Which lights are better?

jerryatrick

jerryatrick

Active Member

Originally Posted by Robdog696
http:///forum/post/2728879
Most soft corals can be kept under PC lights. But even most nano reefers upgrade their lights to a single metal halide. If you wish to keep LPS, SPS, or anemones then T5s or MH is a must. With how far technology has come over the last few years, the best T5 HO lights are on par with MH. Using thinner bulbs and individual reflectors, T5 HOs are now putting out more lumens, less heat, and using less energy than MHs. However, MHs penetrate deeper and have a wider spread than T5s. T5 fixtures AND replacement bulbs tend to be cheaper. PC fixtures are cheap when you buy them, but get ready for a shock when you need to replace the bulbs!
Let me first start off by saying that if a new hobbyist asked me what lights they should get for a reef, I would respond with the best that you can afford(T-5 or MH). Now if someone already has a PC fixture and is wanting to go reef I would suggest upgrading but would never tell them that they can't keep certain corals or could not go reef at all.
I have said this a few times on this forum and will say it again. I have yet to come accross a softy or LPS that I couldn't keep under PC. Have I kept every Softy or LPS that is available in our hobby under PC? No I haven't and I might never get the chance to.
I will never attempt to keep a clam or anemone or most SPS under PC. I would never suggest SPS under PC but it can be done assuming the reef keeper places the coral high in the tank.
Right on about the price and lifespan of PC bulbs. This IMO is what really hurts PC lighting the most. Over time you will spend more money with PC lighting. Spend the money up front and look at this hobby as a long term project.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
you can keep anything under pc. just like jerryatrick said- it all depends where you keep it in the tank.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Originally Posted by JerryAtrick
http:///forum/post/2728765
If you wouldn't mind, could you please elaborate on reef tanks not being successful under PC? Are you talking about long term success for larger tanks? Nanos are typically 20 gallons or less right?
Yes nanos are typically 20 or less...
I should clarify, a tank full of softies is a reef tank and I'm sure they do OK under PC's, but what I was thinking when I said that was stonies. I tend to completely overlook most softies so I apologize, what I meant was...
I've never seen a "REAL" reef tank with PC's...

I'm kidding. A stony reef...
 
texasmetal

texasmetal

Active Member
PC's just don't have the penetration that MH's and T-5's have.
Something to consider about MH vs. T-5's is the natural shimmer that MH's create. Just can't get that out of T-5's. On the other hand, I think T-5's have a richer color to them. Maybe I just haven't tried the right MH bulbs though.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
Nothing holds a candle to Mhs..
Pcs,Vhos,T5s are all fourescents...
Pcs are regular output flouros..
Vhos are intense flouros hence the name "Very high output"
T5s are a new type of VHos.. The only diffence between the 2 is the narrowed-diameter shaped bulbs of T5s which enables u 2 consolidate/replace a large bank of pcs/vhos...
Theres no question that any coral can be succesfully kept under pcs, The real question is: which lights are the best for the corals health????
Pcs/T5's lack the "punch", the intensity,the labito, the right stuff that MH's pocess...
 
scrombus2

scrombus2

Member
With florescent bulbs, the number (5) is the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch- T-5= 5/8", T-8= 1", T-12=1-1/2".
 
privatejoker

privatejoker

Member
I have t5's on my tank and my corals looked great before a power outage and my heater going nuts. The only difference I've seen with MH is the shimmer effect. Its nice but not worth the price and heat for me. I have a problem putting some SPS on the top of my tank because I have to much light.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
http:///forum/post/2729582
Nothing holds a candle to Mhs..
Pcs,Vhos,T5s are all fourescents...
Pcs are regular output flouros..
Vhos are intense flouros hence the name "Very high output"
T5s are a new type of VHos.. The only diffence between the 2 is the narrowed-diameter shaped bulbs of T5s which enables u 2 consolidate/replace a large bank of pcs/vhos...
Theres no question that any coral can be succesfully kept under pcs, The real question is: which lights are the best for the corals health????
Pcs/T5's lack the "punch", the intensity,the labito, the right stuff that MH's pocess...
That statement of T5's lack the punch...do alittle research that isn't even close to being true...
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
Do me a favor and do research...Mhs delivers the closest output u can get to Natural sunlight rays....
T5's do lack the punch, the higest lumen output you can get in t5's is less than 7,000.. and thats the Highest Output (HQ)80w T5's.. Can you get the water ripple effect with that??
I don't know anyone that runs 80w mhs.. why would u, when u can get a single 150w mh which outputs 12,000 lux..
that said: in my world, 250w mh is the minimun..
Now, heres the tricky question, can u get the same light intensity in a single 150w mh vs. 2 80w t5's???????
However if your're right, we might see Large banks of t5's Illuminating football stadiums and neighbordhoods soon
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The original question was between PC's and T5's..... T5's definitely don't lack the punch to keep anything in a tank.....take a look over on -- and see how many awesome SPS tanks are done with just T5's.........
Yeah you might not get the shimmer affect you get with MH's, but the shimmer does nothing for the corals....and if we really get technical LEDS compete pretty good with the MH's as well, just pricing right now is outrageous.......
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i disagree. i've seen many LED fixtures in person and i would not want one for the price of a metal halide fixture.
 
aztec reef

aztec reef

Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/2730784
The original question was between PC's and T5's..... T5's definitely don't lack the punch to keep anything in a tank.....take a look over on -- and see how many awesome SPS tanks are done with just T5's.........
Yeah you might not get the shimmer affect you get with MH's, but the shimmer does nothing for the corals....and if we really get technical LEDS compete pretty good with the MH's as well, just pricing right now is outrageous.......
Oh oh, someone has been hanging out at the --.. I surrender

Not!!
Lets not get comfused, theres 2 types of t5's. NO & HO.. As far as the original question, read post #30
I'll play along this t5 hype.. If u didn't know, the shimmering effect is made by the intense light penetrating the shallow seas..This shimmer effect is an indicator of how deep/efficient your light is penetrating a reef.. Have u ever snorkle on a natural reef?? Have u seen the same shimmer effect on the natural reefs.???
Yeah u can come close to mh's intensity but how many t5 bulbs are u comparing to a single mh bulb????
It is a known fact that corals grow better under mh's with 10k kelving rating...
I wouldn't compare LED's with High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps..
Compared with fluorescent and incandescent lamps, HID lamps have higher luminous efficacy since a greater proportion of their radiation is in visible light as opposed to heat. Their overall luminous efficacy is also much higher: they give a greater amount of light output per watt of electricity input.
Metal halide and ceramic metal halide lamps can be made to give off neutral white light useful for applications where normal color appearance is critical, indoor or nighttime sports games, automotive headlamps, and aquarium lighting.
HID lamps are typically used when high levels of light over large areas are required, and when energy efficiency and/or light intensity are desired. These areas include gymnasiums, large public areas, warehouses, movie theaters, football stadiums outdoor activity areas, roadways, parking lots, and pathways. More recently, HID lamps, especially metal halide, have been used in small retail and residential environments. HID lamps have made indoor gardening practical, particularly for plants that require a good deal of high intensity sunlight; HID lamps are a common choice of light source for cannabies growing operations. They are also used to reproduce tropical intensity sunlight for indoor aquariums. aka reefs.
The Par output is just incomparable.. I think the t5s are just for aesthetic reason thus coral coloration appears brighter and pigments seem to glow better..You can get the same or better effect via mh's of 12k and higher kelvins. Actinics are a good alternative too.
Im having difficulties comparing a bank of lights to a single one.

Example:
2 80w t5's= 7k lumens each
compared to
1 150w mh= 12k lumens.
How does 2(or more) 7k lumens t5s bulbs, penetrate as deep as 1 12k lumens bulb?????
how does this happend???Do u expect me to think that 2x7=14k lumens therefore it is the same/better than a single 12k lumen mh bulb?? Wrong!!.. Im not talking about coverage area, im talking about penetration/intensity. cuz you wanna be able to keep corals at ground level, Or at least half way down your tank...right??
 
privatejoker

privatejoker

Member
It is a known fact that corals grow better under mh's with 10k kelving rating...
If you can get me an article or anything that says this I would love to read it. I've had great success with t5's and coral growth rate and color.
Im having difficulties comparing a bank of lights to a single one.
This is another reason I like t5's over mh, you have more choices of light color and the heat put out by mh is alot more than t5's.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
PAR incomparable?
Maybe if you're comparing a Nova Extreme with stock bulbs and a 250w 10k Ushio halide bulb on a Luminarc reflector. I've seen a six-bulb TEK which is by far not the best T5 fixture out there have a much higher PAR at water level than a 175w halide setup, and kept pretty close as the water got deeper. Granted you're out of luck if the tank is over 24" deep without overdriving the bulbs or using a more powerful fixture like the ATI powermodule.
I think many Europeans would disagree with you.
-Justin
 
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