96 watts of T5 better than 130 watts of PC?

[gfk]

thinking of getting a T5 lighting system and using it on my 20 gallon for now, and then using it with my 29 as well as a 175 MH once i set that tank up

light is 24 inch Ocean Light T5 system with 4 bulbs. Black aluminum housing.


its 2x24 actinic and 2x24 daylight

would this be equal or better than 130 watts PC 1x65 actinic and 1x65 10k?

im gonna ge a 29 gallon and keep some SPS would this T5 system and 175 watts MH be too much for a 29?

would i be better off using the T5 and MH on a 40 breeder instead?

 

[Surfzup2k4]

Yes, especially with nice reflectors

 

[gfk]

so would 96 watts of T5 look better in my tank than 130 watts of PC

i know that in the future when i get the new tank and the MH it will look better, but for right now would just the T5 look better then the PC alone, with no MH

 

[bluenassarius]

ya if u got some reflectors ur ahead in the game

 

[Montrose58]

T5?

T5?

I have a 33 gallon long with 4-96 watt pc's.
2 Actinic, 1 blue and 1-10K.
I recently added two 54 watt Actinic T5's.
After a week, 2 of my brown Acros shifted to a really cool electric Magenta.
I think I may remove 2 of the pc's replace them with T5's.
it'll help with the heat.

 

[rjwilson37]

Make sure you get your T5 lighting with the individual reflector's, otherwise it would be a waste of money. I put the Tek-Light hood of 96w T5 replacing my 130w PC and it was night and day for a difference. (Make sure you acclimate things to the lighting change slowly)

First shot is the 29g tank with the 130w of PC lighting.

Here it was with the 96w of T5 Lighting.

 

[mr pink floyd]

i mgonna get t5 for my 2 9 gallon, goin iht the 36 inch T5 nova fixture

 

[eshook]

I just ordered a 175W MH with 2x32W PC for suppliments for my 29. I am planning on 80W spiral bulb and 52W PC for a 20L below. I may add another 40W spiral bulb to the 20L and 29G but i'm not sure.

What do you guys think?

 

[rjwilson37]

Here is a picture of that 29g tank at the end of it's life using the T5's. I moved to a 55g breeder tank and decided to use T5's and here is a picture of that tank at the end of it's life. T5's are great on tanks 20" and below, but I think when you start to get at and above 24", you need MH or a whole bunch of T5's and that is expenisve to run 8 T5 bulbs.

29g tank at the end 04/27/2004

55g tank when 29g moved to it 05/08/2004

55g tank towards it's end 06/24/2005