T5 vs. PC
- Thread starter fishfatty
- Start date
wangotango
Active Member
T5's are better than pc's that im sure everyone can agree on. imo the lighting line-up from least to greatest is: standard output, pc's, VHO, T5, metal halide. i personally think that in certain setups (smaller, shallower tanks) T5 is more practicle over halide. but overall halide is the best.
wangotango
Active Member
what is the length and width of the tank? really the more bulbs the better. for reference im putting the 48" 5x 54watt bulb aquatinics fixture over my 55.
puffer32
Active Member
You can't really go by watts with T5 lighting, but I do have 8, 54 watt bulbs in a 150. My clams are not in the sand, I have them up in the rocks about half way up. So the depth is not important. (not sure of depth anyways, but it is a deep tank). If you don't have a deep tank, clams should be fine under T5 in the sand bed.
wangotango
Active Member
what fixture are you looking into? make sure you get one with individual reflectors.
fishfatty
Active Member
"The unit is 48 inches long and runs 6 54 watt T5 HO high output bulbs. You will recieve 6 T5 HO bulbs with this unit
This unit is run by 5 year warranty electronic ballast, and runs ultra cool.
Unit has 2 high powered fans included to keep unit extra cool.
The finest german polished reflective material is used to increase reflectivity 99% to make units output even more powerful."
This unit is run by 5 year warranty electronic ballast, and runs ultra cool.
Unit has 2 high powered fans included to keep unit extra cool.
The finest german polished reflective material is used to increase reflectivity 99% to make units output even more powerful."
wangotango
Active Member
with just a single reflector, the par can drop by about 20-30%, even still depending on what you keep this really isnt a problem. however if you are looking to keep more light-demanding corals, looking into reflectors for each bulb. just out of curiosity is it a TEK fixture?
wangotango
Active Member
ahh yes the famous auction site. anyways PAR stands for photosynthetically active radiation (which in all honesty is way over my head). i think a simpiler version of PAR would be how much light is actually penetrating through the water and is available to be used in photosynthesis. as for clams, you should be able too still keep them (ive kept a crocea under vho for over a year with absolutely no problems) but im not sure if i would put one on the bottom. maybe a derasa or squamosa? anyone else if you think im wrong or want to add chime in, i right now dont have T5 but will be adding them within the next month or two so im going off my best judgement and what ive heard about other people's successes.
jswan10
Member
I just purchased and hooked up the Nova Extreme 36'' 4 x 39watt on my 46 bow, i replaced my Current 24'' 130watt total PC. All i can say is WOW what a differance in lighting. my tank looks amazing.
I was told that the 154w total T5 is as powerful as roughly 300-330 total watts of PC, anyone hear of this? it sure looks like it. What else do u guys know abt T5?
I was told that the 154w total T5 is as powerful as roughly 300-330 total watts of PC, anyone hear of this? it sure looks like it. What else do u guys know abt T5?