T5 Vs Pc lighting

buford · 11/03/2009, 06:33 PM

I have (2) 4x65 coralife pc lights on my 75 gallon tank. I'm looking to upgarde to T5's- from what I understand the T5's are more efficient and run cooler. My question is will (4) T-5's with individual reflecters give the same/ more light than the PC's I have now? If not how many would it take? I only have soft corals at this point.
Thanks

nikon187 · 11/03/2009, 06:36 PM

yes 4 should be fine. 6 would be better for more options with bulb combos.

addictedtofish · 11/03/2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buford

I have (2) 4x65 coralife pc lights on my 75 gallon tank. I'm looking to upgarde to T5's- from what I understand the T5's are more efficient and run cooler. My question is will (4) T-5's with individual reflecters give the same/ more light than the PC's I have now? If not how many would it take? I only have soft corals at this point.
Thanks

Kind of a silly upgrade in my opinion.... not enough of a jump in wattage(actually less) to justify the cost. I have had both set-ups (T-5 4x54watts) and the same fixture you are running now before I moved to a Halide set-up. IMO not worth it, the bulbs are cheaper in the T5 setup but that's it. Save your money...

DC_40gallon · 11/03/2009, 09:10 PM

Bump - I was wondering the same thing. We have a 40 breeder and I got a 36inch Current USA PC (10k and a 50/50 2x96 watts) on craiglist for $65 so I couldn't pass it up. I love it but wondered if I should upgrade to T5's and get the Nova Extreme 6x39?

Is it worth the upgrade or should I just use the money and throw in new bulbs on my PC?

This is the one I am looking at

http://afishybusiness.com/Lighting/T...va_Extreme_Pro

jenglish · 11/03/2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by addictedtofish

Kind of a silly upgrade in my opinion.... not enough of a jump in wattage(actually less) to justify the cost. I have had both set-ups (T-5 4x54watts) and the same fixture you are running now before I moved to a Halide set-up. IMO not worth it, the bulbs are cheaper in the T5 setup but that's it. Save your money...

It isn't just wattage. If you get a T5HO w/o individual reflectors then it is pretty comparable to PC by watts. Reflectors make it a huge difference. It is well worth it.

nikon187 · 11/03/2009, 09:42 PM

Agreed, wattage has nothing to do with it. It is about the amount of light directed into the tank due to individual reflectors for each bulb which PC's lack. You will notice the difference in light

DC_40gallon · 11/03/2009, 09:43 PM

So someone like me considering upgrading, should I spent the extra money and upgrade from PC to a 6x39 T5?

jenglish · 11/03/2009, 10:08 PM

I would consider it a good upgrade. With a 40, you may get better coverage from a metal halide for your money but the edges would be a little dim. Nova reflectors are not as good as some others like Tek, but you pay more. BUt better reflectors means more light from the same amount of electricity.

langtudatinh01 · 11/03/2009, 10:20 PM

how about this, everyone always say that reflector makes a different. i have retrofit PC (4 55W) with individual reflectors. Do that help to compare with T5? thanks.

0812946 · 11/03/2009, 10:27 PM

I always heard that T5's do better in tank depth as well? This would be something to look in to..

jenglish · 11/03/2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by langtudatinh01

how about this, everyone always say that reflector makes a different. i have retrofit PC (4 55W) with individual reflectors. Do that help to compare with T5? thanks.

It's going to help some, but not put it into the range of the T5 due to shape.

addictedtofish · 11/04/2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenglish

It isn't just wattage. If you get a T5HO w/o individual reflectors then it is pretty comparable to PC by watts. Reflectors make it a huge difference. It is well worth it.

I'm just speaking from experience..... It was not a noticable difference for me, I felt like I wasted my money. Now if his bulbs are old and he has to replace them anyway... that is up to him but DO NOT EXPECT a noticable difference.

jenglish · 11/04/2009, 08:18 PM

A lot of it depends on reflector. If you get a single reflector over 4 bulbs and they are of roughly the same wattage, there is going to be little difference in light (though longer bulb life and more color choices). I have seen a 4 bulb w/ individual parabolic reflector put out much more PAR than a 6 bulb without it and that is comparing T5 to T5. The other issue is depth. Well reflected T5 have better penetration. Of course if you get beyond about 20 inches you start getting to where MH are the way to go.

bwade209 · 11/04/2009, 08:27 PM

T5s are more efficient at light output than PCs... and greatly more efficient when individual reflectors are used. PCs aren't quite as good as hyped up to be when they first came out way back when. Due to the way PC bulbs are bent back on themselves (instead of being a linear bulb), there is substantial loss of output compared to its potential if it were a linear bulb (don't remember the stated amount).

Watts doesn't mean anything other than the amount of energy the lights are consuming. It has no consistent or relevant meaning toward the amount of light being generated. Think of it in terms of the screw-in fluorescent bulbs that are being more heavily marketed for home use over incandescent bulbs. There's 10w screw-in fluorescents that generate the same amount of light (or more) as a 40-60w incandescent bulb. The screw-in fluorescent uses far less watts than the incandescent bulb, but generates the same amount of light. Using watts to compare lighting types is very misleading, especially when you consider the numerous bulb choices available. Different combinations of bulbs in a fixture for your tank will create different amounts of useable light.

If it were me, I'd go with the T5s over PCs. There's a greater amount of bulb variety for T5s. There was a thread floating around here awhile back where a guy actually measured light output of T5s with no reflector in his canopy over his tank (canopy was simply painted white on the inside), compared his PAR values (one measure of light output) to values posted by other users, and determined that even without any type of actual reflector the T5s were still incredibly bright.

T5 bulbs last longer 18 - 24 months vs. 6 - 10 months for PCs, cost less per bulb (~$20 for T5s, ~$25 for PCs) and there's a greater bulb variety.

arrowheadpuffer · 11/04/2009, 08:35 PM

If you have a canopy, why not use both? I started out with a 4x65watt PC fixture, then built a hood, took the fixture apart and put it in the canopy, then added 2x54watt TEK T5s. Thinking of adding 2x110 VHO next (I got a spare ballast sitting around gathering dust.)

reefscape15 · 11/04/2009, 08:58 PM

T-5's do have better depth penetration than PC's. Not to mention a wider range of color options. I'd deffinately go with T-5's over PC's any day. As mentioned before, wattage is only a measurement of energy usage. It has nothing to do with the amount of light being directed into the tank.

11/03/2009, 06:33 PM	#1
buford Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Statesboro, GA Posts: 85	T5 Vs Pc lighting I have (2) 4x65 coralife pc lights on my 75 gallon tank. I'm looking to upgarde to T5's- from what I understand the T5's are more efficient and run cooler. My question is will (4) T-5's with individual reflecters give the same/ more light than the PC's I have now? If not how many would it take? I only have soft corals at this point. Thanks

11/03/2009, 10:08 PM	#8
jenglish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,976	I would consider it a good upgrade. With a 40, you may get better coverage from a metal halide for your money but the edges would be a little dim. Nova reflectors are not as good as some others like Tek, but you pay more. BUt better reflectors means more light from the same amount of electricity. __________________ Jeremy I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: 30gallon mixed reef, 10 shrimp/goby

11/03/2009, 10:20 PM	#9
langtudatinh01 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 94	how about this, everyone always say that reflector makes a different. i have retrofit PC (4 55W) with individual reflectors. Do that help to compare with T5? thanks. __________________ Tuanito Tranito Current Tank Info: 55 gallons freshwater (rainbow fish, 2 yrs old), retired October,09. 29 gallons nano reeftank (4 months-refugium/sump 20 gallons)

11/04/2009, 08:18 PM	#13
jenglish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,976	A lot of it depends on reflector. If you get a single reflector over 4 bulbs and they are of roughly the same wattage, there is going to be little difference in light (though longer bulb life and more color choices). I have seen a 4 bulb w/ individual parabolic reflector put out much more PAR than a 6 bulb without it and that is comparing T5 to T5. The other issue is depth. Well reflected T5 have better penetration. Of course if you get beyond about 20 inches you start getting to where MH are the way to go. __________________ Jeremy I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: 30gallon mixed reef, 10 shrimp/goby

11/04/2009, 08:58 PM	#16
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 1,742	T-5's do have better depth penetration than PC's. Not to mention a wider range of color options. I'd deffinately go with T-5's over PC's any day. As mentioned before, wattage is only a measurement of energy usage. It has nothing to do with the amount of light being directed into the tank. __________________ My Family Is My Life... JIM Current Tank Info: 54gal corner bowfront- Mixed reef. 250w 20k, 96w T-5, 8w LED, 2.5g HOB fuge, K-1 & K-3, Prizm skimmer (unfortuinately)

11/03/2009, 06:36 PM	#2
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 2,570	yes 4 should be fine. 6 would be better for more options with bulb combos.

11/03/2009, 09:10 PM	#4
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 601	Bump - I was wondering the same thing. We have a 40 breeder and I got a 36inch Current USA PC (10k and a 50/50 2x96 watts) on craiglist for $65 so I couldn't pass it up. I love it but wondered if I should upgrade to T5's and get the Nova Extreme 6x39? Is it worth the upgrade or should I just use the money and throw in new bulbs on my PC? This is the one I am looking at http://afishybusiness.com/Lighting/T...va_Extreme_Pro

11/03/2009, 09:42 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 2,570	Agreed, wattage has nothing to do with it. It is about the amount of light directed into the tank due to individual reflectors for each bulb which PC's lack. You will notice the difference in light

11/03/2009, 09:43 PM	#7
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 601	So someone like me considering upgrading, should I spent the extra money and upgrade from PC to a 6x39 T5?

11/03/2009, 10:27 PM	#10
0812946 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wentzville, MO Posts: 93	I always heard that T5's do better in tank depth as well? This would be something to look in to..

11/04/2009, 08:27 PM	#14
bwade209 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 40	T5s are more efficient at light output than PCs... and greatly more efficient when individual reflectors are used. PCs aren't quite as good as hyped up to be when they first came out way back when. Due to the way PC bulbs are bent back on themselves (instead of being a linear bulb), there is substantial loss of output compared to its potential if it were a linear bulb (don't remember the stated amount). Watts doesn't mean anything other than the amount of energy the lights are consuming. It has no consistent or relevant meaning toward the amount of light being generated. Think of it in terms of the screw-in fluorescent bulbs that are being more heavily marketed for home use over incandescent bulbs. There's 10w screw-in fluorescents that generate the same amount of light (or more) as a 40-60w incandescent bulb. The screw-in fluorescent uses far less watts than the incandescent bulb, but generates the same amount of light. Using watts to compare lighting types is very misleading, especially when you consider the numerous bulb choices available. Different combinations of bulbs in a fixture for your tank will create different amounts of useable light. If it were me, I'd go with the T5s over PCs. There's a greater amount of bulb variety for T5s. There was a thread floating around here awhile back where a guy actually measured light output of T5s with no reflector in his canopy over his tank (canopy was simply painted white on the inside), compared his PAR values (one measure of light output) to values posted by other users, and determined that even without any type of actual reflector the T5s were still incredibly bright. T5 bulbs last longer 18 - 24 months vs. 6 - 10 months for PCs, cost less per bulb (~$20 for T5s, ~$25 for PCs) and there's a greater bulb variety.

11/04/2009, 08:35 PM	#15
arrowheadpuffer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA Posts: 108	If you have a canopy, why not use both? I started out with a 4x65watt PC fixture, then built a hood, took the fixture apart and put it in the canopy, then added 2x54watt TEK T5s. Thinking of adding 2x110 VHO next (I got a spare ballast sitting around gathering dust.)