Pc Mh Vho???
- Thread starter peanut95
- Start date
Twisted
Premium Member
I haven't heard of any PCs being able to support Clams, but I have talked to a few people that claimed they kept SPS under PCs but they had to place them about 6 inches from the top of the tank, and still had little growth.
You may also want to consider T5s. Read up on the T5 Q&A thread in this section and see if it suits you.
I just ordered a set this morning. But I am in a 55 gallon whish isn't very deep.
You may also want to consider T5s. Read up on the T5 Q&A thread in this section and see if it suits you.
I just ordered a set this morning. But I am in a 55 gallon whish isn't very deep.
pjf
Premium Member
T5 > PC > VHO
T5 > PC > VHO
VHO: ~50 lumens per watt (http://www.elliptipar.com/vertical/Vertpdf/VertGdLg.pdf)
PC: ~60 lumens per watt (http://lightingresearch.org/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp)
T5: 90-100 lumens per watt (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp)
T5 > PC > VHO
VHO: ~50 lumens per watt (http://www.elliptipar.com/vertical/Vertpdf/VertGdLg.pdf)
PC: ~60 lumens per watt (http://lightingresearch.org/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp)
T5: 90-100 lumens per watt (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp)
pjf
Premium Member
I believe that your 130-watt PC bulbs are High-Wattage pin-based Compact Fluorescent Lamps (HW-CFL). In figure 4 (http://lightingresearch.org/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp), they are represented by the red bar labeled “HW-CFL (screw-based and pin-based).†Based on this chart, their efficiency ranges from 50 to 70 lumens per watt. I simply rounded to ~60 lumens per watt.
This means your 130 watt PC bulb generates 130 x 60 = 7800 lumens. Four of these PC bulbs will consume 520 watts and produce 4 x 130 x 60 = 31,200 lumens
In contrast, a 54-watt T5HO lamp generates 93 lumens per watt (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp). The 48†4x54-watt Tek Light T5HO fixture (www.reefgeek.com) will consume 216 watts and produce 4 x 54 x 93 = 20,000 lumens.
Since the Tek Light fixture has individual reflectors for each T5HO tube, I submit that it will direct just as much light into your tank as the PC fixture if not more. The T5HO bulbs will last longer and use half the electrical power.
This means your 130 watt PC bulb generates 130 x 60 = 7800 lumens. Four of these PC bulbs will consume 520 watts and produce 4 x 130 x 60 = 31,200 lumens
In contrast, a 54-watt T5HO lamp generates 93 lumens per watt (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp). The 48†4x54-watt Tek Light T5HO fixture (www.reefgeek.com) will consume 216 watts and produce 4 x 54 x 93 = 20,000 lumens.
Since the Tek Light fixture has individual reflectors for each T5HO tube, I submit that it will direct just as much light into your tank as the PC fixture if not more. The T5HO bulbs will last longer and use half the electrical power.
Twisted
Premium Member
and that is with a 4X54w set up. On a tank that size you should go with the 6X54w from what i have read which would be 6X54X93 = 30,132 lumens.
But from what I was reading the lumens is not as important as the par or whatever and not only can 6 bulbs give a wider variety, but the T5s can get them deeper into the water the halides can. I think that is more theory then fact at this time.
My T5's should be here tomorrow, so I guess I will see how much of a change it will make. I am going from 4X65w PCs to 6X54w T5s. I expect a huge increase in everything about my tank.
But from what I was reading the lumens is not as important as the par or whatever and not only can 6 bulbs give a wider variety, but the T5s can get them deeper into the water the halides can. I think that is more theory then fact at this time.
My T5's should be here tomorrow, so I guess I will see how much of a change it will make. I am going from 4X65w PCs to 6X54w T5s. I expect a huge increase in everything about my tank.
J. Montgomery
Mouth Pipetting
I've been sucessfully growing a few different typs of SPS under 260W PC lighting on a 55; they'll grow, but the colors are dull compared to those kept under T5 and MH. I'm in the process of converting over to MH (two 175W).
peanut95
New member
just got back from lfs and they have 3 of 4 clams under pc lighting and they say that it is fine and that the aquarium hobby goes though this whole newer better thing all the time but that it is always like this and they have been around for 12 years or so and they say that dersa clams are fine and sps would be okay but high in the tank
pjf
Premium Member
Disinterested Advice
Disinterested Advice
What does your electric bill and pocketbook say about the type of lighting you use?
Would it not be better to use lighting & reflectors that will give you more light with less electricity and also last longer?
It's your money.
Disinterested Advice
I take it that your LFS does not sell T5 lighting. The most objective advice is disinterested advice.
What does your electric bill and pocketbook say about the type of lighting you use?
Would it not be better to use lighting & reflectors that will give you more light with less electricity and also last longer?
It's your money.
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