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I upgraded to T5 lights when I bought my biowheel canopy for my 4' 75 for the option of fresh water plants and possible future marine life. It has 4 bulbs including 2 actinic. It is freshwater so I am not using the actinic lights. I have some plants but they are secondary and I've found that my bluegills eat most plants anyway. I am considering removing the plants and going with lesser ligthing to eliminate some of the algae headaches. Are there non-plant-growing T5 bulbs available like there are with standard flourescent lighting?

Easy answer; yes there are.

As for brand names, just do a search for the bulbs. All the brands that I know of have standard aquarium lighting lights. As I don't know where you are located it makes it harder for people to offer you advise on many questions. As there are many brands in some countries that are not available in other countries.

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There is always a bigger fish...

I had a T-5 light and got rid of it because finding bulbs locally and online was a bear. For the wattage of the bulb all I could find was 12000K bulbs. In a freshwater planted tank not you ideal Kelvin rating. Check with the manufactor of the hood first, and then start looking.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

I suppose I could always just wait for the bulbs to age!

I guess I am just a lucky one to have so many lfs here in Cincinnati, that sell a large variety of all lighting, including multiple spectrum and sizes of T5s

Here are some of the Coralife different spectrum lights;
http://www.oceanicsystems.com/products/lighting-replacement-bulbs/t-5-fluorescents/index.php

Here are some more for sale on the web, ranging from 6-11k rating;
http://www.specialty-lights.com/t5-fluorescent-bulbs.html

When doing a google search for "T5 aquarium lighting", there are hundreds of links pop up, including man of the web sales sites.

BTW, what country do you live in?

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There is always a bigger fish...

I'm in USA (Kansas City)

I'm actually thinking about a UV sterilizer now. I found these all-in-one submersible units that I might be able to mount in my canopy top. It has two 3x4" openinings for additional pumps. I would have to be upside down though and I'm not sure the pump would work. You can mount them horizontally. I could also buy an additional canopy pump and modify it to connect to a hose for an inline unit. How important is it to have filtration before the sterilizer?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~uv_ultraviolet_sterilizers_ozonizers_jbj_submariner.html