T5 Ho vs. PC flourescents

[menglis2]

I have a 24G Nano with 72 watts PC. I'm about to upgrade to a 4 bulb T5 system that might put out a little more wattage, but if so not much (like 8 watts more or something). I have heard that with T5 the wattage does't matter because of their highly efficient light frequency, is this true, and if so would I be able to keep some LPS or SPS at the top of the tank?

 

[Poseidon]

Will you have the individual reflectors? If so, the T5 puts out something like 300% more light per bulb. Also, comparing T5 to PC is like comparing a CHEVette to a CORvette, they are just not in the same league.

I keep TONS of SPS under T5, so that is not going to be a problem either. I think if you choose your bulbs wisely, you could keep SPS on the sandbed.

 

[Garth Schafluetzel]

thats what i keep telling him as well lol i like your name matt but for the same price you could probly snag a 150 or 70 watt halide. but the t5s would for sure keep your tank cooler than a halid. but realy if you do 2 actinic bulbs or ( 1 actinic 1 fiji purple bulb) in one fixture and a GE 6500K daylight and a super blue + in the other i think you would love the color hopefully some one will give you a more accurat bulb combo. it would be 2 current USA fixturs 18"" with 1 reflector for 2 bulbs for a total of 4 bulbs.

 

[paintballer768]

thats what i keep telling him as well lol i like your name matt but for the same price you could probly snag a 150 or 70 watt halide. but the t5s would for sure keep your tank cooler than a halid. but realy if you do 2 actinic bulbs or ( 1 actinic 1 fiji purple bulb) in one fixture and a GE 6500K daylight and a super blue + in the other i think you would love the color hopefully some one will give you a more accurat bulb combo. it would be 2 current USA fixturs 18"" with 1 reflector for 2 bulbs for a total of 4 bulbs.

The T-5s put out the same heat as a metal halide, I just think it appears to be less because of the T-5 bulb's size. It also helps disperse the heat so the tank doesnt get as effected as possible, which is what you said.

I love my metal halide, and T-5 just kinda confuses me with all the bulbs, etc... I vote MH, just make sure theres good venthilation in the room where the bulb is and youll be fine.

 

[Garth Schafluetzel]

yeah i think the viper K-2 is 189.99 to you looking about 220 230 with shipping check them out on the hello lights sponser on the sponser list the also have DIY pendants that could possibly fit in the hood measur it and see i think it needs at least 5 to 6 inch and that would only leave your halide about 2-3 inch of the top of the water with the clip on though it has three adjust points to get it just right for you and you could get a piece of glass or plexiglass to keep the cats out

 

[Poseidon]

The T-5s put out the same heat as a metal halide...

Not in my experience, and I overdrive my T5's. I went from a pair of 250W halides to 4x80W T5, and I was able to take the chiller off the system.

Therefore I believe T5's (even overdriven) produce WAY less heat then a pair of 250's.

 

[menglis2]

I appreciate all the input! I'm not too worried about overheating or anything, and I would really like to use T5 instead of MH just for the fact of the actinics on the T5 that one can use to create dawn to dusk affects. I was wondering where I could purchase the individual reflectors because that 300% efficiency sounds PRETTY GOOD to me?!

 

[Poseidon]

Those reflectors are available as a retro fit from many sponsors of R2R, they are made by IceCap and TEK, both are excellent quality.

Are you looking to do a retro, or a fixture?

 

[menglis2]

I'm just going to go with the fixture, and like garth was saying, throw a pice of plexiglass over the top and set some 2 T5 Current strips on there. Is it a difficult fix to install the reflectors?

 

[Poseidon]

That just plain wont work. The reflectors are about 2.5-3" wide each, so you can't add them to an existing fixture. How wide is your tank?

 

[menglis2]

I'm just going with the fixtures. Is it difficult to install the refectors?

 

[menglis2]

18.5", just the right size for the Currents.

 

[bamachamp92]

the newest current two bulb fixtures have individual reflectors, Donny at fifth day has some of the new ones.

 

[Garth Schafluetzel]

ill help you strip your hood and we can decide what to do. but i would think both of the fixtures would take up everything on top of the tank it might leave a small strip isnt it a jbj nano cube like 24 gal or something. i think donny and you have been talking about one of the fixtures like i have and if so we can set the hood back and set it ontop and get an idea

 

[Garth Schafluetzel]

nice i might have to replace the single reflector old style i have for a new one lol tommy how are the new lights treating you? i have a decent diatom bloom right now from the tranfer and addition but everything worked out. i have to redo the stand and raise it a foot and replumb but besides that everything is up to par in my eyes

 

[menglis2]

I plan on getting them from Donny so it's good to hear he has the new ones! I'll post some pics later on this week of the whole setup!

 

[menglis2]

If any body has any good ideas on the best bulbs I should use please let me know! (Keep in mind I will have places for 4 bulbs)

 

[ConcreteReefer]

I went from MH to T5's: I had 500w of MH and I'm running 324w of T5's now.. I can tell you this- I'm getting more growth & way better color with the T5's.
Granted, I'm using the Highest output T5 fixture on the market.

To answer your question- I don't you can use the old watts per gallon equation with no HO & VHO T5's. A 4 bulb retro might be overkill for a 24g, 2 bulbs should be enough.

Check out the Aquactinic reflectors: There smaller, silver coated, and have more output than IceCaps.