T-5 Fixture

[Promisedsin]

I bought a 20H tank set up off Craig's List and it came with a Coral Life T-5 fixture. It has two bulbs in it and i'm having trouble finding T-5 lights. I can only find T-5 HO bulbs. Would those work in the fixture or no?

Also which bulb combination would be best for a freshwater planted tank?

 

[Crepe]

No, they would not. Coralife made its bulbs special. You want 2x 6500k bulbs or one 6500k and one 10000k/14k (for less light and more blue). The two bulb fixture for coralife is 65watts right? If so, you will need CO2 for plants. Look for the coralife brand bulbs. Those are the only kind I can think of that's compatible.

 

[Promisedsin]

Ok thank you. Ill keep looking.

 

[ccCapt]

No, they would not. Coralife made its bulbs special.

I disagree. There is nothing "special" about Coralife T5 bulbs. If the fixture isn't T5HO, you can go to HD or Lowes and buy regular output T5 bulbs. They do carry them in 65k daylight.

 

[BigJim]

+1 for ccCapt. Regular T5 bulbs work in all Coralife fixtures except the 30" and that's only because no one else makes a 30" bulb.

 

[Crepe]

I remember looking at a coralife fixture at my LFS and seeing that the bases on their T5 fixtures being different from the other T5s. But I guess I was wrong or that fixture was modified or something...

 

[Promisedsin]

So what size bulbs would I need for the fixture?

 

[ccCapt]

If you have this fixture, Aquarium Lighting Fixture Coralife Aqualight T5 Dual Linear Strip Fixture, 2X14 Watt, 24 inch, then you can use any 24" T5 14w bulb. You might find Daylight bulbs in that size at HD or Lowes but if not, they should be easy to find in any color spectrum at your LFS. Any brand name will work.

 

[Promisedsin]

The only T-5 bulbs I can find at my LFS are T-5 HO. Ill look at home depot. Thanks