Travis L. Stevens
New member
You've got a lot to learn if you want to be like him :lmao:
PC vs. T-5's
- Thread starter papagimp
- Start date
You've got a lot to learn if you want to be like him :lmao:
Travis L. Stevens
New member
ANYWAYS............
Let's get back on topic.
____
Compact Fluorescent (100w)** - 1,600 lumens per bulb
Power Compact*** - 2,250 lumens per bulb
T8 (Normal Output) - 2,500 lumens per bulb
T12 Standard - 2,000 lumens per bulb
T12 VHO - 5,940 lumens per bulb
T5 Standard - 2,900 lumens per bulb
T5 HO - 5,000 lumens per bulb
250w Metal Halide**** - 5,500 lumens
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Compact Fluorescent bulbs (the ones with a twist in base) are obviously not very good for your tank. T8's aren't as bad as many people make them out to be according to this. If PCs were a 4ft bulb, it would do pretty well. I'm guessing about 3000-3500 lumens then. The VHOs blew me away. I'm surprised they do more than T5's and metal halides (sort of). But VHO's don't have parabolic reflectors and run a lot hotter. The T5's seem to hang right in there against metal halides though. The only problem with the metal halide is that it produces 22,000 lumens in a two foot square. All the other bulbs are in a four foot length and a few inches in width.
Let's get back on topic.
____
Compact Fluorescent (100w)** - 1,600 lumens per bulb
Power Compact*** - 2,250 lumens per bulb
T8 (Normal Output) - 2,500 lumens per bulb
T12 Standard - 2,000 lumens per bulb
T12 VHO - 5,940 lumens per bulb
T5 Standard - 2,900 lumens per bulb
T5 HO - 5,000 lumens per bulb
250w Metal Halide**** - 5,500 lumens
____
Compact Fluorescent bulbs (the ones with a twist in base) are obviously not very good for your tank. T8's aren't as bad as many people make them out to be according to this. If PCs were a 4ft bulb, it would do pretty well. I'm guessing about 3000-3500 lumens then. The VHOs blew me away. I'm surprised they do more than T5's and metal halides (sort of). But VHO's don't have parabolic reflectors and run a lot hotter. The T5's seem to hang right in there against metal halides though. The only problem with the metal halide is that it produces 22,000 lumens in a two foot square. All the other bulbs are in a four foot length and a few inches in width.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Now why I know it took so long for you to fix things 
Just kidding. That looks very nice. What were you running on your PCs? Just actinic? Would you feel you have done better if you had T5s or VHOs instead?
Just kidding. That looks very nice. What were you running on your PCs? Just actinic? Would you feel you have done better if you had T5s or VHOs instead?
I ran 2 actinic and 2 7100K's. I can't answer your other questions....that tank was 4+ years ago before T5's even existed for us. In my latest tank, I've used VHO and T5 both at seperate periods but only for dawn/dusk simulation (Hmmmmm....maybe I need to rethink that). I'm not using anything now except 14K halides.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Interesting. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
Actually, thanks for asking the question. I got to spend a little time researching and putting numbers with everything.
Travis L. Stevens
New member
What little bit I got this morning, yes. I could have gotten it done sooner though
captbunzo
Premium Member
Thank you for not resisting -- that was just great.
You know, I was thinking after visiting my brother in OKC today. He recently upgraded his tank from 29 to 75 gallons. He is still using his 29G PC fixture on top of his tank for lighting and is planning a more full more lighting upgrade for the canopy he bought with the tank.
Until today, he was planning on buying T5 DIY parts and having me be the IT in DIY. (I was going to wire it all up for him)
However, today while out and about, he reverted (unfortunately) to a stand of going with PC. And the reason? Well, besides the "that is what he is used to" part.... It has to do with the fact that he is unable to get T5 bulbs at LFS. Of course I comment on the ability to buy them online (and for less money). But he is a pretty stern supporter of LFS.
Anyhow. I thought this was an interesting and relavent side of things.
Of course, I would bug the LFS owner in his case and get them to order me some, if I was that adamant about ordering them online.
So, folks, anyone else have any thoughts on this from an availability point of view?
Travis L. Stevens
New member
That's a great couter argument to T5s. I would have to say that most of the LFSs in OKC would be more than happy to order them in if they didn;'t already carry it. But, if you are not familiar with a LFS or just don't go often, then it would be a huge drawback. I never thought about this side of things because most of the LFS in Tulsa carry a variety of T5s.
ReeferKeith
Premium Member
Such class.
A good friend of mine has T5's and they get amazing color in their SPS, not to mention excellent growth. I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical at first but now after them running theirs for a year, I'm a believer!
A good friend of mine has T5's and they get amazing color in their SPS, not to mention excellent growth. I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical at first but now after them running theirs for a year, I'm a believer!
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captbunzo
Premium Member
Love the signature, Keith!
A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.
Back to the topic at hand. I was thinking recently about the 180G tank I am planning to do SOMEDAY. I'm mentally debating between the following lighting arrangements.
1. A nice pile of T5s with proper reflectors.
2. Some MH lights with T5 for actinic supplementation.
The tank will likely be moderate to high light requiring corals. I don't feel the need to keep any "super" high light corals or anything. Part of me things that trying MH would be fun, since I have not up until now.
The other part wonders if it would really even be necessary. I mean, any higher light corals would be placed up high on the rockwork. And there are a lot of downsides to MH (heat, electricity, etc).
Thoughts? Or do I need to create a "MH vs. T5s" thread?
Or maybe I should just go to bed.....
A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.
Back to the topic at hand. I was thinking recently about the 180G tank I am planning to do SOMEDAY. I'm mentally debating between the following lighting arrangements.
1. A nice pile of T5s with proper reflectors.
2. Some MH lights with T5 for actinic supplementation.
The tank will likely be moderate to high light requiring corals. I don't feel the need to keep any "super" high light corals or anything. Part of me things that trying MH would be fun, since I have not up until now.
The other part wonders if it would really even be necessary. I mean, any higher light corals would be placed up high on the rockwork. And there are a lot of downsides to MH (heat, electricity, etc).
Thoughts? Or do I need to create a "MH vs. T5s" thread?
Or maybe I should just go to bed.....
