t5 vs pc

Don E · #1 07-17-2006, 10:18 PM

Hi- sorry if this is a common question- the forum won't let me search using the terms "T5" or "PC" grrr.

Anyway- I'm looking to light a 20g tall. I used to use a coralife 2x65 pc unit, and was happy with it- but people tell me t5's are cheaper and cooler.

What I'm confused about is the equivalent wattage. What kind of t5 setup would I need to approximate the lighting I used to get with the 2x65 PC unit?

Thanks, all

don
(back in Victoria again)

kwirky · #2 07-17-2006, 10:40 PM

if your tank is tall, I'd go with the PC's or MH lighting.

Remember, T5's are normally driven and designed to light plants. Their efficiency is owed to their small size allowing them to be reflected optimaly. They still lose about 50% of their light after 12" of water depth.

PC's loose their light at about 16" or so.

Mh's on the other hand are point light. 150/175 MH loses 50% of it's light at about 20" away from the point. 250 at about 24" or so, and 400w at about 30"

so comparing watt for watt is hard when you have tank depth involved.

Don E · #3 07-17-2006, 11:05 PM

Thanks for the reply- that's interesting. Hmm. Mind you, a 20 Tall is still not all that tall- 16 inches, I think?

I may just go back to the 2x 65.

Is anybody out there using t5's with a 20T? If so, how many, what length, and are you happy with them?

thanks

d

StirCrazy · #4 07-17-2006, 11:10 PM

I would stay with your PC's The difference between PC's and HOT5's is hardly worth looking at.. and normal T5's are not as powerfull.

Steve

Dale · #5 07-18-2006, 01:24 AM

Hi Don.

I don't have a firm opinion either way but my 75G. tank is lit by T-5's and doing well. I guess it depends on what you plan to stock.
One thing I did do was to build a rockwall using a light diffuser background for support. This allowed me to raise the rocks up and to put my highest light demanding corals on top. Both my hammer and candycanes are doing well anyways (I don't have "high" light corals). The top of the rock ridge is about 6" from the bulbs.
I have two units with 2 bulbs each:
10,000K
6700K
Actinic
Colourmax (came with the unit-when it's time I'll replace with 10,000 or 6,700)

Here's the T-5's in the canopy

and the tank from a little while ago

________
growing marijuana

albert_dao · #6 07-18-2006, 02:10 AM

HO T5's are vastly superior to PC bulbs and can, if done properly, exceed MH's in PAR output.

Look at Iwan's tank on RC and any doubts you have should dissapate.

Here's some further reading:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=878433