PC lighting or T5 lighting

[bad santa]

I have a 60 GAL. tank and i need to upgrade my lights. I am planning on keeping mushrooms and polyps to start off with. I was thinking of going with power compacts but I am also considering T5 lighting also. Which do you guys think would be to better way to go and why?

 

[reefsahoy]

t5's all the way. i have cp now and just ordered t5 due to all the research done. seems like no limitations on keeping type of corals. make sure whatever t5 you get has individual reflectors and not a singular reflector. this will increase out put to 300 percent more.

 

[ReefNeck]

T5HO's are the way to go. Not normal T5's. VHO is also good.

I had planned to go T5HO on my new RR tank but ran across a deal on HQI's that I couldn't pass up.

 

[sniggib]

im in the same predicament. i have 1 actinic 420 and a 10000k flourescent. Im thinking of upgrading to t5 is this a good idea? im new to the hobby and aq little confused about lighting.
thanks
matt

 

[MIKE NY]

I'm using PCs only because I had them already and I just retro-fitted them in, but I would use T-5s if they were around when I built my canopy....more efficient and more light.

 

[DesertBandits]

I am getting T5. T5 is way more output per watt then CF. Most of the light in a CF bounces back into the bulb, not into the tank. with CF about only 1/2 the light at best makes it into the tank. T5 with good reflector, however sends almost 100% of its light into the tank. Therefore a 54w T5 is way brighter than a 96w CF

 

[bad santa]

Is there a difference between lighting companies? Which one are better for you guys? I am looking for something that I can put in my canopy(retrofit). Is there a generel rule of thumb as for as watts per gallon in using T5 lighting?

 

[horkn]

dont go wpg.
you could use it as a possible benchmark, but its not really accurate.

that are the dimensions of the 60gallon in question?

and what else do you want to keep other than shrooms and polyps?

the general rule for t5ho is 0ne bulb per 3" front to back. but you can bend that rule, depending on reflectors, and ballasts, and bulb selection.


www.aqualuxlighting.com is great, you can not beat their DIY retrofit prices, but many go with reefgeek.

 

[DesertBandits]

Reefgeek's Tek retrofits are cheaper because they comebulbs included. Am I the only one who has noticed this?

 

[horkn]

like i have said amny times, aqualux matches price.. tell them reefgeek gives bulbs free, and they will too (which ones does reefgeek give?, probably all GE day bulbs, the cheapest of all t5ho bulbs)


plus, if you want a better retro than tek for LESS money, aqualux is the only vendor i know of that can deliver.

well, unless you get the ballasts from ballastwise, and the rest from aqualux.

have you seen how cheap the ballasts are? and i bet they are the same as triads, and advance...they sure look the same

 

[reefsahoy]

i'd go with any t5 ho with single reflectors. The claim is that 4- 54 watt t5 with individual reflectors has as much output as a 400 watt metal halide.

 

[bassnman11]

I just put 4x54 T5s on my 55. Some of the low light corals need to be put in the shade. I do have a couple of sps and they are doing great. If you are just doing softies, install 4 bulbs but use 2 ballast. That way you can run just 2 at a time until more light is needed. You can also run different colors of bulbs for differnet looks.

 

[tompg]

I too have ben looking into t5's Why are retrofits cheaper then fully assembled lights at reefgeek.Is it like that everywhere? I wonder why.

 

[bad santa]

Bassman11, do you have any pics of your light set up in your canopy? I would sure like to see what i can do on mine.