powercompact vs. t5

clr_27

clr_27

New Member
what would be the best lighting option for a 20 gallon high? i am open to any suggestions, it just seems to me that the pc's and t5's are the most economical. potential setups are 55x2 pc or 4x24 t5's. i metal halide an option for a tank this small. heat is a concern right? thanks for the help.
clr
 
clr_27

clr_27

New Member
the t5's would only give me around 4.5-5 watts per gallon. is it better light than the pc provide? what about 2x65 pc?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
The problem with PC's is that a LARGE portion of the light is wasted around the bend. almost 1/4 or the light just collides with another part of the PC bulb. There's just no way to get a reflector to capture this light.
The T-5 being linear, means you can get a reflector to capture the light and send it into the water.
I've tried PC and I've never been happy with the amount of light you can actually get into the water. WPG is moot if you can't get the light to the coral.
 
niger12

niger12

Member
I have run T-5 and PC and prefer the T-5's. I am currently running a small reef with T-5 and have gotten great results. I now everyone says you should only keeps SPS under MH but I have been keeping them under T-5 and have had good success (growth and color). You could also try a 150w HQI. I just bought one for another small reef I am setting up. Also do some searching on the net, there are a few articles to be found that claim T-5 have higher par value than PC and VHO. They also claim a bulb life of 24 months on 10k and 18 months on Actinic.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
It's a double-ended MH bulb run off an HQI or Electronic ballast. It'll give you a LOT more light than the other options inclusing the 175MH I suggested.
I bow to Niger12
 
clr_27

clr_27

New Member
i have read that that is the best. however, being new to the hobbie, i am just not ready to spend that kind of money. does anyone have experience with the jebo 55x2 power compact? I have been told it comes with a workhorse ballast. for 49.95 it seems hard to beat? but if it is junk, i will spring for a coral life, or a t5 retro-kit.
 
manjisann

manjisann

Member
A lfs told me that the t5's need to be replaced about once a year, ballast and all, does anyone know anything about that? And are we talking about the T5's that are about 5/8 diameter?
 
wocka

wocka

Active Member
clr_27
what are the dimensions of ur 20g tank? i have a 15-20g and im not exactly sure how big the tank is
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator

Originally posted by ManjiSann
A lfs told me that the t5's need to be replaced about once a year, ballast and all, does anyone know anything about that? And are we talking about the T5's that are about 5/8 diameter?
BS... The ballasts for T5 are electronic and the bulbs should last 2 years on T5 ballasts. Yep, T5 are the skinney ones.
fyi - IceCap 660's overdrive T5 bulbs to get even more intensity but the bulbs really do only last a year on them.
 
clr_27

clr_27

New Member
wocka, the demensions on my tank are 24'' across X 18'' high X 12'' deep i think. it is a 20 gallon high.
 
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