T5 or PC
- Thread starter b-town
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huma huma6
Member
From where I've looked t5 are more expensive than power compact.
fedukeford
Active Member
If you are only going to want softies go with PC, but if you decided to go with the T5, yes it would be more expensive, but you'd be able to keep pretty much any coral and clams. I think the T5 are also a little cheaper to run and the bulbs only need to be replaced once a year (PC needs to be replaced every 6 months). So in the long run, IMO the T5 are a better choice, because once you get a couple corals, your gonna want more and harder to keep corals, which require more light in most cases.
Feduke
Feduke
dmc888
Member
I switched from a coralife 260w pc to a 216w t5 nova extreme.
Tek seems more popular with their better reflectors. I have fish only so i don't need the extra light.
I have to say the light is about the same or even brighter than my old pc.
One of my ballasts went bad on the pc so i could not do a side by side comparison.
The t5 bulbs are actually a little cheaper than pc.
Tek seems more popular with their better reflectors. I have fish only so i don't need the extra light.
I have to say the light is about the same or even brighter than my old pc.
One of my ballasts went bad on the pc so i could not do a side by side comparison.
The t5 bulbs are actually a little cheaper than pc.
wangotango
Active Member
T5 produce little if any heat at all. they are more energy efficient, and cheaper in the long run. while you may have fewer watts with the T5 than PC, its not the amount of watts that matters, but rather how well the light is penetrating through the tank. what makes T5 so good are that each bulb has its own reflector. the reason most people dont like nova fixtures is because there is only one reflector for the entire fixture. tek fixtures are good, aquactinics are a little better, and ati and icecap fixtures are the best (but most expensive). hope that helps.
-Justin
-Justin
G
gsxr1100
Guest
I have a PC 260W(coralife) and paid around $220 (with bulbs). Bulbs are high priced, output is average at best and bulb life is poor (6 top 8 months max).
Switched to a TEK Sunlight (216 W) paid $239 (with 2 bulbs) and paid another $50 for aqua blue +. T5 bulbs last 14 to 24 months, cheaper to replace ($11 for white and $22 to 24 for blues) and WAY more light vs watts.
IMO, PC's are overpriced. IN my 75 I could keep almost anything out there. With PC..nope.
Switched to a TEK Sunlight (216 W) paid $239 (with 2 bulbs) and paid another $50 for aqua blue +. T5 bulbs last 14 to 24 months, cheaper to replace ($11 for white and $22 to 24 for blues) and WAY more light vs watts.
IMO, PC's are overpriced. IN my 75 I could keep almost anything out there. With PC..nope.
G
gsxr1100
Guest
Originally Posted by chilwil84
400 for the nova extreme is a good deal for 8 54 watt and i havent had anyproblems keeping sps and havnt read any numbers comparing the single reflector verses individual only on the different type of t5s
I would check out a TEK light since they are cheaper then $400 (and you get 50% of the bulbs)
jlem
Active Member
Originally Posted by fedukeford
If you are only going to want softies go with PC, but if you decided to go with the T5, yes it would be more expensive, but you'd be able to keep pretty much any coral and clams. I think the T5 are also a little cheaper to run and the bulbs only need to be replaced once a year (PC needs to be replaced every 6 months).
Feduke
I have a giant clam and hard and soft corals in my 150 gallon with PC's and VHO's. I change my bulbs once every year. I think it is funny how before T-5's where the hot ticket everyone said that PC's could keep everything that VHO couldn't. Now that T-5's are suddenly the holy grail of lighting, people are blindly following the trend PC's aren't worth crap. I am sure that T-5's are great but PC's work just fine and you don't need 8 bulbs to get light coverage over a decent size tank.
I guess after 9 years in the hobby I take the band wagon with a grain of salt. If the system ain't broke then why spend a bunch of money to fix it.
If you are only going to want softies go with PC, but if you decided to go with the T5, yes it would be more expensive, but you'd be able to keep pretty much any coral and clams. I think the T5 are also a little cheaper to run and the bulbs only need to be replaced once a year (PC needs to be replaced every 6 months).
Feduke
I have a giant clam and hard and soft corals in my 150 gallon with PC's and VHO's. I change my bulbs once every year. I think it is funny how before T-5's where the hot ticket everyone said that PC's could keep everything that VHO couldn't. Now that T-5's are suddenly the holy grail of lighting, people are blindly following the trend PC's aren't worth crap. I am sure that T-5's are great but PC's work just fine and you don't need 8 bulbs to get light coverage over a decent size tank.
I guess after 9 years in the hobby I take the band wagon with a grain of salt. If the system ain't broke then why spend a bunch of money to fix it.
chilwil84
Active Member
nova comes with all 8 and usually only the 4 bulb tek5 is cheaper around $314 for the reef version not the cheaper planted tank version with 6k bulbs i have no experience with vho but when i went from equal watt pc to my t5s many of my pieces of coral went through light shock so imo t5s are better than pcs but may well be equal to vho but with longer life
G
gsxr1100
Guest
Originally Posted by chilwil84
nova comes with all 8 and usually only the 4 bulb tek5 is cheaper around $314 for the reef version not the cheaper planted tank version with 6k bulbs
I can get the TEK 4 light for about $230 with 50% of the bulbs from a major fish place. T5's have been the craze for years now. After having a PC and upping to T5, you could not give me PC. I am getting 3 times the bulbs life, more light for less $$$$.
If I had to do it again I would do a retro since you could build it for about half the price I listed.
nova comes with all 8 and usually only the 4 bulb tek5 is cheaper around $314 for the reef version not the cheaper planted tank version with 6k bulbs
I can get the TEK 4 light for about $230 with 50% of the bulbs from a major fish place. T5's have been the craze for years now. After having a PC and upping to T5, you could not give me PC. I am getting 3 times the bulbs life, more light for less $$$$.
If I had to do it again I would do a retro since you could build it for about half the price I listed.
