Is a Workhorse reef lighting system good quality?
I am looking to get a new workhorse 8×24 watt T5 HO lighting system off of ebay. It has a 5 year warranty, but I want to make sure its a good product before I buy it. Thanks. A link to a review page would be great, if possible.
It will work, but how well is the question. With T-5s, the ballast is almost a second thought. Workhorse ballasts tend to over drive the bulb which means more light but also means having to change the bulbs more often. The most important part of T-5s is the reflectors. If you do not have good reflectors the more than half the light does not get to the tank, but not only that the difference in light from a cheap reflector to a good reflector is as much as 30%.
Without a link I have no idea the quality, but this unit here with 6 bulbs will most likely put more light into the tank as that 8 bulb unit, if it has cheap reflectors.
http://www.aquacave.com/48-6×54w-nova-extremebr-pro-t5ho-3×10k3×460nmbr-actinics-by-current-usabr1081-1990.html
One Comment »
Frank M said :
December 13, 2009 at 11:52 pm
It will work, but how well is the question. With T-5s, the ballast is almost a second thought. Workhorse ballasts tend to over drive the bulb which means more light but also means having to change the bulbs more often. The most important part of T-5s is the reflectors. If you do not have good reflectors the more than half the light does not get to the tank, but not only that the difference in light from a cheap reflector to a good reflector is as much as 30%.
Without a link I have no idea the quality, but this unit here with 6 bulbs will most likely put more light into the tank as that 8 bulb unit, if it has cheap reflectors.
http://www.aquacave.com/48-6×54w-nova-extremebr-pro-t5ho-3×10k3×460nmbr-actinics-by-current-usabr1081-1990.html
References :
15 yrs Reef Keeping
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