T5 vs. VHO vs. PC?

lareefkeeper

lareefkeeper

New Member
Hello All, long time reader first time poster...and I am sorry that my first post on SWF.com is another lighting thread, but here it goes. I am setting up a 180 gal. mixed reef (Zoos, Mushrooms, Softies, and maybe a couple of LPS) and I am trying to install adeqate reef lighting with throwing myself into a new level of debt. My question really comes down to whether there is a difference in light output from one bulb type to another (ex. 5 watts of T5 lighting vs. 5 watts of VHO). I would prefer to stay away from MH lights due to the cost and heat, but I would appreciate any other recommendations on fixtures or retrofits that you are using. Tank dimensions are 72 x 24 x 24.
 
loopy101

loopy101

Member
i currently have pc lighting and have no complaints corals are growing and doing well, but as far as color i prefer t5's i have them on my frag tank and the frags are growing better and seem to have better color to the corals as well. i cant answer y our question on what the difference is between t5 and vho lights. but i know my next set of lights will be t5's with indvidual reflectors.
 
loopy101

loopy101

Member
the pc's are on my 55 gal and they are 4, 65watt 50/50 bulbs for a total of 260watts,
and on the frag tank its a custom built 26 gal tank. when i had them cut the glass i made it more square then rectangle(my mistake) but i have just a 24 inch t5 two bulb fixture so 1 10k bulb and 1 actnic bulb for a total of 48watts. all i have in the frag tank is zoas and a bunch of kenya trees but i like the color of the zoas better in the frag tank then under the pc lighting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top