T5 Vs. T8 Bulbs

[save_nemo]

Can anyone give me a quick comparison between T5 and T8 bulbs? How are they different? Also, has anyone used T6 bulbs? There are so many varieties... and I am so confused. Thanks in advance!

 

[N1z]

Heya, well the difference is well wot i know is that t5 are 80% more intense lighing then t8s but also thats its like 1/6 or summit smaller cnt remember but the tube is smaller. If u were to keep say FOWLR u could use t8s (marine ones) or even soft corals such as leathers and polps that dont require too much lighting.

Where with t5s u can keep much more in the way of zoos and other more higher lighting corals but im not sure on hard corals. but are able to have a better reef aquarium as it also shows up much brighter too but require a seperate unit to power the tubes. And t6s is what im getting are basically t5 but u dont need a t5 control unit to power them as they can fit in a t8 light unit!
i aint the best at all the lights but i do know t5 are better then t8, but then u cld have metal halides but u best ask some1 else about that

 

[Opcn]

First off let me say that I have never heard of nor seen T6's, but if they do make them they cannot fit the endcaps of t8's, the t number reffers to 1/8th of an inch in diameter, so a t5 is a 5/8ths diameter tube, a t8 is a 1" diameter, a t12 is 1.5". The thiner you go the more efficiently light is produced, and with the right selection of phosphors you can get very good output of light with little heat.

You will need a balast that can handle the wattage, and you will need it to be an electric balast with an appropriate starter, you will also need endcaps of the right size to connect the lamps to the ballast, they will need to be the right sized endcaps for youyr tubes, the simplest method is to go out and buy either a light fixture or retrofit kit. Do not buy strip lighting from a hardware store unless you want really dim lighting that more or less exactly fails to please the eye.

HTH