light question

[baldomero]

hey guys in ur opinion whats better and remember i have a fowlr tank with a few nems. OK THE 260WATT POWERCOMPACT WITH MOONLIGHTS, OR THE T5 HO 216 WATT WITH MOONLIGHTS

 

[reefscape15]

With FOWLER it doesn't matter either way. I prefer T-5's but i've always been reef. There are more bulb choices for t-5 and the bulb life is the same as PC

 

[baldomero]

oh ok but i went with the 260watt pc set thanks for the reply reefscape

 

[Toddrtrex]

Is this for your 150? With the PC lights you will NOT be able to keep anemones.

 

[stricknine]

+1 for the guys above. Fish dont care much about light, anemones (and c0ral) do.

I vote PC for fish, T5 for others.

 

[jewcy240]

T-5's have a lot more color choices.

 

[PRDubois]

T5's have more color and do not put out as much heat.

 

[mustang51js]

t5s save on electricity costs also

 

[baldomero]

man after i bought the pcs the next day i found the t5s a little cheaper and i dont wanna go through the hassle of returning them they are non refundable what luck

 

[snorvich]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14743858#post14743858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
Is this for your 150? With the PC lights you will NOT be able to keep anemones.

That is correct. They will perish.

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14744629#post14744629 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mustang51js
t5s save on electricity costs also

How do you figure?

 

[baldomero]

even with condys thats too little light

 

[baldomero]

sorry that was a question

 

[mustang51js]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14745012#post14745012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
How do you figure?

t5s are brighter and use less electric than pc

 

[mustang51js]

not a whole lot brighter but they use less watts

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14745560#post14745560 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mustang51js
t5s are brighter and use less electric than pc

The second assertion is simply not true. A watt is a watt is a watt. A 54W HO T5 uses exactly one less watt than a 55W power compact. 250W of metal halide bulbs use the same amount of evergy as 250W of T5 bulbs and/or power compact bulbs.

The difference among these choices is not in energy usage, per se, but in the light intensity, the design of the reflectors, the efficiency of the bulbs, and longevity of the bulbs.

Generally, a HO T5 bulb is more efficient and more intense than a power compact bulb. Moreover, HO T5 bulbs last from 18 to 24 months before needing to be replaced, whereas a power compact should be replaced every 6 months due to spectral shifts/loss of intensity. Another benefit of T5s is that they disperse heat (and light) over a longer bulb when compared to a power compact, which tends to transmit less heat to the water (although probably negligible when comparing T5s and PCs). Reflectors should not be discounted, as they can greatly improve the efficiency of a fixture. For example, a 54W HO T5 with an individual reflector can be up to 3 times brighter/more efficient than a power compact.

As a general rule, a T5 is a much better choice than a power compact.

 

[turretdr]

Correct, PC's are not enough light even for condylactus anemones in that large of a setup.

 

[baldomero]

well my 150 has a 60inch light strip its coralife and i checked the box the otherday and it only had 34 watts i was amazed but my condys are doing well so when i get my 264watt pcs i can pair it up with the strip of t5s i have now and i should be ok but wouldnt that be too much light for 3 anemones

 

[baldomero]

bump

 

[abulgin]

264W in a 150g is not nearly enough light for nems. In a tank that big/deep, you need several T5s with individual reflectors or 3 250W metal halides. I would return that power compact fixture you bought. Adding those standard output 17W strips is a waste of time/energy.