T5's or PC's
- Thread starter tuchon35
- Start date
You shouldn't have told her 
Actually, my wife handles all the money, so that never works around here.
You actually get more light per watt with T5s, so I tend to suggest them. Plus, with four 54 watt lamps, you can play around more with the spectrum. They are usually more expensive, though.
Actually, my wife handles all the money, so that never works around here.You actually get more light per watt with T5s, so I tend to suggest them. Plus, with four 54 watt lamps, you can play around more with the spectrum. They are usually more expensive, though.
i'm looking to set up a 10g marine nano tank and was considering the coralife 96w fixture. i asked the lfs about it and they told me i should do something like 36w t5's instead!! (much less light) i asked why and they said they just dont like the coralife units i guess. i've got the coralife 260w on my 55g planted and no probs.
anyone have any feedback for me on this... :idea2:
anyone have any feedback for me on this... :idea2:
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I used a Corallife 2X65 for a few years, and it was fine. Could they give you specifics on why they don't like the brand?
i'm gonna go talk to them tomorrow. i'm fairly familliar with the coralife fixtures i really just dont know what the t5's are all about i suppose... 
T5 just means the bulb is 5/12" in diameter. They are essentially high output fluorescent tubes, and, as far as I can tell, will probably become the standard in fluorescent fixtures. Depending on the reflector, they will generally give you more light per watt than PC (sorry, can't give exact numbers), but not enough to make the difference between a 96 watt and 36 watt fixture. Does that help?
yah, that does help, thanks. so i went to the lfs and the only reason they don't really like the coralifes is cause there really wasn't any comparison in brightness. they put both canopies on a tank, turned on the coralife...then turned it off and turned on the t5's...BINGO!!! gimme dat t5 thang :dance looks way nicer than the 50/50 96w. could hardly believe my eyes...now i'm thinkin bout selling my 4x65w from my planted tank and goin' the way of the t5!! 