PC vs T5 lighting

[rsw686]

I really don't have the money to spend more than $300 on the lights for my 90gal tank. I have looked at the following

Nova Extreme HO T5 -- 4 x 54w, 4 lunar $199 -- 2.4 watts per gal
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204900/product.web

Dual Satellite -- 4 x 65w, 2 lunar $228 -- 2.8 watts per gal
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204926/product.web

Orbit -- 4 x 65w, 4 lunar $266 -- 2.8 watts per gal
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/204896/product.web

The Orbit looks to be the same as the Satellite, just a different housing and 2 more lunar lights. I currently have a Satellite 2x65w on my 56gal and have been happy with it.

I know these are lower end lights with only single reflectors. Is a single reflector all that bad? I also found a Tek light that has to be hung for $280. The Tek has a reflector per bukb.

Tek - 4 x 54w - $280
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=SL-960035&Category_Code=SunlightT5

I have some soft corals, not planning on hard corals, I know the PC lights would give me more watts per gallon than the T5, but I've heard the T5 has more light output. I'm assuming the Tek light with multiple reflectors would give me even more light output. Only downside to the Tek light is that it has no moonlighting, not that I need it but have had it on my 56gal tank.

I know I could build a canopy, but am unsure if I want one. I really would like to find a light with a ballast that will overdrive the bulbs, but that looks only possible if I build a canopy. If I bought the Tek light, could I swap out the ballast later? Or I I bought the Nova light and a ballast, would the single reflector with overdriven bulbs put out more light than the Tek.

I'm hoping somebody who's had both T5 lighting and PC lighting can chime in and let me know the difference. I've done some searching on google and people seem biased to what they bought.

Thanks

 

[GSMguy]

out of those 4 choices i would go with the tek it will have double the PAR at least of the others.

i think the aquatinics tx5 for 330 is a much much better light and i would get that over the nova or tek anyday
and as for the PC lights they are crap compared to t5s with reflectors.

 

[GSMguy]

buying a tek and putting new ballasts on it could reduce its output because of the added heat making the bulbs more inefficient

 

[rsw686]

The Aquatinics looks like a great light but the 48" light its $375. If I go with the Tek or Aquatinics I need to buy bulbs so I think thats going to put the Aquatinics out of the equation for now. Although it has 5 bulbs so I might just buy it.

 

[GSMguy]

oh 48 inch i was thinking 36" sorry

i think the tek is a good choice and there are ways to cool the bulbs out there.

 

[rsw686]

Yeah I guess I forgot to mention 48". I looked on the Aquatinics website but don't see feet so I can mount it in on tank. They say you can just sit it on there, but it would be nice if it was raised off it some. Are these available? Or does it have a spot to hang the light by a chain?

I'm probably going to go with the Tek for cost reasons. What bulbs do you recommend? I know I want actinic and daylight bulbs. Right now in the PC light on my 56gal tank I have a 420 / 460 actinic and a 7,500 / 10k daylight bulb. Do these dual bulbs make a big difference? I know T5s don't come dual, but should I get one of each. Or should I just get 460 and 10k bulbs?

 

[GSMguy]

they sell feet but i think the fact it sits on the tank is a major plus because no light is spilled out into the room all the other ones with feet light up the whole room.


t5 bulb reccomendations can be tough what color do you want you can go very yellow to very blue or purple with t5s there are so many bulbs out there.

 

[rsw686]

If I get the Tek light its 280, plus 68 for the feet, plus 12 for the acrylic splash guard. Thats 360.

If I go with the Aquatinics its 357 for the light, 24 for the feet, and the splash guard is included. Thats 381.

That choice is obvious the Aquatinics is the way to go for 20 bucks more I have 5 bulbs vs 4 and a better light.

For the bulbs I went through the T5Q&A thread on here and I was thinking about

2 - ATI Blue Plus T5HO
1 - UVL URI Aquasun 10,000k
1 - GE 6500K Daylight
1- 12000K ATI Aquablue Special T5HO

I want a blue to blue purple look, not yellow.

Only problem is that all this is going to run me 480. Way past what I wanted to spend.

I guess I really only have two choices. Nova T5 for 200 (bulbs included, splash sheld, feet included), or the Aquatinics for 480. I wish there was something in the middle price range.

 

[GSMguy]

bammmmmmmmm you got it figured out

if it makes you feel better i just spent 550 yesterday on my tank that i didnt want to spend


nice choices but id replace the ati special with a uvl super actinic
and the ge with a 12k or another 10k

 

[GSMguy]

besides the small money difference if i had to choose based on customer service i would get the aquatinics every day
Tom and Scott are on RC all the time they back their products and are fast with customer service
i have a 24 inch aquatinics tx5 coming soon that im super exited about im replacing a 2x65w CF and think the upgrade is well worth the money

the customer service from sunlight supply has had some horrible reviews and the reflectors stain easily

 

[jc9394]

Did you check out ReefGeek? They have the Tek light with blubs for 330 plus free shipping.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Fixture_with_Bulbs_by_Sunlight_Supply

 

[pjf]

Individual Parabolic Reflectors

Individual Parabolic Reflectors

You are smart to consider individual T5 reflectors in your choice of lighting. Individual reflectors are not possible with PC lighting because they cannot fit between the twin-tube PC design. A PC tube will absorb some of its neighbor's light and absorb some light reflected from the overhead reflector.

Here's some information related to efficiency:
• PC or pin-based high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt: http://lightingresearch.org/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp
• T5HO lighting produces ~90 lumens per watt: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp

 

[rsw686]

2 - ATI Blue Plus T5HO
1 - UVL URI Super Actinic 420nm
1 - UVL URI Aquasun 10,000k
1 - UVL URI Actinic White 12000k

I don't mind spending the money, just don't have much. I'm in college, and between the Jeep mods, and the fish theres not much left. Once I get my 56gal tank/stand/light sold I should be good. The 90gal with overflow and sump is going to be sweet.

 

[GSMguy]

i like the bulb choices

im also in college and fixing up my landrover so i know how it is

 

[HowardW]

<<< I have some soft corals, not planning on hard corals, >>>


If all you plan to keep is soft or LPS corals the Nova Extreme T5 fixture will be fine and is a turn key setup. The Aquactinics is extremely nice but not really necessary for soft corals IMO and is geared more towards those keeping high PAR requiring corals and clams.

 

[rsw686]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067885#post10067885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jc9394
Did you check out ReefGeek? They have the Tek light with blubs for 330 plus free shipping.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...-Output_Fixture_with_Bulbs_by_Sunlight_Supply

Nope didn't see that. With the feet and splash shield thats 422. I was looking on diyreef.com for the Aquatinics which is 500 shipped. The extra bulb, support, and choice of bulbs has me leaning towards the Aquatinics. For some reason I think I'll regret not spending the 80 to have the extra light output, etc in the long run.

 

[GSMguy]

the spash sheid has dire consequences on the tek light it makes the bulbs lose tons of par from heat
the aquatinics while 80dollars more money is double or more the output of a tek with splash sheild

 

[rsw686]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067997#post10067997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
<<< I have some soft corals, not planning on hard corals, >>>


If all you plan to keep is soft or LPS corals the Nova Extreme T5 fixture will be fine and is a turn key setup. The Aquactinics is extremely nice but not really necessary for soft corals IMO and is geared more towards those keeping high PAR requiring corals and clams.

I didn't think I could stock hard corals which required lots of light without MH thats why I've been sticking to soft corals. Your saying that the Aquatinics will give me enough light to do so?

 

[rsw686]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10068065#post10068065 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
the spash sheid has dire consequences on the tek light it makes the bulbs lose tons of par from heat
the aquatinics while 80dollars more money is double or more the output of a tek with splash sheild

Thats good to know, probably why the light doesn't come with it. I defiantly want the splash shield since I'm not going to be hanging the light.

 

[GSMguy]

the aquatinics is great for sps clams on the sandbed and anemones
exept H magnifica anemones that need pooint source lighting to stay put