t5 to pc comparison.

mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
MAybe you all can help me out. I am looking at upgrading hte lights on my nano tank and I currently have 108 watts of pc lighting. I was looking at the new 18" nova extreme 18" t 5 fixtures. these are 40w fixtures. Was going to get two of them. So my questions is would I notice much difference from 108 watt pc to 80w T5 . Currently I have 1 10k bulb 1 50 50 and 1 actinic. I would be going to 2 10k's and 2 actinics. Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thanks in advance. Mojo~
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by mojo46825
http:///forum/post/2556302
MAybe you all can help me out. I am looking at upgrading hte lights on my nano tank and I currently have 108 watts of pc lighting. I was looking at the new 18" nova extreme 18" t 5 fixtures. these are 40w fixtures. Was going to get two of them. So my questions is would I notice much difference from 108 watt pc to 80w T5 . Currently I have 1 10k bulb 1 50 50 and 1 actinic. I would be going to 2 10k's and 2 actinics. Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thanks in advance. Mojo~

If they were individually reflected, (which I dont think they are) then they would prob be equal to what you have. If they were HO T5's then yes absolutly. But to go from 108 watts of PC to 80 watts of NO t5 then you are going in the wrong direction. They are the same out put bulb and have just about the same lumens per watt at Normal Output.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
THey are the Nova extreme 18" t5 HO fixtures. So I would be looking at two of these. anymore suggestions?
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
I'm pretty sure the smallest T5ho bulb is 24".
I agree with Dark on this. I wouldn't consider it much of an upgrade if any.
-Justin
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
My apologies, I just looked and indeed they have an 18" HO bulb now 2x20 watts. My answer would be yes they are more intense than your current PC lights are. They will reach further down into your tank. If the bulbs were individually reflected this would be even better but, for the money they are better than PC's IMO.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
yea they just came out with a 18" model on these. I ordered one to see how I thought it would work. If it looks good I might order one or two more.I would like to fit 6 of these HO t5's on my 29 g nano. Less heat than a halide. I have a lot of work to do and have researched these a little but I am not that familiar with the t5 HO bulb, never used em. Either I have had pc's or halides. SO If these look good I will def go with 1 more if not 2 more of these. So how will 120 watt of t5's stack up to a 70 watt halide. That would be my other option if this doesnt work. Thanks in advance for the help. Mojo~
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by mojo46825
http:///forum/post/2556701
yea they just came out with a 18" model on these. I ordered one to see how I thought it would work. If it looks good I might order one or two more.I would like to fit 6 of these HO t5's on my 29 g nano. Less heat than a halide. I have a lot of work to do and have researched these a little but I am not that familiar with the t5 HO bulb, never used em. Either I have had pc's or halides. SO If these look good I will def go with 1 more if not 2 more of these. So how will 120 watt of t5's stack up to a 70 watt halide. That would be my other option if this doesnt work. Thanks in advance for the help. Mojo~
On a tank that size they will exceed it IMO. I have 96watts of HO T5 on my biocube and I want a bit more. If I could be in the 120+ range I would do it. But I am buying the 150watt MH sunpod light for it.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
well I have a new 20in sunpod 150w metal halide sitting here still in the box. I was just wanting to keep the top on. So I would be retroing my hood on my 29. I bought one of these HO t5s to see if and how I will get them to fit in my BC 29. The bulbs are only 15.75 in long. So with the encaps I think I can get them to fit. I even found reflector so I could make individual reflectors. it might mean I go with less bulbs maybe only three or four rather than 6. It will be quite the little project. I am a industrial technician by trade and havea degree in industrial technology. Seems I like to tinker with things. MAybe even too much. Thanks for all the input. My first fixture that I will be tearing aprt will be here Friday.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by mojo46825
http:///forum/post/2557080
well I have a new 20in sunpod 150w metal halide sitting here still in the box. I was just wanting to keep the top on. So I would be retroing my hood on my 29. I bought one of these HO t5s to see if and how I will get them to fit in my BC 29. The bulbs are only 15.75 in long. So with the encaps I think I can get them to fit. I even found reflector so I could make individual reflectors. it might mean I go with less bulbs maybe only three or four rather than 6. It will be quite the little project. I am a industrial technician by trade and havea degree in industrial technology. Seems I like to tinker with things. MAybe even too much. Thanks for all the input. My first fixture that I will be tearing aprt will be here Friday.
Are you looking to sell the your sunpod? I am trying to get in touch with someone who has one for sale but in the event I cant or there is something wrong with his, let me know.
The cube hoods are easy to retrofit... look at nano tuners site they have complete PDF of how to mod the hood for an additional 1 or 2 PC Lights.. maybe the schematic will help you retrofit yours.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
yea thats what I did to add the extra 36 watt pc. I bought the 36 watt kit not the 3.24 upgrade. Same thing without the different fans and such. I have done a couple of these now and found its cheaper this way. I installed the new ballast under the hood and still use the stck. No real mods at all to stock hood. I have the sunpod for sale on a

[hr]
site and it ends this weekend. It is new in box. Never even opend it.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
I just wanted to keep a stock hood. Iknow adding a halide in there creates alot of heat. I was hoping to get more light output with less heat. So when I saw the new smaller HO t5's I thought hmmm I wonder how much better they are than the pc's. And I am still not sure what to do about reflectors. If I will use the one reflector for them all or give each one an individual reflector. I wont be able to put as many bulbs in but thats not all bad eaither. Get more bang for the buck.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by mojo46825
http:///forum/post/2557177
I just wanted to keep a stock hood. Iknow adding a halide in there creates alot of heat. I was hoping to get more light output with less heat. So when I saw the new smaller HO t5's I thought hmmm I wonder how much better they are than the pc's. And I am still not sure what to do about reflectors. If I will use the one reflector for them all or give each one an individual reflector. I wont be able to put as many bulbs in but thats not all bad eaither. Get more bang for the buck.

IMO I would try to individually reflect them. Defintaly worth it, and that sounds like a good idea with retrofitting the T5's. I am sure now that nova came out with the smaller bulbs it was to target these nano cube size tanks. I would venture to say it wont be long before you see an upgrade kit inclusive of everything you need to install 4 bulbs into the hood of a cube tank.
FYI.. I sent you a PM.
 
mojo46825

mojo46825

Member
Ok well I ordered 2 sets of HO t5's to upgrade my hood to start with . I think that I will use 80 wats of HO t5's and I orderd Tek II T5 reflectors. So I will try to fit 4 HO T5's with individual reflectors. 80 watts total. You think that this will be a improvement ? From what I read It will better to rune 4 bulbs with reflectors that 6 bulbs without. plus less heat and energy. Now the trick will be getting them to fit. I ordered 36 in reflectors and will have tocut them with my dremel. Kinda excited. I hope that this will be an impovement and not just a waste of time and $$$$. currently have the 3x36 watt pc in my hood. next week I hope to have 4x20 HO T5's with individual reflectors.
 
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