T5 Tubes With Individual Reflectors.......does It Make Much Difference

[craigybaby37]

Brought my light fixture for my new tank which has 4 x 80 watt T5 tubes in it but there is only 1 big reflector that all of them use they are not individual but will it make much difference if they all had there own reflection?? what differences would i see??

 

[poohpouri]

Brought my light fixture for my new tank which has 4 x 80 watt T5 tubes in it but there is only 1 big reflector that all of them use they are not individual but will it make much difference if they all had there own reflection?? what differences would i see??

Hi if it has a reflector covering all four tubes that will be fine dont waste your money on seperate reflectors

 

[craigybaby37]

it still gives out some wicked light with the 1 huge reflector i was just qurious as to what the differece would be.

 

[Musho3210]

i dunno, youd lose at minimum... maybe 20% even.... Not sure on the numbers but A LOT of light can be wasted.... There probably as strong as PCs now since the light that goes horizontal is wasted, just like PC bulbs.

 

[SkiFletch]

i dunno, youd lose at minimum... maybe 20% even.... Not sure on the numbers but A LOT of light can be wasted.... There probably as strong as PCs now since the light that goes horizontal is wasted, just like PC bulbs.

Well, I kind of agree. I'd call it more like somewhere between PC's and T5's with individual reflectors. PC's are REALLY close together and probably waste more light than T5's with some more significant spacing in between them.

 

[craigybaby37]

so would u reccomend fitting individual reflectors then?? as if its not going to cost a stupid ammount ill do it as there no point having 4 x 80 watt tubes if ime losing a load of light.

 

[Musho3210]

yeah get some individuals on there

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, if it's not cost-prohibitive, do it.

 

[devocole]

Where did you guys buy your T5 fixtures, bulbs etc. And how much did it run you. Thanks
Devon

 

[pleder]

I had the Nova Extreme fixture for a few years. It had four bulbs and one reflector. I never bout into that the individual reflectors made so much difference seeing that I was coming from the PC world and the T5's were so bright. Well my Nova died on me so I got a Tek fixture with individual reflectors. The difference is amazing. I was shocked. Same bulbs same electricity, but amazing output. I gain 2 F stops on my camera in some spots (don't ahve a PAR meter). For comparison two Fstops is the same difference between standing in the dshad on a sunny day and staring at the sun.

The reflectors are worth it. Some things I have read put the difference around 40% more outpur with the individual reflectors.

I love my Tek so far bu it's only been a week so . . . not the best review yet.

 

[Adrinal]

First, some fixtures are being sold at T-5 that are really PC in Aquarium jargon.

T-5 is the width of the bulb and some slimeball advertising will totally rip you off using this lack of knowlage against you.

Tek hood owns. Still bang for buck lighting out there. Reefgeek retros are bang for buck if you are in the states.

difference in lighting from a naked bulb to proper individual parabolic reflecters is 300% (Tek, Reefgeek, IceCap)

a reef geek retro will give you 22% more PAR than a Tek hood (personal tests, unscientifically done).

a 6 bulb (with some full actinics (no par value)) on a 120 will give you about 100 PAR on the bottom. You can grow any coral in 100 PAR (and get smoking colors).

I have been using T-5 for 5 years and testing them for 3.

HTH

PS I see no reason to overdrive bulbs on anything 24" or shallower. When I met with Andy (Owner of Ice Cap) he was of the same opinion. Though if you already have a 660 no reason not to use it