Compact Fluorescent versus T5

[roverrange]

Can anybody give me the pros and cons of the two lighting systems.

 

[Pili]

Assuming that you are talking about t-5 HO, the T-5s definatly out perform PCs.

Make sure that you use individual parabolic reflectors though as they can increase light up to 50%.

 

[roverrange]

Assuming that you are talking about t-5 HO, the T-5s definatly out perform PCs.

Make sure that you use individual parabolic reflectors though as they can increase light up to 50%.

Thanks, HOw do t-5s compare to metal halide?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

metal halides are the strongest. if you use enough t5's i believe it would be pretty close to the metal halide but the t5's dont give off as much heat as the MH Bulbs.

 

[noodleman]

anyone try using NO t-5's? Are they any good?

 

[Quang]

FastUno, member on here and RC wrote a piece on it...Here's the MR link....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=561864

 

[Pili]

In some situations, T-5s do actually outperform metal halides of similar wattages in terms of par and lux ratings but with far less heat.

A lot of people really underestimate the power of T-5s. They really are very, very bright when matched up with a ballast that overdrives them and individual parabolic reflectors. I am running 6x39w Teklight on my 40g breeder and the lighting is just as strong if not stronger than a 250w HQI (i was running before the T-5s). Some of the corals, my sps in particular, love the light and can be right next to the bulbs. On the other hand, i have some rics that i need to keep shaded for them not to completetly bleach and even shaded, they dont have as much color as they could with less light.

Using T-5 NO would just be like using any other type of NO bulb. T-# just indicates the diameter of the flourescent tube, T-5 being 5/8 inch.

 

[Nsr250NYC]

i didn't know t5s could do that to corals. now im rethinking my setup for the 72. you guys think 4 bulb tek will be enough?

 

[Pili]

For softies and LPS, the 4 bulb will be fine. If you wanted SPS than i would say go up to a 6 bulb.

 

[jawwad2004]

But remember, you dont get that beautiful shimmer effect with T-5.

 

[Nsr250NYC]

but you also dont get the heat from MH

 

[jawwad2004]

The heat problem can easily be taken care of with small pc fans, which are in my hood. I think its worth going with the halides. IMO

 

[Reefer420]

jawwad-
have you had a problem w/ using fans on ur MH? I had read that keeping the lights cooler w/ fans would reduce their intensity? btw- do you think that 150w of MH lighting would be too much for a 16g tank w/ mostly LPS and softies? Sorry about the thread high jack!

 

[Pili]

150w would probebly be a bit much for softies but you could just raise the light up more if its a pendent and that should take care of the problem.