T5HO vs. PC

Mako

Mako

EET MOR KATFISH
Nov 19, 2001
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Wake Forest, NC
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Howdy all,

I am planning the lighting a 10g nano and am looking for info on comparing T5HO to PC lights. I plan on growing softies and sps.

I am trying to compare a 2X55W PC light setup with a 4X18W T5HO setup.

The downside I see with the T5 is having to replace 4 bulbs a year ($60-80 a year) vs. two PC bulbs ($35-40 a year).


I did a search here on PC vs. T5HO but find anything comparing the two. Do the T5HO's really produce that much more PAR per watt than PC bulbs?


BTW anyone here use ahsupply.com PC ballasts and bulbs?
 
T5s are so much brighter because of several reasons. One is the fact that they are much thinner than a pc. This makes them more intense by condensing the amount of space the light has to exit. The thin size also makes it possible to include individual reflectors, which increases the amount of light into the tank tremendously--far more than a pc and equivalent reflector can. The bulk of the pc bulb (width) causes a reflector to be quite inefficient, with most being reflected back onto the bulb. In any case, the difference between the two can be compared using a PPFD or lux meter (with PPFD being somewhat more useful, though conversions can be used with luxmeters that amount to an accurate measure). In practical terms, it isn't uncommon at all to literally bleach corals that are transitioned from a pc or vho system into one that uses T5s with efficient reflectors. That applies more so to overdriven systems.
 
I had a tank with pc and noticed that only very low light corals did good under those bulbs: corals like fox coral, ricordia, kenya tree, yellow pollyps, encrusted gorgonia and few others. however, green pollyps bleached and it was getting less and less of them, mushrooms started dying out and rotting away. so, it depends on what you want to keep or think of keeping in the future. you always want to buy the right light from the start, so you don't have to buy different kind few months later.
 
How many 18" 18W T5's would you recommend over a 10g if you wanted the option to grow sps? Would two cut it, or would 4 be necessary?
 
Mako said:
How many 18" 18W T5's would you recommend over a 10g if you wanted the option to grow sps? Would two cut it, or would 4 be necessary?
Click to expand...

It just dawned on me that you are referring to 18w bulbs. Why not just get the 24" 24w tubes if your other option was 21-22" 55w bulbs? You'd get a bit of overhang, but nothing too bad. If you decide to get an 18" fixture, try the extreme pro 6 bulb fixture. For around the same price, you could get a 24" TEK 4 bulb fixture that will be brighter and features individual reflectors--all of that, minus the replacement costs of 2 more bulbs. Not to mention that most of the better/best bulbs do not come in 18" lengths. You'd be severely limiting yourself on bulb choice, which is one of the other strengths of T5s, also.
 
I realize I'm about to get flamed for this one, but seeing as how its a nano, have you considered LEDs? I mean for a 10g you could get by with a total, of what? 30 of the high power.

It would probably cost the same about as a T5 setup, and from what I've read (ok, skimmed) LEDs are competing with MH (something I don't suggest for a nano due to heat), not quite there at the same level though. The only draw back is in order to get it that cheap is to DIY the whole thing. That or pay 1K for a commercial setup from PFO. I dunno when the previous reviews of the PFO system was done, but the new Luxeon Rebels are really really bright.


Just something to think about. Ok, flaming may now begin.
 
Cory Keeper said:
I realize I'm about to get flamed for this one, but seeing as how its a nano, have you considered LEDs? I mean for a 10g you could get by with a total, of what? 30 of the high power.

It would probably cost the same about as a T5 setup, and from what I've read (ok, skimmed) LEDs are competing with MH (something I don't suggest for a nano due to heat), not quite there at the same level though. The only draw back is in order to get it that cheap is to DIY the whole thing. That or pay 1K for a commercial setup from PFO. I dunno when the previous reviews of the PFO system was done, but the new Luxeon Rebels are really really bright.


Just something to think about. Ok, flaming may now begin.
Click to expand...

Well I reckon I could flame you if you want, but you'll have to wait for when I'm in a more rotten mood.

I did consider LED's and the cost was still, even with DIY, more than I wanted to put into it right now. Good idea but I think the technology has to advance even more to get the cost into range.

Now, I did buy some screw-socket LED lights just for giggles ($70 worth of giggles to be exact:screwy:) that will make for FANTASTIC dusk/dawn lights on a nano. One is a 4 watt 9600K and the other is a 3-watt blue, you can read the thread here. I'm redfishsc.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=170155
 
Oh, and based on someone's advice here. I went and ordered a 4X24" T5 HO Current USA Nova Extreme. Petmountain has them for $155 w/good bulbs included (with a moonlight LED).

That order was 15 minutes ago and they aren't here yet. Why are they taking so long?
 
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