Where are you getting PCs will be twice the light? Put a PAR meter under them and you will see that 1 39w T5HO is actually 2.5x as much light as 96w of PCs and a lot less power used. 
AH Supply 96W Power Compact vs 2 x 39W t5 HO?
- Thread starter kj5kb
- Start date
You can't compare watts to watts directly between two different lighting formats. Ace is correct about T5 putting out way more light per watt than the PC. Consider putting together a system by buying two sets of T5 endcaps and retrofitting them into your existing light housings. A Workhorse 5 ballast will set you back about $25 plus shipping, the endcaps about $25-$30 and then pick your bulbs. A single T5 on each half will be brighter than your current setup. And it would only cost another $50 or so to upgrade to a 4 bulb T5 setup. You might not have to even change the housing. I have a 48" AGA TwinTube that I retrofitted 2x 54W T5s into. I use the fixture over an open top tank so I had to spend the money for the good water-resistant end caps. If you're using a piece of glass between the lights and the water you could use the cheaper "tombstone" style endcaps and save most of the money I quoted for the end caps.
Thanks for the info...
SubRosa...where are you getting your T5HO parts? Sounds like I could do it a lot cheaper than $150 per side.
I'm not convinced that 2 39W T5H0s are 2.5x the light of a 96W CF. 39W T5HO's are rated ~ 80+ lumens per watt, slightly more than a 96W Power Compact. Yes, the smaller CF's are much less efficient.
A typical 4100-5000K home/office 39W T5HO is ~3200 lumens (x2 = 7400), a 96W CF is ~8000 lumens.
OK, I realize lux is not PAR... however..."assuming" a quality brand name lamp @ 10,000 Kelvin (so the spectral density should be similar), with identical (or no) reflector, and measured at the same distance...the spectrum should be similar and so should the PAR...no?
Wow...derailing my own thread
SubRosa...where are you getting your T5HO parts? Sounds like I could do it a lot cheaper than $150 per side.
I'm not convinced that 2 39W T5H0s are 2.5x the light of a 96W CF. 39W T5HO's are rated ~ 80+ lumens per watt, slightly more than a 96W Power Compact. Yes, the smaller CF's are much less efficient.
A typical 4100-5000K home/office 39W T5HO is ~3200 lumens (x2 = 7400), a 96W CF is ~8000 lumens.
OK, I realize lux is not PAR... however..."assuming" a quality brand name lamp @ 10,000 Kelvin (so the spectral density should be similar), with identical (or no) reflector, and measured at the same distance...the spectrum should be similar and so should the PAR...no?
Wow...derailing my own thread
I get most of my stuff from www.championlighting.com/home.php They have everything, particularly the water-resistant end caps. I get wholesale pricing from them, so your costs might be a tad more, but you can order the ballasts here http://www.prolighting.com/woba.html?ag=Workhorse&?kw=workhorse%20ballast&?mt=Exact&gclid=CJKwtvv8m6MCFQfyDAod3mFcnA for about what I pay. The tombstone end caps are available at any electric/lighting supply place, and possibly at HD & Lowes.
It really is a debate best left to the eyes vs all the scientific reasoning. I don't know if you know any local reefers around you, but if you do maybe you could find someone with a 2 bulb T5 fixture.. 36" or even a 24" would do.. Turn on a 96w PC 10k bulb on one side of the tank, and 2 24" 24w 10k T5s on the other side... You will be amazed how much brighter to 2 smaller 24" T5s are than your PC bulb and 1/2 the wattage. But all that really doesn't matter.. your doing a FOWLR tank and PCs are probably a better option anyway for FOWLR because it will keep the algae growth lower compared to T5s.
I don't know if you know any local reefers around you, but if you do maybe you could find someone with a 2 bulb T5 fixture.. 36" or even a 24" would do.. Turn on a 96w PC 10k bulb on one side of the tank, and 2 24" 24w 10k T5s on the other side... You will be amazed how much brighter to 2 smaller 24" T5s are than your PC bulb and 1/2 the wattage. But all that really doesn't matter.. your doing a FOWLR tank and PCs are probably a better option anyway for FOWLR because it will keep the algae growth lower compared to T5s.
Just got a deal on a used AH supply 2x96W kit for $40, and the lamps will cost me ~$15 each.
Going to retrofit the 72" 4x36" T8 housing that came with the tank.
Heavy sucker, it had magnetic ballasts...took two guys to lift it without bending it!
Going to retrofit the 72" 4x36" T8 housing that came with the tank.
Heavy sucker, it had magnetic ballasts...took two guys to lift it without bending it!
