t5 HO lighting
- Thread starter greysin
- Start date
scsinet
Active Member
Okay so it sounds like you have a 30 gallon tank or so if I calculated that right...
T5 HO lamps are more efficient than PC.
So you get more light output for each watt of energy consumed. Therefore, using 130 watts of T5 would give you more light, less heat, etc, etc.
The amount of light used for reef tanks is a matter of subjection, but usually it's figured on a watts-per-gallon basis. This does not take into account efficiency. PCs are some of the lowest efficiency out there, so you generally need more watts-per-gallon (wpg) of PC than you would for something more efficient, say metal halide or T5 (which are both pretty well tied for top marks of efficiency).
For T5 or Halide, 5wpg is usually pretty good. For PCs, I'd want 6-8 watts to keep clams or anemones successfully. Now I'm sure SOMEONE is going to crawl out from under a rock and proclaim how they are keeping clams and/or anemones under less, but these are my opinions, not facts!
T5s would be perfect for this tank. In your situation, 6x24 watts of T5 would give you 144 watts of light, which would let you keep whatever you wanted.
T5 HO lamps are more efficient than PC.
So you get more light output for each watt of energy consumed. Therefore, using 130 watts of T5 would give you more light, less heat, etc, etc.
The amount of light used for reef tanks is a matter of subjection, but usually it's figured on a watts-per-gallon basis. This does not take into account efficiency. PCs are some of the lowest efficiency out there, so you generally need more watts-per-gallon (wpg) of PC than you would for something more efficient, say metal halide or T5 (which are both pretty well tied for top marks of efficiency).
For T5 or Halide, 5wpg is usually pretty good. For PCs, I'd want 6-8 watts to keep clams or anemones successfully. Now I'm sure SOMEONE is going to crawl out from under a rock and proclaim how they are keeping clams and/or anemones under less, but these are my opinions, not facts!
T5s would be perfect for this tank. In your situation, 6x24 watts of T5 would give you 144 watts of light, which would let you keep whatever you wanted.
wangotango
Active Member
ive only seen 24" and 36" fixtures. tek is the ony 24" fixture that i can find (unless you want to go with an icecap retro). the tek holds (4) 24w bulbs. normally i tell people to go aquactinics, but the smallest T5 fixture they have is 36".
-Justin
-Justin
reefrunner
Member
Pardon my naivity here.
What is T5 lighting? I know about Actinic, and Halide, but have never heard of T5.
I have a new set up with a high intensity 50/50 actinic compact light. What is the difference between that and T5 lighting? What kind of life can I expect to support with actinics, as opposed to T5?
What is T5 lighting? I know about Actinic, and Halide, but have never heard of T5.
I have a new set up with a high intensity 50/50 actinic compact light. What is the difference between that and T5 lighting? What kind of life can I expect to support with actinics, as opposed to T5?
wangotango
Active Member
Originally Posted by greysin
Would the tek 24" fixture with 4-24W be enough to allow anemones/ hard to thrive at a max depth of 18 inches? (since each bulb has their own reflector) I wish I could test all these fixtures without buying, it would sure make this easier heh.
there have been tests done, but i cant tell you where to find them, but start with google. as far as anemones are concerned, probably if you keep them at least half-way up, and sps (if you're doing them) towards the top. softies and lps should be fine anywhere else. a lower kelvin bulb (6500k or 10000k) will give you the extra penetration you might need.
-Justin
Would the tek 24" fixture with 4-24W be enough to allow anemones/ hard to thrive at a max depth of 18 inches? (since each bulb has their own reflector) I wish I could test all these fixtures without buying, it would sure make this easier heh.
there have been tests done, but i cant tell you where to find them, but start with google. as far as anemones are concerned, probably if you keep them at least half-way up, and sps (if you're doing them) towards the top. softies and lps should be fine anywhere else. a lower kelvin bulb (6500k or 10000k) will give you the extra penetration you might need.
-Justin
wangotango
Active Member
Originally Posted by reefrunner
Pardon my naivity here.
What is T5 lighting? I know about Actinic, and Halide, but have never heard of T5.
I have a new set up with a high intensity 50/50 actinic compact light. What is the difference between that and T5 lighting? What kind of life can I expect to support with actinics, as opposed to T5?
T5 is another type of florescent tube, with a diameter of 5/8". VHO are considered T12 (1 1/2"). even though T5 are so small, they have a much greater intensity than other flourescent tubes, and in most cases can be comparable to a halide bulb, as long as each bulb has its own reflector. imo, lighting (in order of least intense, to most intense) is: power compact (pc), VHO, T5/ halide.
-Justin
Pardon my naivity here.
What is T5 lighting? I know about Actinic, and Halide, but have never heard of T5.
I have a new set up with a high intensity 50/50 actinic compact light. What is the difference between that and T5 lighting? What kind of life can I expect to support with actinics, as opposed to T5?
T5 is another type of florescent tube, with a diameter of 5/8". VHO are considered T12 (1 1/2"). even though T5 are so small, they have a much greater intensity than other flourescent tubes, and in most cases can be comparable to a halide bulb, as long as each bulb has its own reflector. imo, lighting (in order of least intense, to most intense) is: power compact (pc), VHO, T5/ halide.
-Justin