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03/22/2008, 07:45 PM | #1 |
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PAR Results HQI vs T5
OK heres the deal
I had 2 150w hqi and 2 96w PC with eggcrate 3" high (black numbers) I now have a T5 w 8 54w bulbs shooting through glass tops for now 5" high which is blocking a ton I am sure (Red Letters) as you can see much more par T5 TEK Light Light Bulbs currently running Front Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus Giesemann: PowerChrome Pure Actinic ATI Procolor Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus UV Lighting Aquasun Giesemann: PowerChrome Aqua Blue + Giesemann: PowerChrome Actinic Plus
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
03/22/2008, 08:00 PM | #2 |
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You can tell nothing from that comparison since one is through egg crate and one through glass. Test them under the same conditions and then you might be able to tell something from the numbers.
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03/22/2008, 08:05 PM | #3 |
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The purpose of this comparison was to show as I was lighting my tank to how I am now. I will tomorrow put the egg crate on and it will be even higher with t5. I was trying to show even with the glass top t5's out/pared the hqi's
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
03/22/2008, 08:12 PM | #4 |
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Yeah, if anything, the glass cuts out more light than the egg crate... Looks like those T5's really do rock. Yey for individual reflectors
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You will miss 100% of the shots you dont take. Dare to dream Mike, aka Fletch Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef |
03/22/2008, 08:46 PM | #5 |
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Tom at TRS was saying how the T5's PAR readings were blowing the MH's away. Looks like the #'s don't lie. Tank looks awesome John!....even if it is thru a glass top......
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People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2 |
03/22/2008, 08:52 PM | #6 |
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What size tank, total of what 432 watts on the tank then? If your going to compare it to MH you would have to light it with similar wattage.
Looks like your getting much better par readings, but why the glass? Build some cheap screens with netting and lose no light. |
03/22/2008, 08:53 PM | #7 |
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John nice data, I assume the eggcrate/glass are to prevent jumpers...
MK |
03/22/2008, 09:04 PM | #8 |
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Very impressive numbers and the tank ain't so bad either.
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1000 gallon Current Tank Info: Dreaming up a new one |
03/22/2008, 09:27 PM | #9 |
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what happened to the purple cap?
turn that house light off so it's reflection isn't in the picture next time! (It's a rough crowd here and I'm just trying to blend in )
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over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems *see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB* GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors |
03/22/2008, 09:50 PM | #10 |
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Makes me wonder now... I was about to buy a MH setup for my frag tank, but now I am going to look into t5s...
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click my "little red house" for my 29gallon SPS tank build... 30 gallon breeder prop tank build started... soon to be added to my build above... Current Tank Info: 29 gallon drilled and plumbed thru-wall, Custom 10 gallon sump/fuge, Gen-X 4100 return, 2 Tunze Nanostream 6025s, AquaEuro Recirc 135 skimmer, 150watt HQI 14K Pheonix MH w/ 2x55watt PC lighting, lebos Lunar lights, 45#s live Rock, 20#s live sand... |
03/22/2008, 09:59 PM | #11 |
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how old and what bulbs were the 150's
also what kind of ballast .
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03/22/2008, 10:06 PM | #12 |
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Thank you for sharing.
Can't wait to see the next comparison. Waffleman |
03/22/2008, 10:12 PM | #13 |
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awesome :-) can't wait till i get my tek light in :-D
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03/22/2008, 10:32 PM | #14 | |
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03/23/2008, 06:08 AM | #15 |
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FWIW at least two of the 3 well know LFS's started converting VHO and/or MH lit display tanks to T5 lighting.
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over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems *see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB* GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors |
03/23/2008, 06:30 AM | #16 | |
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Nice work, John.
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03/23/2008, 06:42 AM | #17 |
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yes- and IMO the T5 lit tanks at the LFS visually look more appealing than the previous lighting.
I can't wait until the price of LED lighting drops.
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over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems *see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB* GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors |
03/23/2008, 06:43 AM | #18 |
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The real problem is that you were using 150W MHs for a tank of that depth. You needed at least 250 Watters for that deep a display. T5s can and do work, [B]but always notice how T5 lovers are having to "justify" and "prove' that the T5s work as well or better than MHs.[B/] No one with MHs is ever having to show whether or not they work well on a reef tank. MHs are still the "standard" and what all other lighting gets compared to. Other lighting schemes will work. LEDs, T5s, I have even seen some SPS thrive under PCs. It baffled me, but they did...and for over a year!. At any rate. You have a nice tank and nice setup. I too would choose just about any T5 setup over 150W MHs. You really gotta start at the 250W MHs (usually) to see the great growth and look that MHs are know for. I say "usually" because there are great tanks out there with less.
Nice tank and coral. |
03/23/2008, 06:46 AM | #19 | |
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Quote:
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
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03/23/2008, 06:48 AM | #20 |
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T5 lighting is getting such a good reputation for efficiency a lot of retail stores are using it in new stores.One most notable is petco.
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03/23/2008, 06:49 AM | #21 |
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Hopefully this week my t-5 parts will be in and I am switching from 2 250 watt mh's and 2 110 watt vhos. I will get par readings before and after the switch and see the comparison. I have a 90 and am only going with 6 bulbs. I will let you know as soon as I get them.
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Everyone watch carefully someone is about to say something really funny! Current Tank Info: 210 gallon reef |
03/23/2008, 06:50 AM | #22 |
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Seems more like MH users from all over are jumping on this thread to "prove" their worth... People are always trying to justify their investment...
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03/23/2008, 06:51 AM | #23 | |
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Quote:
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
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03/23/2008, 06:56 AM | #24 | |
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Also this thread has a wealth of knowledge and I consider the expert advise there I am no expert, but take the time and read the hundreds of posts in this thread there is a lot to learn. Grim is very generous with his knowledge. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...3#post12155313
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
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03/23/2008, 07:01 AM | #25 |
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Anyone have any opinion as to what height a light is as safe as you could be for splash?
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John The answer is always no if you never ask the question..... Current Tank Info: 120 AGA RR, 40 gal Fuge, Basement Sump, ASM Skimmer, Lifreef CA Reactor, 7gal RDSB |
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