T5 Lighting Tube Advice Please!

[cdb2]

Proposed new planted set-up is 4’ (L) x 18â€￾ (W) x 22â€￾ (H) - 75 gallons.

Currently have 2 twin 46" T5 fittings of 54w each giving a total of 108W = 1.4wpg.

1) Am I correct that for good plant growth I should really have 3 twin T5 fittings to give 3 x 54w =162w/75galls = 2.16 wpg?

2) Full spectrum and 5500K to 6500K seems to be a good starting point though for T5 there doesn't seem to be as much choice. I have found....

Hagen Lifeglo 6700K 46" 54W Full Spectrum
Interpet Triplus 8300K 21" 55W
Interpet Daylight Plus 6500K 21" 55w
Arcadia Plant Pro 46" 54W
D&D Midday 6000k 46" 54W
D&D Aqua Flora 46" 54w

Assuming then I'd need 3 twin T5's to give 162W = 2.16wpg, from practical experience what combination of T5 tubes would you recommend please?

3) I see some of you speak highly of the Interpet Daylight Plus though in 55W T5 fittings these seem to be only 21" long??? whereas all the others are 46". Presumably then you'd have to have 2 twin units of these and mount one unit at each end of the tank to get balanced light in the tank as each is only 21"? Then your 3rd T5 twin would be regular 46"?

Any advice\experiences gratefully received, particularly around which tube combinations.

Thank you.

 

[Spinal]

1) 3 twin T5's would give you way more than that... 3 TWIN T5's would give you 6 tubes, each at 54Watts. Thats 324 Watts which is 4.3 WpG...

2) Though full spectrum lights are good, imho its always better to mix and match tubes; get as broad a selection of tubes (if you have 6light clips, I would put 6 different tubes). Why? simply because a tube has a specific light emission frequency range. Mixing tubes will give you a good spectrum of emissions. If you had 3 to choose from I would go with a low temp., a high temp., and a "middle" temp.

3) T5 tubes are 22" inches long at 54/55 Watts. 42"/46"/48" tubes are T8, not T5. There are longer than 22" T5 tubes, but these are known as High Output (HO), NOT Power Compact (PC). These are in the range of 80 Watts if I'm not mistaken.

T5 tubes have only 1 "Terminal". They have both connectors on one side. T8 tubes need current from each side.

If you have any other questions, just ask

Michele

Quick edit: Thought I would add my own setup as experience:
Twin T5, 55W each. (One Interpet TriPlus, one Hagen Full spectrum)
Two single T8 38W each. (One B&Q tube I bought for 3 pounds, and one Moonlight tube)

This allows me to have 2 WpG over the day (260 lt tank) and some moonlight during the night when I feel like observing

Michele

 

[cdb2]

Thanks for your reply.

If I were to purchase one of these Compact units

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=399

which appears to be made of 2 tubes each 21", does it total 55W as I suspect or is each of the small tubes that make up the unit 55w giving 110w total? I think it is probably the former but if you could confirm I'd be grateful.

The current hood has 2 46" T5 tubes (each rated @ 54w) giving a total output of 108w which I fear isn't enough but the hood space is very tight to get 1 or even 2 more 46" tubes in and luminaires would be v expensive for this size tank.

Any ideas?

 

[Spinal]

The item on tihs link:
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...products_id=399

Is ONE T5 bulb. A T5 bulb is composed of 2 parallel tubes. Each bulb is 55Watts. The two tubes CANNOT be separated. A twin T5 starter would need 2 of these bulbs, for a total of 110 Watts (thats the 55W rated twin T5 starter).

What you have at the moment is a "different" type of T5. Its the T5 that refers to a standard T5 (5/8 inch single tube). The link you posted is a Power Compact starter (hence, the 21 inches instead of 46 inches for 54/55W).

Imo, I would take apart your hood, dump the current T5 tubes and starters. Replace them with Power Compact T5 starters and tubes. In the space of 2 46" bulbs, you should be able to fit 5 21" T5 P.C. bulbs, for a total of 220Watts. Flogging the starters and bulbs on fleabay would subsidise the cost of this.

Just to clarify, some pictures of single T5PC, T5HO, and T8 bulbs look like:


This is a T5 tube like the ones you have now (54W @ 46 inches):

These are also known as T5 High Output tubes and reach 80Watts if I;m not mistaken.

This is what a T5, Power Compact looks like (54/55W @ 21"):

Note that a single bulb has 2 tubes. The highest wattage put bulb is 55W that I know of.


This is what the end of a T8 tube looks like:

Note that T8 tubes have 2 terminals on either end.

T5 and T8 (and other denominations, like T2, T4, etc) just simbolises the diameter of the tube, in eights of an inch. Hence a T5 is 5/8ths and a T8 is 8/8 (or one inch).

When people speak of T5 tubes, they generally mean T5 PC (power compact), NOT T5 HO (high output). Reason? Simple, T5HO systems are hard to come by alone (being uses alot more in pre-built light systems). (and imho, T5PC are far superior due to their shorter size... This makes then very easy to install in just about any tank, and can be very modular allowing you to replace an old T8 with 2 T5PC tubes; effectively tripling the wattage).

As I said before, imo, ditch the T5HO, go with T5PC. You should be able to fit 4 of these under there. If in doubt, measure the maximum internal width of the hood (i.e. how much "space" there is for the tubes). I'll check the exact width of a T5PC as soon as I get home, but I am guessing its aroung 12/8 inch (1.5"), which would mean you would need 3.x inches to fit them.

Oh, and another point. You CAN fit T5PC's vertically, so that the two tubes are one on top of the other, but, in this case, you MUST (absolutely and irrevocably) have a reflector, otherwise the top tube will be redundant and useless.

Michele

Quick edit:

This is what a Twin T5PC starter looks like. Note that it has 2 shoes (hence, Twin!). These will need 2 bulbs (each bulb having 2 smaller tubes, united). I think the main problem is you consider T5's to generally have just a single tube. Immagine T5 as just a size, and PC and HO as the actual tube/starter type.

And a second quick point. The link you have is just to a bulb. There is no starter. The cost of a Twin T5PC starter is around 40GBP. Don't expect to save by buying 2 single T5PC starters as each one will cost you roughly 35GBP.

Michele

 

[cdb2]

Wow, great response, thank you very much indeed.

 

[Spinal]

Only happy to help, I'm half Italian, I can waffle on for hours
Quick edit: I measured the T5 shoe (its thickest point); but didn't have a measuring tape handy, but I did have a 2" box, and its just a bit smaller than that. Hence, if you have 4 inches of space in your hood, its plenty
Michele

 

[the_real_jaykay]

Out of interest, Im concidering fitting the same.

How long is the shoe + 55w bulb?

Im thinking of Fitting 2 pairs under my hood. Also Do you use a reflector? I cant seem to find any specific ones in the UK.

John

 

[the_real_jaykay]

For clarity The internal dimentions of my hood is 46" x 15" and I wanted to Mount them like this:



If (tube length = 21" + approx shoe size = 2") X 2 = 46" I hope will be ok

As can only fit 39w conventional T5 tubes

 

[thefirethief]

Im currently planning a new 20G tank with T5's and have been looking at the very same power compact starter units shown here. The only problem is that interpet does not have a reflector in its range to fit these, and i haven't tracked down anything else.

I have however found this.... ASL T5 Compact Lighting Units

Comes complete as a full reflector unit and looks a bit easier to fit to hoods than the interpet ones. Only thing is you are paying almost double the price of the interpet equivalent.


Im convinced an individual T5 compact reflector must exist and Im on a mission to track it down. Will be in touch when I do!

 

[the_real_jaykay]

I looked at those, but noticed they dont have the 55w bulbs to add to basket....

 

[Spinal]

Reflectors.... hmm, whats wrong with a piece of PVC tubing and some aluminium foil?

Interpet T5's fit withnothing more than a screwdrive and self-tapping screws in wood hoods; and a small drill in plastic/aluminium hoods.

As for fitting 2 T5PC's inline in a 46" hood, i might work... it might not... Personally, I think it wont. I have 2 in a 48" hood, and the space is VERY cramped (tubes touch end-to-end and the cable from the shoe touches the sides)... but with some luck you might manage...


Michele

 

[thefirethief]

I looked at those, but noticed they dont have the 55w bulbs to add to basket....

Ive e-mailed the folks at aquatics online about that and theyve informed me that any Compact T5 will fit the ASL units too.

Reflectors.... hmm, whats wrong with a piece of PVC tubing and some aluminium foil?

Thats what I think Im going to resort to but commercial reflectors are designed with a whole lot of angles and curves in mind to direct the light in specific directions and so that the light doesnt reflect back into the bulb which reduces its efficiency.
Ive got a feeling years of beer have rendered my brain useless when it comes to such calculations..... or maybe not, there are designs for good DIY reflectors online, might be worth giving it a shot.

 

[the_real_jaykay]

Think i'll mount 1 pair of 55w and 38w end to end.

did a bit of DIY reflector seaching and only really came up with plastic guttering and reflective mylar foil.

 

[Themuleous]

Dont forget PC lighting gets really really hot, you dont want to melt the guttering if you do make a DIY reflector.

Sam