Current T-5s (1 Viewer)

[robbyandkristie]

Anyone having trouble with "Current" brand T-5 bulbs? We purchased a 6X48 54 watt current fixture and we are now replacing the 3rd bulb. The folks at Current are replacing the bulbswith no problems, but we are wondering if this is a view of things to come. If so, what is the best brand of T-5s on the market.

 

[i_am_poor]

ATI and Giessman are widely recommended.

 

[mario8402]

geissmann hands down

 

[Guest]

I haven't had any issue with current bulbs breaking. It is quite likely the ballast or a wiring issue on the fixture.

Current bulbs are thought to have less PAR than almost all other bulbs though.

 

[crvz]

I'd say ATI hands down, but that's no surprise that different individuals have their own preferences (I prefer the color of the ATI bulbs... performance is pretty even between ATI and geissmann).

 

[RR-MAN]

I use both ATI and Geissman in my constellation fixture and both are pretty much the same. I'm sure the par rating is different but overall the bulbs are the same.

 

[Linden]

I have a Nova Extreme 4-54 watt with lunar light setup. The only problem I had was the cooling fan burnt out after a year or so. I replaced it and have had no problems ever since. "I ran the Current bulbs for two years before replacing them recently with Hagan's. Although I have read that Geismans are top of the line (and you will pay for it).

Why have you had to replace "current" the bulbs?

 

[robbyandkristie]

I haven't had any issue with current bulbs breaking. It is quite likely the ballast or a wiring issue on the fixture.

Current bulbs are thought to have less PAR than almost all other bulbs though.

The bulbs aren't breaking, they're just failing. We've only had the fixture since May 20 09.
It isn't a ballast problem, according to the folks at Current. They say that they have seen this problem before and are now sending us 2 10k's and an attentic bulb.

 

[robbyandkristie]

I have a Nova Extreme 4-54 watt with lunar light setup. The only problem I had was the cooling fan burnt out after a year or so. I replaced it and have had no problems ever since. "I ran the Current bulbs for two years before replacing them recently with Hagan's. Although I have read that Geismans are top of the line (and you will pay for it).

Why have you had to replace "current" the bulbs?

The bulbs are failing. They simply quit. We have the Nova Extreme with 6 48" T-5's. We eventually want to put SPS Coral in out 55 gal aquarium, and this combination gives us almost 6 watts per gallon. If we can keep the lights on...

 

[robbyandkristie]

I use both ATI and Geissman in my constellation fixture and both are pretty much the same. I'm sure the par rating is different but overall the bulbs are the same.

Have you tried the Geissman midday and attentic combination? If so do you have a 50/50 ratio?

 

[tas5tas]

The ATI bulbs kill everything in PAR. I have a combo of 4 Blue Plus and 2 Aquablue Special...will be buying another ballast to run one more Aquablue Special bulb.

 

[Hanson77]

I used the Aqua Blue and Actinic + bulbs from Geismann in a Current fixture similar to what you have on a 110 and I grew just about everything. SPS, anemones, zoas and softies alike...they all loved it. I had the 8 bulb fixture over a 55 for a short period of time and it was waaaaayyyy tooo much light. I used 4 of them at a time and it was fine.

 

[robbyandkristie]

We've finally settled on 4 Giesemann Pure actintics and 2 Geisemann actintic plus bulbs. Everything seems to be happy.

 

[D2daJAZ]

Current USA had a bad batch of bulbs go out in the beginig of 2008, they would burn out within days... Mist suppliers and current will direct replace due to the known issue. From what I was told, that batch is long gone, so maybe you bought an older fixture from the begining of the year that still had the bad bulbs in it.

FWIW the geissman bulbs rule, and a new company called wavepoint makes some nice slightly less expensive bulbs than the geissman. I have no experience with ATI, but UV lighting also makes a great true actinic.


HTH

 

[hank]

I have what is in no way a scientific observation on the Current bulbs: I have two UV 454s that are obviously dimmer than Current's 460nm version bulb, whatever it's called. I always have LOVED Giesemann Actinic+ and the Aquablue+, but have to say that I like the ATI a whole lot too, particularly whatever bulb is right around 12kK. I would like to see an actual PAR compo on the 460nm bulbs though to know for sure.