T5 versus MH

[hng]

It would be a good experiment if someone had access to both types of lighting and a lux meter to just do a measurement. I would like to see the results, regardless of what they might be. Here is something I found from the American COuncil for an Energy Efficient Economy

High-intensity fluorescent lighting systems are an energy-efficient alternative to high-intensity discharge lamps in many medium- and high-bay applications including retail outlets, industrial facilities, and warehouse and storage space. New high-intensity fluorescent lighting systems incorporate high-output linear T5 (T5HO) fluorescent lamps with high-efficacy fixtures to maximize light output in the space. Each of the system components confers advantages over traditional HID fixtures. Advantages include: lower energy consumption; lower lumen depreciation over the lifetime of the lamp; better dimming options; faster start-up and restrike (virtually “instant-on” capability); better color rendition; higher pupil lumens ratings (translating into improved worker productivity and performance); and less glare (given fixture design and the more diffuse nature of the fluorescent light source) [Rogers, J. and I. Krepchin. 2000. New High-Intensity Fluorescent Lights Outshine their HID Competitors. ER-00-1. Boulder, Colo.: E Source]. Many lighting designers recommend a mixture of high-efficiency HID lamps (e.g., pulse-start metal halides with electronic ballasts) and high-intensity fluorescents to maximize cost-effective energy savings. [Walerczyk, S. and B. Liebel. 2002. "Cutting Edge Retrofitting and Relighting". Seminar presentation at Lightfair International 2002, San Francisco, Calif., June 2.]. Under similar operating conditions, high-intensity fluorescent replacements yield 50 percent electricity savings over standard metal halide HID lamps. For a typical application, this translates to annual energy savings of more than 900 kWh per fixture.

[Geoff]

thanks for the link, i will look into it!!

i could very well stand corrected.

remember lumens and PAR are completely different. we really need to know PAR to have any meaningfull info from the experiment.

if a good MH bulb is chosen no supplimentation is needed. supplimentation is only for our eyes and not for the critters. in a T-5 setup you will be supplimenting your bulbs with other T-5's. no different.

you can easily get 2yrs of use out of an iwasaki bulb. an XM 10K is not that far behind it either. it is only when you get into the high K bulbs that bulb life really becomes a year or less. this is also true with flourescents. it is just the nature of the phosphores.

this page has an interesting graphic on it. this page deals with agricultural, which is not much different than what we are doing in our tanks. we are just growing calcium plants aren't we.

i am beginning to see a lot of different numbers each showing both sides. not sure why though. you figure this should be pretty cut and dry.

G~

[hng]

Originally Posted by Geoff

i am beginning to see a lot of different numbers each showing both sides. not sure why though. you figure this should be pretty cut and dry.

G~

If only things were that easy! Maybe there are too many variables like bulb brand, ballast type, ambient temperature, etc that come into play. I'm surpirsed that I couldn't find any head to head light measurements. I think it would be interesting to know the results, not that it would really change too many people's minds about which lighting to use. Everyone definitely has their favorite, and depending on their situation, either system would work nicely .

[ReelFreak]

There have been independent tests done by reefers and posted over on RC, they compared MH to T5HO. It basically concluded that it takes less watts to get the equivalent PAR when using T5 vs. MH, especially at deeper depths where the source point nature of MH had really scattered PAR vs. the more uniform T5 lighting.

I will say this, I believe that both are great applications for the reef tank and yes even SPS dominant tanks. But it is my belief after reading tons of threads and seeing the results from T5 users over long periods (over a year minimum) that you can keep a great reef tank w/ T5 and save money in energy and supplies.....

HNG- thanks for the info and link, I read for months and months before buying T5 but saved none of the info......Sometimes I think most proponents of MH who don't think T5 is good, have little to no experience with a good quality system.

That said, I'm done. If you seek, the knowledge will be there....

[REEFSTOCK]

Originally Posted by hng

It would be a good experiment if someone had access to both types of lighting and a lux meter to just do a measurement.

I have 20+ T-5 systems and am setting up a 400W Luminaric 20k Ushio tank in a few weeks. I will certianly be running the PAR meeter.... you know when I get free time