T5 lighting

[George Farmer]

Anyone use T5 lighting? I'm considering upgrading from my T8s in the hope of growing some more demanding species.

Can anyone recommend a tube manufacturer? I'm looking at a colour temp. of around 6500K (daylight).

 

[Silly me]

T5 is just a thinner tube??
so you can add more tubes in the same space?

 

[carrcn]

Try searching the web for "lumichrome 1xx." Now I'm not sure who makes it after looking myself, Lumiram or Chromalux, they're probably the same thing. But it has a Color Rendering Index of 98, which is as close to natural sunlight as you can get, at 6500K. I've got 6 48" T5's in my 55. Cheapest place I could find was @ lllreptile.com out of San Diego, CA @ $36 for 3. Not sure where you can get them over there, but I think they're actually made in Germany, so you shouldn't have a problem finding them. HTH

 

[Silly me]

phillips makes the Chroma50 / 75 / 90

 

[George Farmer]

Thanks people

 

[StanTheBetta]

I would have thought T12's would have been an upgrade Seeing as how they are "fatter" bulbs. I assumed they were higher wattage. Also depending on how your sockets are set up you could probably fit T12's in T8 sockets. Like at work there was a fixture in a bathroom with 2 4' T12 tubes that were very dimly lit. We took it down and realized it had a T8 ballast in it. So we just switched out the T12's for T8's and it worked. Judging from that I would assume the opposite could be true as long as you have enough for the wider tubes. Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not a lighting expert.

 

[George Farmer]

T5s are an upgrade because they are more effiecient, even though they're a smaller diameter. They're becoming more popular in Reef tanks as they can penetrate deeper water and they're relatively cool making it less likely to overheat. I've not heard of many reports of use in planted tanks so I was wondering if anyone has had success with T5s.

 

[Silly me]

I have both T5 and T8 tubes in my tanks. I bought standerd light fittings but when I looked at the lfs for plant grow tubes there was no in a T5 size so I just plugged the T8 in the same fitting.

 

[M/ASC]

Ok guys

T5 uses a different phosphur and has an 80% higher light output then T8
It also supposedly has a longer life span. T8 tubes should be replaced every 8 to 10 months, although they will illuminate after that time, the phosphurs have burnt out and need to be replaced to optimize light output. T5 tubes are said to burn effiecently for 24 months before replacing but i would do it every 18 months. They are much better and do use a different starter to power them. conventional starters are standard ballast, where as T5 uses an electronic ballast, so you cant plug T5 tubes into a T8 starter with out damaging it and vice versa.
I know of arcadia T5 and Aqua medic T5, but the colour light temperature is more like 14,000 kelvins, more aimed for marine keepers. but i am aware of some people using these for planted aquariums with great sucess.

hope this clears things up a little
cheers and good luck