Is T5 good for a crocea?

[ctopal]

I have a 30 gallon which is 2 ft high by 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep. I'm interested in getting the 4 lamp SLS T5 Tek Light. The bulbs are 24 watts each and I was leaning towards a blue look. Will this be a proper light for a crocea, if not, any other clams?

Thanks!

 

[jbittner]

T5 penetration is about 20" So if you keep the crocea half way up the rock work (about 12" from the light) they will do fine. I have a 55 gal and I keep my 2 crocea on the sand (20" below the lights) and the seem to do great.

 

[ctopal]

Thanks, I have a small mountain of rock created, the clam is going to be on the tippity top.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7747663#post7747663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jbittner
T5 penetration is about 20" So if you keep the crocea half way up the rock work (about 12" from the light) they will do fine. I have a 55 gal and I keep my 2 crocea on the sand (20" below the lights) and the seem to do great.

the whole "t5 doesnt penetrate well" thing is complete crap.

Yeah, you can keep clams under them.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

RichConley- What information do you have about this? I have heard from so many die-hard fans of T5's that they will out-illuminate MH and similar, but I have not seen any proof.
I am NOT a ney-sayer, I just want to see data.

From what my understanding is, T5s are simply High Output fluorescent bulbs. The T5 designate is because they are 5/8 inch in diameter. I have no doubt they can make light, but how is it comparatively?

 

[Ti]

u can keep clams with T5, worse comes to worse, move it up.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7752124#post7752124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
RichConley- What information do you have about this? I have heard from so many die-hard fans of T5's that they will out-illuminate MH and similar, but I have not seen any proof.
I am NOT a ney-sayer, I just want to see data.

From what my understanding is, T5s are simply High Output fluorescent bulbs. The T5 designate is because they are 5/8 inch in diameter. I have no doubt they can make light, but how is it comparatively?

Its simple physics. A line source out penetrates a spot source every time. The line source degrades at a linear pace, while the spot source degrades at an exponential rate.

So if T5s are the same par as MH at a depth, they will be brighter at all subsequent depths.

 

[glyle41]

have kept small derasa and crocea clams under 4 39w T5s in a fourty gallon they did very well

 

[jbittner]

I have always heard that crocea prefer the rocks because they are found on the rocks in the wild. I place mine on the sand because that is where I like to view them. I have read multiple places that MH out perform t5 at 24" (on a light meter). I will research and post links later. I use and love my t5 setup--4 54wt on my 55. I have also read that t5 melt mushrooms and I have 4 types in my tank--some right below the lights. different tanks=different results

 

[ctopal]

I ordered the Teklight and can't wait to try it out. I'm going to take my crocea out of my 90 gallon and the halides as I can't see it from above there and place it in my 30 gallon.

Thanks for all of the input!

 

[tripstank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7759145#post7759145 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Its simple physics. A line source out penetrates a spot source every time. The line source degrades at a linear pace, while the spot source degrades at an exponential rate.

So if T5s are the same par as MH at a depth, they will be brighter at all subsequent depths.

Someone didn't do their physics homework! A line source vs. a spot source? Are you making these terms up?

Both are dependent on focal lengths just like a lense on your camera. A "LINE" source... pentrates far less. Like a wide angle lense, a "SPOT" source, so you say, is like a telephoto lense. It is a matter of "GEOMETRY" or physics as you like to say.

So in retrospect, it is completely dependent on your reflector and distance from the waters surface.

Given, of course, that both bulbs put out the same Par.

IMO, MHs work, why make your livestock suffer because you want to test your "physics?" Stick with what you know!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Yes! and my question is what are the PAR comparisons. I started another thread to try to get to the bottom of this, and it turned into a bloddy melee.

I guess I dont understand why a person would go with say 4 HO T5 bulbs if they could go with 4 VHO T12 bulbs.

 

[jbittner]

There is no comparison between t5 and VHO (or pc). The size of the t5 bulb causes less light to be reflected into the bulb causing more light to reach the tank. VHO diameter and PC design cause them to lose more reflected light. This being said, there is no reson to change a lighting system that is meeting your current needs. There will always be a metal halide vs T5 debate, but if MH works for you keep it. The reason I have T5 is because with my tank size (55) and my canopy (6" total height) MH was not an option. So, I upgraded from PC to T5. There is no reason to upgrade lighing (unless you are adding higher need livestock) just to have the newest gadget.