Been seeing many posts of late (including me) about lighting and hearing the different discussions between T5 and T8. So I did a little researching on this.
I found the below chart. Being a novice when it comes to this subject I was always going by the WPG ratings and that for planted aquariums you should use bulbs between 5000-10000k.
When I did my initial light purchase from Lowes, I looked at both the T5 and T8 fixtures. Both offered double bulb set up. I then compared the bulbs (again not knowing much about this subject). The T5 came in at 24W and 4100k as opposed to the T8 at 32W and 6500k. So in thinking that my setup is for 30gallons I should go with the T8 in that it would (should) give me 2+ WPG and be able to grow plants sufficiently.
Now here's where it gets interesting and hopefully many of the experts here will offer their inputs as again, this is not my territory.
In researching, for the flourescent bulbs, you are actually looking at the LPW (Lumens Per Watt). This is the intensity of the light. How this translates into aquarium use, can't tell you. So going by the numbers, the 4100k 24W T5 bulb produces ~ 104 LPW as opposed to the 6500k 32W T8 bulb at ~ 94 LPW.
So yes, judging by these numbers, the T5 is best light to use.
I still have many unanswered questions still and again would hope that the experts can provide much more info to fellow novices.
Such as the WPG rule. Using these lights how do you figure exactly how much lighting you will need to sufficiently grow plants in the medium to very high range? (low light plants dont really count since they are...well...low light and should be easily cared for).
And if the rule of thumb for bulbs is 5000-10000k, then how is the 4100k of the T5 better? I guess it goes back to the LPW.
Ok...the floor is now open. As Johnny5 would say....Need Input.
I found the below chart. Being a novice when it comes to this subject I was always going by the WPG ratings and that for planted aquariums you should use bulbs between 5000-10000k.
When I did my initial light purchase from Lowes, I looked at both the T5 and T8 fixtures. Both offered double bulb set up. I then compared the bulbs (again not knowing much about this subject). The T5 came in at 24W and 4100k as opposed to the T8 at 32W and 6500k. So in thinking that my setup is for 30gallons I should go with the T8 in that it would (should) give me 2+ WPG and be able to grow plants sufficiently.
Now here's where it gets interesting and hopefully many of the experts here will offer their inputs as again, this is not my territory.
In researching, for the flourescent bulbs, you are actually looking at the LPW (Lumens Per Watt). This is the intensity of the light. How this translates into aquarium use, can't tell you. So going by the numbers, the 4100k 24W T5 bulb produces ~ 104 LPW as opposed to the 6500k 32W T8 bulb at ~ 94 LPW.
So yes, judging by these numbers, the T5 is best light to use.
I still have many unanswered questions still and again would hope that the experts can provide much more info to fellow novices.
Such as the WPG rule. Using these lights how do you figure exactly how much lighting you will need to sufficiently grow plants in the medium to very high range? (low light plants dont really count since they are...well...low light and should be easily cared for).
And if the rule of thumb for bulbs is 5000-10000k, then how is the 4100k of the T5 better? I guess it goes back to the LPW.
Ok...the floor is now open. As Johnny5 would say....Need Input.
