T5 Vs T8

[l337dave]

I was looking at some t5 prices to go into my rio125, about £35 for the starter and £15ish a tube, great I thought...

I was aiming for about 100watts.

...the only trouble is that at 24inches (tank is about 30" wide) all I can seem to find are 24watt bulbs. The T8's that are in there are 20watt so this means i'd have to find a way of adding the t5's as well as the t8's which will mean hacking things up under there. I was just wanting to just replace them with 2 55watt t5's but i'm starting to think that this isn't going to happen.



any thoughts?


dave.

 

[SkiFletch]

All flourescents have a wattage per length. And yes, 24" T5 tubes that are 25watts are standard. Your other option is Power Compact tubes 24" long which I believe are 55watts standard @ 24" long. A lot of lighting manufacturers sell 30" PC fixtures with 2 24" PC tubes offset to cover the entire 30" . Please remember, if you are installing lights yourself that you need a ballast to fire the bulbs

 

[l337dave]

ah power compacts!

just looked them up on ebay and came up with this:

us link

it's in the states so I would have to check out postage and how to convert to correct voltage etc but it seems to be a really good deal compared to what I would get for a similar price in the uk:

uk link

are these the sort of things I should be looking at?


thanks,


dave.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, they're a great solution for smaller tanks. That looks like a good fixture you've picked out there. Power compacts are great on tanks up to 18" deep. They are well suited for MOST corals, including softies, and LPS, and some hardier acro species. Light-hungry SPS like encrusting monti's, slimers, clams, and anemones should not be kept under PC lighting.

Hope that helps

 

[l337dave]

thanks for the info, I have 2 more questions

1) if i go for something like this: t5 twin compact starter would I be tied to interpet bulbs, I have in the back of my mind that they aren't very good... might have them confused tho

2) on my rio215 (18inch deep) would there be a big diffeance in the amount of corals that I could grow if I went for 72watts (twin 36's) over 110watts (twin 55's) it's just that I think I'm going to have a easier time fitting them in the hood.

thanks again!


dave.

 

[SkiFletch]

If you cant fit 55watters in there, just use the 36 Remember, you'll NEED fans in the hood when you use any higher powered lighting, so leave some room for that too. Especially in the summer.

 

[Chac]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

 

[Matthew5664]

just to add some of the older ballests were sold with plastic bulb holders so I'd have a look it the box befor you by or if online e-mail and ask. the metal holders are only 2 squid but why spend out more?

 

[l337dave]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

hmm, you think I'm better ordering the lights in a purpose made hood rather than trying to butcher my juwel..?




dave.

 

[Chac]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

hmm, you think I'm better ordering the lights in a purpose made hood rather than trying to butcher my juwel..?




dave.

What about using a Luminaire

They will be around the same cost as Power Compacts & having an open tank is so much easier than messing about with the hood

 

[Fella]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

Ok, thats not great news. I've just installed a pair of T5's at 36w in my juwel hood. I knew I'd have to install fans, but i didn't know they got *that* hot. Ouch.

 

[Chac]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

Ok, thats not great news. I've just installed a pair of T5's at 36w in my juwel hood. I knew I'd have to install fans, but i didn't know they got *that* hot. Ouch.

I used T5 PC's for about 3 Years, my main issue with them was the clips that hold them to the hood are just sh*t & the bulbs them selves are very very easly broken if handled the wrong way (More so than any other bulbs I have used) & I did experience some melting thought not a lot (I did use Reflectors on all my lights, to cut down the amount of heat hitting the hood)

 

[Fella]

I found that my old T5 Power Compact actually ran hotter than my Metal Halides do, be very careful when installing under you lid as they have been known to melt plastic lids

Ok, thats not great news. I've just installed a pair of T5's at 36w in my juwel hood. I knew I'd have to install fans, but i didn't know they got *that* hot. Ouch.

I used T5 PC's for about 3 Years, my main issue with them was the clips that hold them to the hood are just sh*t & the bulbs them selves are very very easly broken if handled the wrong way (More so than any other bulbs I have used) & I did experience some melting thought not a lot (I did use Reflectors on all my lights, to cut down the amount of heat hitting the hood)

I also found that the clips were terrible as well.

You will now probably have a good laugh, when i tell you mine are attatched to my plastic hood, without reflectors, using cable ties. I think i need to take a look at that.

 

[l337dave]

hehe...don't like the sound of things burning... I think I'm going to save up for the luminaire.

what about jumpers with an open tank, lay acrylic sheet over the top..?


dave.

 

[N1z]

There is one more option. i mean its what i did, except im upgrading now ot a t5 luminaire. but, i ran the juwel lighting and also 2 t5s on the removable hood panels. all you do is buy plastic clips and then drill holes in the panels (make sure u have extra holes and tye wrapps so the wires dont hang into the water).

But then i had both types of lights but more then normal if you think about it...

I was selling my 24-39watt unit but i think a guy wants it now for 35 however i have doubts as i dont think they are long enough for a 4 foot but i have warned him. waiting for a reply now.

Ill put some pics up another day as atm ive blown up my pc (well psu has blown up lol) and i cnt access the harddrive atm. but give u a few ideas.