip like this one look very appealing, because
the illuminated area is compact enough to be over the glass.

http://shop.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=52211&Show=TechSpecs

That brand doesn't have the best reputation, something like this might be
better in the long run, plus the dimensions are better for me. (7.5" depth
isn't much, this fixture is 8" total, which is OK because the frame will be
over the plastic hinge but the lights will all be over glass.)

http://www.marineandreef.com/Nova_Extreme_T5_Aquarium_Lighting_Current_USA_p/rcu01122.htm

Does anyone have opinions/experience with these sorts of high-density
fixtures? Any downsides to T5 bulbs? They seem to have approximately the
same cost and lifespan as PC bulbs.

Thanks,
MS
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