t-5 vs PC
- Thread starter fatty50
- Start date
zanoshanox
Active Member
Yes. This may help...It's the way I rate the different lighting types, and it is the genercal concent.
(1 being best)
1. Metal Halide (MH) - Can keep anything including clams, anemones and SPS
2. T-5 - Can keep mostly anything, Perhaps even clams, anemones and SPS closer to the lights
3. VHO and PC - Can keep anything but clams, SPs, and anemones. Good for lower light corals.
4. Standard Flourescent - cannot keep any corals really
(1 being best)
1. Metal Halide (MH) - Can keep anything including clams, anemones and SPS
2. T-5 - Can keep mostly anything, Perhaps even clams, anemones and SPS closer to the lights
3. VHO and PC - Can keep anything but clams, SPs, and anemones. Good for lower light corals.
4. Standard Flourescent - cannot keep any corals really
zanoshanox
Active Member
Lighting is really a matter of oppinion. And i was just giving general opinion, i actually have two anemones under PC's in my 20, lol. You coudl maybe get a lower light anemone for you're tt, like a BTA ro LTawoudl probably do just fine. But I might be wrong there as well, because my friend has a sebea anemone on his 16 gal under standard flourescent 15 w light, and its been THRIVING for almost three months...so maybe it's all overrated, who knows for sure?
zanoshanox
Active Member
Also with T-5 the best fixtures are the ones with individual reflectors for each bulb. Produces WAY more lgith output.
nigerbang
Active Member
A little old info..see about when the light come out..but here it is..(not mine)
Compact Fluorescent : Also referred as Power Compacts. This is a florescent technology, except the bulb is powered from one end, not end to end like VHO. It's also a smaller U tube type design. Compacts entered the market many years ago, and on paper are superior to VHO. They have more watt for watt output. Example: 55watt Compact bulb is roughly as bright as a 95 watt VHO tube. Their lower price (on most sizes), more watt output, and compact size has made them extremely popular. The biggest drawback is the 7100K Actinic blue is not a true actinic. The lamps do not have the same glow VHO puts off, so it's a different look and may also contribute to algae problems. Until recently they only had a 6700K daylight bulb. So your bulb choices are much more limited, also limited to one manufacture for the PFO/CSL brand compacts. They recently released a 8800K crisp white and a Smart lamp which is half blue/half white. So they are making improvements in this technology everyday, a new 10K bulb is expected in August. We feel compacts work great for soft corals, LPS, and even SPS and clams. 55watt is usually great for up to 24" deep, 96watt for deeper tanks, or more clam/sps tanks. For a smaller tank, 36" length or less, it's really tough to beat compact's price.
Compact Fluorescent : Also referred as Power Compacts. This is a florescent technology, except the bulb is powered from one end, not end to end like VHO. It's also a smaller U tube type design. Compacts entered the market many years ago, and on paper are superior to VHO. They have more watt for watt output. Example: 55watt Compact bulb is roughly as bright as a 95 watt VHO tube. Their lower price (on most sizes), more watt output, and compact size has made them extremely popular. The biggest drawback is the 7100K Actinic blue is not a true actinic. The lamps do not have the same glow VHO puts off, so it's a different look and may also contribute to algae problems. Until recently they only had a 6700K daylight bulb. So your bulb choices are much more limited, also limited to one manufacture for the PFO/CSL brand compacts. They recently released a 8800K crisp white and a Smart lamp which is half blue/half white. So they are making improvements in this technology everyday, a new 10K bulb is expected in August. We feel compacts work great for soft corals, LPS, and even SPS and clams. 55watt is usually great for up to 24" deep, 96watt for deeper tanks, or more clam/sps tanks. For a smaller tank, 36" length or less, it's really tough to beat compact's price.
zanoshanox
Active Member
I believe that Pc's are veyr overrated in that article. They are nice, cheap lights but you cant keep SPS and clams with them come on...
wattsupdoc
Active Member
I have a 65 tall, with a single reflector 312 watts of T-5ho's. My monti cap sps is up about halfway and doing great. Only had it about a month now and I'm seeing alot of new browth on it. The other day I noticed I had a hitchicker clam, not sure what king it is or even if its light loving. It was on a piece of tonga branch I got about 2-3 mos. ago and i popped it loose from the branch recently. I noticed it crawling along the glass and realized its alive. Theres another one on the branch and I believe it to be live also.
Jus my 2 cents worth.
Jus my 2 cents worth.
fanker
Active Member
t-5s are alot more powerful than u guys think. i have had t-5s almosyt since i started reefing. i have had pc's, mh, and t-5s. the pcs were good for growing alge...lol, the mh was the best lights ever but cost to much for a fixture and cost to much in replacing bulbs and cost to much in elecrticity. than i tried helios t-5s. the best lighs i have gotten so far. they have been able to let me keep ne think(havent tried sps or clams yet....crappy filtration)
