New here, with scrubber question.

[leebee]

First of all, Hi to everyone here, I am a long time reader of this forum, and I have found a lot of interesting info so far. So, to start off, I am about to look seriously at building my version of the Santamonica 100 for my 290 liter mixed reef system. I don't have any problem algae to speak of, but I would like to find an alternative to Rowaphos and my noisy skimmer. The problem I have found so far, is that getting 24w t5 tubes in anything less than 6500k is quite impossible here( Australia). I can't even get a t5 housing to fit like the Nova extreme units. I could go with CFL 2700k bulbs, but this would take a fair amount of re-design, and I think the end result would look second rate. I could also go with a DIY t5 set-up, but again lots of work to retro fit.
Anyway, enough of me winging, any ideas anybody?

Lee.

[Floyd R Turbo]

So you can't even find them online? Look for 3000K T5HO, that's your target. I got mine at a hydroponic supply, you have to have one of those somewhere. Someone is growing plants with T5s down under. Look for a store like this one:

www.aghydroponics.com (http://www.aghydroponics.com)

[Rumpy Pumpy]

Or he could get someone to ship him a box of em from overseas

[Floyd R Turbo]

ag hydro sells them by the case. I buy them in 8 packs for $32 with no shipping, I don't know what they would run for shipping overseas however

[leebee]

So you can't even find them online? Look for 3000K T5HO, that's your target. I got mine at a hydroponic supply, you have to have one of those somewhere. Someone is growing plants with T5s down under. Look for a store like this one:

http://www.aghydroponics.com
Well I can't find one. I have decided to make a smaller scrubber with CFL reflectors instead, I'll get them from Santamonica's online shop, I can't find those here either. :x

[Since1971]

Greetings. In my opinion, compact fluorescent lamps are the way to go... at least here in the States. They're available in a 3000K " Daylight " version at something like 23 watts and claim to be equal to that of a 100 watt inc. bulb. They're right there on the shelf at the local hardware / builders supply store called Home Depot. You can get a 6500k version at www.1000bulbs.com.. (http://www.1000bulbs.com..). easy walk in and buy at the local hardware / builders supply chainstore and easy to buy from the site provided... easy, is beautiful.