Stick With T8 Or Go To T5?

[Ashers]

My juwel light strip packed up a week ago. Now I have a dilema. Stick with the T8 30W for £24 or go to T5 39W for about £50. The tank is a lightly planted 180litre. Will the difference be an amazing one or just a slight improvement? Help appreciated thanks!

 

[Ashers]

anybody???

 

[Geoff-]

You will get a bit more light but definitely won't get double the light (since it's double the price), if your plants are struggling a bit or you want faster growth or a brighter tank then bite the bullet but if everything's healthy then why change?

 

[StandbySetting]

If you go for a T5 unit you will need to inject CO2 for your plants as this is high light territory, if I were you I'd stick with the T8 unit.

 

[Ashers]

Ill stick with the T8 then as nothing is struggling and everything seems ok. Thanks guys.

 

[adzilla88]

Could you not get some reflectors? I have the Jewel ones and they have increased the light in my tank. Its a cheaper alternative to splashing out on a new light unit and tubes.

I havent had any experience of T5's though, so I can't comment on how much difference there is between the two.

 

[ballyclover]

when my tubes packed in i went for an after market tube, other than the expensive Juwel ones. The light given off was so much brighter, and i replacde like for like bulbs,just different make. No reflector used.

 

[Ashers]

its the ballast that has gone not the bulbs, so ive had no light for a week now.