T5 lighting studies/information?

[Hobster]

I am trying to obtain some definitive information on T5 lighting. There are several long, ongoing threads in other forums which is somewhat helpful but largely anecdotal .

I know there are some lighting experts that visit this forum and would like to know if there are any published studies or comparisons.
It seems that T5 is being advertised as the greatest thing since sliced bread but not a lot of it is sold in the US. Is it common in Europe and elsewhere?

Some questions:
Is there a way to compare/equate to PC, such as x watts of T5 is equivalent to x watts of PC?
Do T5 really last 2 years?
Is there that much less heat output?
What about the different bulbs/wavelengths?

None of the local stores here sell them so I have nothing to compare to. Other than the individual parabolic reflectors how can the output be that much more than say a VHO or PC bulb?

Thanks.

 

[Hobster]

anyone use T5's?

 

[Jim Z.]

Hi,

I have a small 30 gallon reeef tank running with 4 36" T5 bulbs and produce about 5 watts per gallon. They are less costly than metal halides and less demanding on the pocket book when utility bills are due. The tank has been setup for 6 months and I am succesfully keeping Acropora , Xenia, Entacmaea quadricolor, Clavularia, Zoanthids, and Anthelia with the lighting. Brightly colored Acropora seem to be growing slower than the green slimer. The bubbletips are thriving with more elongated tentacles than when reared under metal halides.

T5's generate quite a bit of heat but less than metal halide lights. A muffin fan keeps the hood and tank water from heating up. As far as studies go, there are some technical descriptions on spectral ranges produced by t5 bulbs. I have seen some impressive ref tanks that were lit with t5's or with t5's and metal halide so they do get the job done.

As Always,

Jim Z.

 

[Jens Kallmeyer]

HI

At least in Germany T5 got a huge part of the market for smaller tanks (>150 gal). For larger tanks most users still rely on HQI. Most coral breeders in Germany use ONLY T5, even for the most light-hungry SPS.
Here are some examples
http://www.joergs-korallenkeller.de/index.html
http://www.korallenfarm.de/ableger1.html
http://www.miniriff.de/ablegerbecken/ablegerbecken.htm

I can't tell you anything about the comparison with PC as PCs are absolutely unknown in Germany, it really strikes me to see them advertises with slogans like "German style".
A problem with T5 was (in some cases still is) the fact that they are somewhat more sensitive, electronically and physically. For instance, the quality of the ballasts are of major concern, the output of a tube can vary by more than 10 % simply due to the quality of the ballast. Another issue is the development of heat, T5s react very sensitive on temperatures, if the tube gets too hot the output is reduced. Reflectors are next big issue, I just can't believe that there are still some lamps on the market that have one large reflector for several tubes, and that there are people buying them. The loss due to insufficient reflection is considerable; only by using single reflectors with the approprate design (like in the Tec-light) most of the light actually reaches the tank.
Over the last one or two years some companies put considerable effort in the development of new lamps with integrated vents, new ballasts, better reflectors etc. Everybody can put together a T5 lamp but only few can produce a truly high output system.
The tubes are another issue, I have tested a lot of different manufacturers, or rather distributors, as there are only very few companies in the world that make such tubes.
I hate to say but all the stuff that comes from China turned out to be absolute trash, they last 3 to 4 months, after this they are dark, compared to new tubes. The prices here in the US are still ridiculous, about twice to tree times as high as in Germany. This may also be a reason for the lack of acceptance here in the US.
Currently I am using on my 110 gal one 2x54 W lamp from Aquamedic (it is OK, but the reflectors and the bulbs are trash), plus a prototype of a new lamp from Germany with 4x54 W. For any tank this size I would not even think of something else. In case I may settle a bit more permanently I may set up a larger tank (3-500 gal) then I may consider using some 400 W HQI plus T5 for the blue light.

Best wishes

Jens

 

[Hobster]

Jim,

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>




Thanks for the info.What type of fixture are you using? Do you have any thoughts or information on how long the expected life of the bulbs are? I want to set up a 29 g tank that is just sitting in the garage so I was thinking of trying the T5's . As I already have a SPS tank this would be primarly softies/LPS. I have a nice canopy for it so was concerned about heat. My 75 with MH/PC is open, so even in Fl it does not need a chiller.

Jens,

Wish I could read Germany as those are nice links. I agree that it appears the reason T5's are effective is almost all in the reflector. I don't understand how the can be that much better than a PC (CF) if those bulbs also had a parabolic reflector?. The only brand that seems to be selling in the US is the Tek light and it doesn't even have a fan or splash guard. I guess it has good vents and radiates the heat. Giesemann appears to be a good brand but as you state, a little expensive. The imports have a nice price but probably will not last very long.

 

[Rascal]

Tagging.

 

[crazzyreefer]

go to my gallery and you will see the graph its about as compleat as you will find... is it correct...NO... WHY YOU ask... because anecdotal evidence is more correct... you want a study to tell you what, light output? bulbs vary from just the sizes, and other than a few, most just copy the spectrum from other manufacturers, and none are specific to a certain wattage... believe me I was on the phone with the manufacturers, I also tested VHO bulbs for Phillips... I have my oppion of T5s I use most of them in one form or another...but hard facts.... No sorry, only what the companys tell you and they are graphed and overlayed onto coral growth.

 

[Hobster]

Here is some information by Dana Riddle at Riddle Labs.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i4/fluorescent_lamps/fluorescent_lamps.htm

 

[Jim Z.]

Hi,

I used 4 39 watt (2 Tek light retro kits) for my 30 gallon reef tank. I attached a single muffin fan that pulls cool air in over the bulbs. The ballasts are mounted on nylon spacers to the back of the hood and recieve some of the air movement for the muffin fan. My system is very simple and most hoods are over engineered. The Tek lights are easy to wire and it took around two hours to get everything set up. Bulbs can be expected to last at least 9 months. The snap on reflectors help direct light down into the tank. I also painted the inside of the hood with white epoxy marine paint. I am using one actinic, 1 6000, and 2 10,000 tubes. The light is too bright for mushtooms and coraline red alga only seems to grow in teh shaded portions of teh reef rock. Other than those problems, everything else seems to be thriving. I am thinking about trying a small crocea clam, but need to do more research....
As Always,

Jim Z.

 

[Jacob D]

Probably a better question for the equipment forum but here's my .02 - T5's are still pretty new, relatively speaking, in the reefing world and thus probably why there isn't a well rounded source of info regarding their use and measured output values. For every thread on RC that says on thing there is another saying something else so it becomes somewhat frustrating to look for information in that respect.

I've been using T5's for just over 2 years and what I'm about to post is from my own experience - that's it. No numbers to back anything up, I'm not going to link to any threads, etc....

What I like so far:
- Not as hot as halides
- Bright evenly distributed light
- Good growth and color in SPS, LPS, and softies
- Long bulb life
- The best flourescent as far as I'm concerned

What I'm not too thrilled about:
- Corals & clams don't color up as much as under halides
- More bulbs/reflectors to keep clean

Additional Thoughts:
- Although they're not as hot as halides they run a close 2nd.
- I let most of my bulbs go 24 months before chaning them. I did notice a little algae cropping up after 18 months. I'm not totally convinced it was the bulbs but I won't rule it out yet.
- From an energy consumption standpoint they're pretty efficient, but when comparing to other setups remember there are a lot of variables, i.e. what type of ballast, the efficiency of the bulbs, etc...
- There are some outstanding T5 lit tanks (search Iwan and Danano) but I have never seen another T5 lit tank that had the color that these do. On the other hand that sort of color is not too difficult to achieve with halides (assuming you have corals with the potential). This also makes me wonder how much better the quality of the European T5 components is than the American made stuff.

These are just some observations after using T5 for a little over 2 years. Some people run their reefs by books and numbers, and that's fine, but I put more stock in actual results.

 

[guntercb]

Hobster,

Like Jens said - I think alot has to do with the ballast used. As far has numbers. I have one. A ice cap 660 Ballast with 4 4' T-5 bulbs uses 4 Amps. Therefore, at least with an icecap ballast I don't think you get great energy savings.

But I too would like to see the issue straightned out. I have seen some great tanks using them and I think they are a good choice for many applications.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Hobster]

I seems to be an issue of supply and demand or more of a demand and supply (at least in the US).
There are very few T5's systems offered by the major suppliers of other lights. MH, CF and VHO still are the major players here.
For now, I will stick with what I know and what is avaliable.

Who know's maybe LCD's will be the next thing.

 

[wayne in norway]

I ran Deltec T5's for a couple years and was very, very satisfied. You say 'I agree that it appears the reason T5's are effective is almost all in the reflector. I don't understand how the can be that much better than a PC (CF) if those bulbs also had a parabolic reflector?. ' The point is the shape of a pc makes a parabolic reflector impossible. Unbend a PC and you have a T5, and you can now improve my tuning the reflector.

FWIW I am now using MH as I would need a lot of T5's to give me the light I want, and I dislike changing numerous T5 bulbs compared to far fewer MH bulbs. I like simplicity. However they did work very well as I was able to use them as a neat retrofit into the hood of my tank (impossible with MH, and PC is near unknown in Europe

 

[Hobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6499584#post6499584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wayne in norway
' The point is the shape of a pc makes a parabolic reflector impossible. Unbend a PC and you have a T5, and you can now improve my tuning the reflector.

I have a Custom Sealife Brite Lite (no longer made) Which has a 96w PC and a high quality Parabolic Reflector. This single bulb fixture reflects much more light downward into the tank then my Coral Life 96W quad bulb or a Coral life 2 x 65 w fixture which have very cheap reflectors.
So no, it is not "impossible", just larger perhaps.

 

[wayne in norway]

I would be very interested to see a cross sectional view of that. I suspect that it is very easily possible to beat the majority of stock reflectors, but the seagull shape is tough to beat ,and for me tough to match for a bent bulb unless you pull it back a very long way. Try to raymap it.