T5 Linear Vs T5 Power Compact

[adam_castell]

hello,

just planning for my reef aquarium setup, can anyone please tell me the pros and cons of T5 linear and T5 power compact. i have spent hours upon hours seaching the internet for definative answers with no joy. obviously compact has the advantage of cost, but what about intensity, efficiency, heat, life span, etc

i am planing a 60" x 15" x 18" (L x W x H) 300L fish/reef setup only with some of the most forgiving soft corals to start with, i would like to attempt keeping anemone eventually.

i was thinking either 3 or 4 twin 55W 21" power compact T5 (330w or 440w), using a combination or marine white, marine blue, and moonlight tubes. Reflectors and fans will be installed.

i could fit 4 x 80W t5 in the lid, but there does not seem to be much choice when it coems to 80W t5 lighting.

could i please have your input on this before i go and start spending.

also what manufacture and types of bulbs would you recomend ?

BTW. Halide is not an option for me as i need to keep the low profile lid on my aquarium.

cheers
Adam

 

[andywg]

I recall reading that T5 HO tends to be better than Power Compact.

You could always try LED lights. Costly, but all the benefits of MH, with very few of the drawbacks.

 

[@ombomb]

T5 bulbs last longer than PCs apparently.

Never used them myself.

 

[Matt_northants]

I have heard that PC dont work as well with reflectors as linears as more of the light hits the tube when its reflected, which is why I went for linears.

 

[Tommy Gun]

I have heard that PC dont work as well with reflectors as linears as more of the light hits the tube when its reflected, which is why I went for linears.

LOL, no offense but that seems a bit funny. Obviously the light went out of the bulb once, so how could the bulb stop it later? I do agree that PC is probably not as good as T5 but for other reasons. Much like Mh is better than most other lighting.

 

[Matt_northants]

Yeah I know it sounds odd but its called restrike or interreflection. Not a lighting expert but after a quick check on google it increases the light tube temperature which reduces light output. I suppose this must have something to do with the fact that the tubes coating is designed to emit light outwards and not allow it to pass inwards, like a two way mirror. Again not sure why this is the case as I am definately not a lighting expert. All the stuff that looked that it may of explained it was on PPV journals.

 

[adam_castell]

problem with T5 linear is that i cannot find any 'HO' 60" tubes, and its a shame that none of the manufactures seem to publish Luminance specs for the tubes to be compared.

 

[SkiFletch]

LOL, no offense but that seems a bit funny. Obviously the light went out of the bulb once, so how could the bulb stop it later? I do agree that PC is probably not as good as T5 but for other reasons. Much like Mh is better than most other lighting.

Its cause the PC bulbs are so close together that light actually strikes the other tube and is wasted instead of being reflected down.

To the OP, If you're looking for something you can retrofit, look at a 4x54watt or 6x54watt T5HO setup with individual reflectors and stagger them. You'll have a little bit of lower lighting at the sides of your tank but not by much. Could grow just about anything with lights like that. Other options would be 2-3 halide pendants

 

[Tommy Gun]

Its cause the PC bulbs are so close together that light actually strikes the other tube and is wasted instead of being reflected down.

I don't want to get off subject, but maybe this question will help others too...

Why wouldn't T5 bulbs be affected by the same thing then? Sometimes the bulbs can be pretty close to each other. My understanding about is that interreflection is a continual reflection (e.g. light bouncing between two mirrors) and restrike has something to do with getting enough energy to get a gas to give off light. I am definitely not a light expert either but I figured that having a better understanding of the subject could be handy. Don't get me wrong though, I do agree with what has been said, I am just wondering why that might be.

 

[SkiFletch]

Because you can design a nice half-circle parabolic reflector for each T5 tube, thus reflecting almoast ALL light output from the bulb in a downward direction. There's no room inbetween the double PC tubes to stick an efficient reflector, therefore all that energy that goes out from slightly below horizontal to slighty above vertical in between the PC tubes is pretty much wasted. Make sense, or should I try a paint diagram?

 

[Adrinal]

Short answer. All bulbs for marine lighting work. If you are purchacing new, your waisting your money doing anything other than t-5 or MH (at least in the US).
LED look promising for the future, but are not bang for buck yet.
PC are junk, you cant reflect light correctly with them. and the bulbs need to be changed often.
T-12 light can be reflected just like t-5 bulbs... but to do so you would need a 1' wide reflector...

A properly reflected t-5 bulb will give out 300% the PAR (lux means almost as nothing as watts per gallon... almost).

make sure you get a soft start ballest.

 

[jonnynoah]

Just a quicky to see how you're doing with your setup listed previously, I tried T5 Compacts in 94/95 on seedlings, this is the first time I have tried using them since, all brand new Interpet T5 Triplus Compacts, 4 x 55W and 2 x 36W = 6 bulbs hovering over the watertop, about 280L 1.0 x .60 x .50, all freshwater plants though! I'm really curious to find out how they do on the invertebrates and corals, I've only had them running for 2 weeks and the results have been more than notable, I think I made the right choice, the technology in these small lamps is really ther and has been there for a while! I hopre they keep improving the spectrums and outputs, let me know
Jonster

hello,

just planning for my reef aquarium setup, can anyone please tell me the pros and cons of T5 linear and T5 power compact. i have spent hours upon hours seaching the internet for definative answers with no joy. obviously compact has the advantage of cost, but what about intensity, efficiency, heat, life span, etc

i am planing a 60" x 15" x 18" (L x W x H) 300L fish/reef setup only with some of the most forgiving soft corals to start with, i would like to attempt keeping anemone eventually.

i was thinking either 3 or 4 twin 55W 21" power compact T5 (330w or 440w), using a combination or marine white, marine blue, and moonlight tubes. Reflectors and fans will be installed.

i could fit 4 x 80W t5 in the lid, but there does not seem to be much choice when it coems to 80W t5 lighting.

could i please have your input on this before i go and start spending.

also what manufacture and types of bulbs would you recomend ?

BTW. Halide is not an option for me as i need to keep the low profile lid on my aquarium.

cheers
Adam

 

[thomas10051988]

i just purchased these today on the advice of a few experienced reef keepers
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...ct-lighting.asp

 

[SkiFletch]

PC's are OK in saltwater setups. They're usually sufficient in shallower tanks, especially 12" tall and shorter. In the 12"-18" range they become kind of lower powered, and below 18" they'll really only grow the least sensitive of photosynthetic organisms.

JMO