T5 reef tank T5 aquarium bulbs T5 aquarium lamps T5 aquarium light T5 aquarium lighting T5 reef lighting T5 HO aquarium lighting vho aquarium lighting ice cap uri vho bulb Current USA Nova T5 Coralife Aqualight T5 fixture T5 retrofit

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T5 Fixtures: 18" & 20"	T5 Fixtures: 24"
T5 Fixtures: 30"	T5 Fixtures: 36"
T5 Fixtures: 48"	T5 Fixtures: 60"
T5 Fixtures: 72"	T5 Retrofits: 24"
T5 Retrofits: 36"	T5 Retrofits: 48"
T5 Fixtures: AquaticLife 4 & 6 Lamp HO	T5 Fixtures: AquaticLife Dual HO
T5 Fixtures: AquaticLife Freshwater	T5 Fixtures: Coralife Aqualight
T5 Fixtures: Coralife Aqualight Freshwater HO	T5 Fixtures: Coralife Aqualight HO
T5 Fixtures: Coralife Lunar Aqualight T5	T5 Fixtures: Hagen Glo
T5 Fixtures: JBJ Trinity	T5 Fixtures: Marineland
T5 Fixtures: Nova Extreme Pro T5	T5 Fixtures: Nova HO X2
T5 Fixtures: Nova HO X4	T5 Fixtures: WavePoint
T8/T12 Fixtures: Perfecto Perfect-A-Strip	T5 Retrofits: AquaticLife Ballast Kits
T5 Retrofits: Hagen Glo	T5 Retrofits: Sunlight Supply Sun Blaze
T5 Retrofits: WavePoint	T5 Parts: AquaticLife
T5 Parts: Coralife	T5 Parts: Current USA
T5 Parts: Ice Cap	T5 Lamps (bulbs): AquaticLife
T5 Lamps (bulbs): Coralife High Output	T5 Lamps (bulbs): Coralife Normal Output
T5 Lamps (bulbs): Giesemann	T5 Lamps (bulbs): Hagen
T5 Lamps (bulbs): Current USA	T5 Lamps (bulbs): TrueLumen
T5 Lamps (bulbs): UV Lighting (URI)	T5 Lamps (bulbs): WavePoint
Fluorescent Lamps (bulbs): UV Lighting (URI)	Fluorescent Parts: Ice Cap

CHARTS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE THE BEST LIGHTING FIXTURE

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING GENERAL INFO

Fluorescent aquarium lights come with T12 lamps (1.5" diameter), T8 lamps (1" diameter) or T5 lamps (5/8" diameter). Compact fluorescents are also, as the name implies, a type of fluorescent light--but we put them all in their own compact fluorescent lighting section. Many of our metal halide lights also come with fluorescent lamps--usually actinics.

T5 Lamp Aquarium Lighting
T5 aquarium lights have become extremely popular in the past couple years. When run with an electronic ballast, which all of our T5 HO lights use, T5s are said to be more energy efficient, longer lasting and cooler running than other types of aquarium lights. Because the lamps are thin, they will penetrate the water better than thicker compact fluorescent and other fluorescent types of bulbs. T5s are a great choice for tanks that are 20 inches and deeper.

All of our fluorescent aquarium lights come with T5 bulbs (though we do sell T12 and T8 replacement lamps). The T5 bulbs are either normal output (NO) or high output (HO).

Normal output T5 fluorescents are low wattage and should only be used for fish only tanks. We carry the following normal output lights:

Coralife Aqualight T5 Fixtures

High output lamps are higher wattage and can be used for lighting reef aquariums and planted tanks. The following lights can be used for reef aquariums:

To choose the best light for your reef aquarium please visit the Hood Lighting Chart and the Retrofit Lighting Chart.

For freshwater planted tanks we carry the AquaticLife 2, 4 & 6 Lamp Freshwater Dual HO fixtures & Coralife Aqualight Freshwater fixture.

Fixtures & Retrofits
All the above listed T5 lights are described as either retrofits or fixtures. If your aquarium has a canopy (usually a wood box cover), you'll need to purchase a retrofit. All of our WavePoint Retrofits come complete with the bulbs mounted to a reflector--you just need to screw the reflector to the canopy. The Hagen Glo T5 HO Retrofits are a-la-carte retrofits--you can purchase the ballasts, reflectors and lamps separately.

T8 & T12 Lamp Aquarium Lighting

We carry the Perfect-A-Strip w/ Double Bright Aquarium Reflector fixtures.

Fluorescent Lamp Color Temperature
Reef tanks require half the lighting to be actinic lighting and half the lighting to be full spectrum daylight lighting. For the actinics any bulb listed as an actinic--whether it is a True Actinic, 7,100K Actinic, Actinic or 420nm Actinic--will be adequate. For the daylight bulb the best bulb for corals is the 10K (aka 10,000K) bulb. 6,700K, 8,800K, 12,000K, 14,000K & 20,000K bulbs are also fine.

Freshwater planted tanks usually use the 6,700K, 6,500K or 5,500K bulbs. Fish only tanks can use any light that makes the fish look good. The fish really don't need much light to survive--so it is really a matter of aesthetics. Most people will be happy using 6,700K bulbs, which are very close to daylight, for fish only tanks.