T5 vs flourecent

[Shevlin]

Hello all

I'm new to the forum and was hoping to get some advice if possible. I've been running my first reef tank for about a year now. It's a 72 gallon bowfront and i've started out with coralife 4x65w flourecent lighting. For what I have in the tank now i beleive its enough ( i mostly have a variety LPS and soft corals) but I would like to start collecting some SPS corals, clams etc that require a better light supply.

A friend of mine recommended a Nova Extreme T5 setup (2x54w ST5 HO 460nm actinic lights & 2x54x T5 HO 10,000k daylights) saying that it provided enough high powered light to support almost anything I would like to put in the tank because the 72g bowfront is not that deep. He said the pricing is good too around $250.

My concern is that the wattage is almost the same between the coralife flourcents and the nova t5's. Is there that much of a difference between the T5 lighting and flourcents even if the watts are the same?

Thanks for the help in advance

[crvz]

Welcome to TRT!

There can be quite a bit of difference in the use of T5 lights vs. other fluorescent lighting (T5 bulbs are fluorescent, they're just a smaller diameter than typical bulbs). The benefit lies in it's diameter, which is a mere 5/8". If you use the individual reflectors, you're able to maximize the use of light due to the parabolic shape of those style reflectors. Doing so puts a much larger percentage of the light coming out of the bulb down into the tank. Larger diameter bulbs don't utlize individual reflectors, mostly due to how large those parabolic reflectors would be, so there is a lot of wasted lights on other fluorescent bulbs (PC, VHO, etc).

So watt for watt, when using the individual reflectors (also referred to as SLR, or singe lamp reflector) the T5 bulbs are more "effecient" in getting lighting into the tank. However, without those reflectors, they're really no better than any other fluorescent bulbs. For your application, I think you'd be much better served with a 4 bulb setup if you want to keep some of the more light demanding corals or clams.

[hng]

Welcome to TRT Shevlin! Chris hit the nail on the head. Comparing watts of different types of lighting is misleading. Watt per watt, the amount of usable light from a T5HO bulb is MUCH more than a compact fluorescent or regular fluorescent bulb. The key, though, is the individual parabolic reflectors used with T5 bulbs.

[scoop]

Shevlin, Welcome to TRT! In addition to what was said above, the T5's also last longer, usually 12 - 18 months, vs. about 6 months for the flourescents.

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT! T-5 is the way to go!

[Shevlin]

Thanks guys!! The nova extreme setup i was looking at does have the reflector, but how can you tell if they are individual? would there be 4 reflectors then, one for each bulb?

[hng]

Yes, one for each bulb, and it usually states that they are individual reflectors.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Shevlin

Thanks guys!! The nova extreme setup i was looking at does have the reflector, but how can you tell if they are individual? would there be 4 reflectors then, one for each bulb?

Yep, 4 reflectors. Do you have a link to the fixture you're looking at?

[Shevlin]

Originally Posted by crvz

Yep, 4 reflectors. Do you have a link to the fixture you're looking at?

http://www.coralreefsupply.com/index...ghting_cu_nova

Here it is Crvz

[DaveTheReefGeek]

I agree, other than MH, T-5's with good reflectors would be the next best thing.

[mg]

Originally Posted by Shevlin

http://www.coralreefsupply.com/index...ghting_cu_nova

Here it is Crvz

The Nova Extreme do not have individual reflectors. I would look at something like this TEK fixture.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~SL2113.html
Definately more expensive though as it doesn't come with bulbs either.

[crvz]

mg is right, you're better off with that TEK fixture. Here is a link with for it including bulbs.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...unlight_Supply

[Shevlin]

Thanks again guys. So, you guys think that will be enough to keep clams and SPS corals in my 72 gallon?

[depitch]

The 6 bulb TEK or the 8 bulb Nova Extreme sholud be OK for a 72 Gallon.

The light penetration is more important than wattage, for clams MH may be slightly better.

I love my Nova Extreme on my 75 Gallon tank and I have SPS's but no Clams.

JMO

Doug

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Shevlin

Thanks again guys. So, you guys think that will be enough to keep clams and SPS corals in my 72 gallon?

You should be able to keep anything you want with that setup. You may want to keep some of the higher light demanding corals a little higher in the rock work, but they should do fine. And if you want a clam, a derasa should do very well under those lights, even on the sand bed. If you find a crocea that you like, stick it up high in the rocks.