T5's

[jallard]

Anyone useing T5's only for lighting up there tank? If so how do you like it?

 

[DanConnor]

I'm using 4 T5s on my 240 vivarium- very nice. I think T5's would be a great reef option.

 

[Pescados]

I love em! no heat!

 

[DanConnor]

Well, I wouldn't go that far...

 

[Ken668]

I have a 4x54w T5 fixture on my prop tank. You're welcome to stop over and check them out sometime, Joe.

 

[jallard]

thanks ken and dan for the input.....im in the planning stages of a 75g RR. Im thinking it's gonna be a room divider. If you remember my place it would look pretty cool. Heat and energy consumption are a concideration. Would 4x54w be enough to support some sps?

 

[DanConnor]

I would think so, at least at the top. The sps in my minibow are about 6 inches from 96 watts of PC and they are coloring nicely.

 

[jallard]

hummm...any idea how economical they are? They gotta be cheaper to run than MH ...right?

 

[DanConnor]

Well, a watt is a watt, I guess. It would be hard to spread 216 watts of halide over a 75, that's for sure.

 

[Lakeside518]

Joe take a look at this thread i came across the other day Lumens per watt... I found it interesting.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=949270

 

[jallard]

interesting read.....im pretty intrigued by T5's...they seem to have potential

 

[plandy]

Joe, I've committed my 90 gallon construction project to Evo's Extreme T5. They come with 8 bulbs and can be switched per set of four on the timer. The trick is to combine them with the proper heat range for optimum growth and exhibition colors. Absolutely you gain big on energy conservation and cost of operation. I'd say don't go with less then 6 bulbs. Yes they have 6 bulb t5 reflectors.

 

[jallard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8362279#post8362279 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plandy
Yes they have 6 bulb t5 reflectors.

Im planning on individual reflectors

 

[plandy]

"Im planning on individual reflectors"

That's good. Even if they generate much less heat than MH do add one or two PC fan(s). It will serve well during hot summer days.

 

[ChrisBuono]

I started with a total of 8 T5s (> 500 Watts). Some SPS did well at the top of the tank, but others grew very slowly. I ended up adding a 150W MH to the mix.

 

[Ken668]

After extensive reading on the subject, T5s are FAR more efficient than any of the other HO or VHO florescent bulbs. So essentially you will get more PAR from the same watt output. After taking measurements with my Quantum Meter, my 216w T5 setup puts out relatively the same PAR as my 384w PC setup. And although I haven't tested depth penetration (30" for my main display vs 10" for my prop tank), from what I've read, T5s with individual reflectors are comparable if not better than MHs when it comes to depth.

 

[jallard]

cool thanks guys for the input

 

[scorp1on]

This helps me also. So for the price vs halide the output is equal or better?

 

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Jallard,

i am in the planning stages of setting up a 90, and lighting is one of my biggest concerns. when you have a time check out my thread, i have done AlOT of reseach, if you go down around 80% of the page you can see the three fixtures i am contemplating, i am pretts set on getting the Aquatinics T5 HO 5 Bulb , i think that would be perfect for you as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=947713

Jeff

 

[jallard]

is it a retro kit...im gonna have a canopy