Does anyone not like T5 bulbs?

[dc_909]

I have heard lots of positive testimony about T5 lights, but I wanted to know if anyone who has tried them had anything negative to say about them?

 

[theatrus]

I still prefer MH if the option is open. But I do prefer them on intensity and color over PC lights.

So no I don't really dislike them

 

[christian1966]

My LPS have bleached since I got my T5 lighting. Not necessarily blaming the T5s, it may be that I didn't acclimate it well to my lights when I put the corals in my tank. Some other people here on RC have reported bleaching of their corals as well but many others have reported good coloring from T5s too.

 

[jeffbrig]

I've been using T5s for almost 18 months now. The only negative I can think of is that they don't have the cool shimmer lines of MH (but that's easily remedied by running MHs with them). I have great color in my RBTAs, monti caps, even a couple of acros, and I only run the MHs for 2 hours every day. T5 is my primary lighting.

 

[R33f3r]

I love T5's but do NOT like the 10-12K bulbs, instead I run sun bulbs and blue+'s with a UVL SA thrown in the mix. I love MH for the shimmer, but T5's on my tank with what I am keeping, look great.

 

[techreef]

also, because individual reflectors (especially the IceCap reflectors) make such a large difference in PAR reaching the bottom of the tank, be sure to state whether or not your T5 setups include the individual reflectors. HTH

 

[jeffbrig]

Mine includes the SLS single-bulb reflectors. Not quite as good as the icecaps (about 10% diff), but still quite good.

I'm running a 1:1 ratio of aquablue and blue+ bulbs, and I'm happy with the color that produces.