Zoo med?

I need new t5 bulbs I was wondering how people felt about zoo med?

Also what spectrum do I need?

 

I've use zoo med ultra sun T8 bulbs for years in low light planted tanks with good results, but have no direct experience with their T5 bulbs

I prefer 6500K

 

Can I use t8 builds in my t5 ho fixture?

 

Can I use t8 builds in my t5 ho fixture?

I'm pretty sure the bulbs are different lengths and diameter, so you can't use a T8 in a T5 fixture and visa versa, but I'm not positive

 

No, you need T5HO bulbs. You should be able to order 6500 K T5HO bulbs online or get them through a hardware store. Much cheaper and the same thing as the aquarium brand bulbs.

 

Are they really the same thing?

 

Aquarium branded lights are more expensive because people will pay the extra money for them, not knowing that they are often the same lights you can buy at a hardware store.