T5s vs. PCs, MH and VHOs

[reef150]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if someone can assist me with answering what T5 is? I was considering getting some retrofit kits

for VHOs but ran across a couple of threads that mentioned T5's being better than VHO. I have no idea what is a good range. I am still looking for a good lighting system for what I want.

My Tanks Specs are: 150 gallons (92 long, 18 wide and 21 high)

I look to have corals and invertebrates that require low to moderate lighting. The canopy is 10 inches off the water.


Please someone let me know what you think would be good for this setup.


VHO:
Four 110 watts?

Metal Halides:
Three 175 watts?

T5's?

No idea.


THANKSsssssssssssssssss!

[wanareef]

T5's are 5/8" in dia, verus VHO (T12), 1.5" or (T8) 1". These put out more light for their size, can get more in the same amount of room, with enough T5's under a hood, they would equal MH. VHO's come 72" long and T5's if I remember right come 47" max.

On your setup, I would just use 175w's and supplement with VHO actinic's for your dawn and dusk, or if you get a blue enough bulb you won't need to. Just have the MH's on a timer to come on one at a time and off the same way.

With 3x 175w's you will have a total of 525w vs 4x 110 of 440. There is not much of a savings on electricity unless you are in Calif. And with the MH's if you decided to go to more light requiring corals, you can place them up high.

hth

[OodleyBoodely]

Personally, I don't see any real advantage to T5s over VHOs. In fact, the only advantage they seem to have is the thinner profile. They are the latest-greatest-new-idea, but, IMO, not really any better.

[reef150]

Originally posted by wanareef


With 3x 175w's you will have a total of 525w vs 4x 110 of 440.

hth

Can you help me find a setup on Hellolights wannareef? I dont know how to find a good setup. I was thinking maybe two 250s of MH. But my spending budget is 600 bucks. On a tank that is 92 inches long, i think 72 inches is sufficient. The Lighting and reflector should cover the ends. :-D

As for DYI, I dont know if i will be capable of doing it so I guess that would be out of the question.

Thanks wanareef !

[Jimbo]

If you want to use 20kk MH bulbs I would go with 400 watters for them. 250 watt should be adequate with 10kk and for sure with a iwasaki 6500k bulb. Initial cost for 400watt is not much difference than 250watt bulbs/ballast

You could create a couple of piles for the rock about 2sq feet, this would give you a spotlight affect from the bulbs. The ballast are not too difficult to wire.

With 10kk and 6500k bulbs you will probally want some actinic supplementation. I'm perfectly happy with the light my 20kk produces without actinic additions.

I have 400 watts of coralvue 20kk over my 40g.

[reefcam]

Originally posted by OodleyBoodely
Personally, I don't see any real advantage to T5s over VHOs. In fact, the only advantage they seem to have is the thinner profile. They are the latest-greatest-new-idea, but, IMO, not really any better.

I'm currently in the processo of swapping out my VHO for T5. I am currently running T5 in my prop tanks and before that I was running VHO bulbs. Aside from the thin profile, (and this is not on a meter test), but looking at my tank seems brighter and have been able to keep Maxima under T5. They do produce more heat than VHO, but it's worth it to me. The lights seems more intense as well. And I believe from a test, T5 will last 2 years and VHO about 12 months.

The only downside is, they don't make 6' T5 bulbs, so I'll have to live with 5' for now.

I have actually turned a brown stylophora pink under T5. Not saying T5 can replace other bulbs, but just what I have seen.

T5 are only new to the US Aquarium market. I believe the bulbs has been used in Europe and Asia for quite some time.

[Casey]

Go with metal halides nothing can touch them yet and you get the added shimmer to the water.

[wanareef]

reef150

Hmmm with $600 to spend. diyreef.com has the coralvue "retro" (diy) the spider reflector, socket, hanger, bulb and ballast for $179 ea. The ballast is electronic and if you go here . JB NY has done a long extensive test on bulbs/ballast and what you are looking for is the par valuve, the higher the better. The Iwaski's have the highest par and they are MV bulbs not MH but will run off of electronic ballasts.

For 3, it'll run you $537 and if you get the 15k you should not need actinic supplementation. But please read the link and decide for your self. Some have gone to the 10k and like it, some not enough blue and gone to the 12k or 15k and some like it really blue , the 20k. I would think the 12k to 15k range would be ideal, but then I have no experience with these bulbs, just what I have researched.

As mentioned, it's easy to wire it up yourself. Just have 3 wires, white=common, black=hot, green=ground. Just match up the wires on the ballast to the socket (which will be only 2 wires minus the green sometimes, but if there is one you can tie it to one of the screws on the socket) and ground the reflector.

Don't forget to get the heavy duty timers from HD, about $9 ea. OOps maybe over your $600 budget. You'll need them anyway.

Another way is to browse the sale forum's, just use the info on the link as a foundation to your knowledge and go from there. If you can, stay with electonic ballasts , then you can "burn" any bulb without changing the ballast. Best advice that I can give anyone.

[wanareef]

Just checked the diyreef site and they have changed their package, so here is another option.
ballast
bulb
reflector,socket and bracket
so for a total of $181 ea, I think it's a lot less $$ than Hellolights

hth

[Jimbo]

Just to add I bought my bulb from diyreef and got excellent service from them, I had a ballast that had a hard time firing the bulb, it turned out my ballast was a h33 not m59, but they helped me troubleshoot the problem. I'm burning the 20kk bulb because the 15kk where not available in 400 watts, but it is whiter than other manufacturers bulbs and I love the color.