T5 lights

[bruce 1]

My tank is a hex that is 165 gal.30 inches deep. It has 8 24inch T12 lights in it with 2 icecap ballast. I am going to change to T5 lights, with the icecap ballasts. I only keep soft corals, and they all look good under the T12s. But I want to change to T5s so they will run cooler. My question is out of these lights

 

[jennm]

On our 65 at the shop we use 2 Sunwave, 1 Reef Wave and 1 Blue Wave.

At home, Brian uses 2 Sunwave and 2 Blue Wave. He prefers that combination.

Either way, they are decent lamps, comparable with Giesemann.

Jenn

 

[bruce 1]

Will the T5 run cooler? Since they are less watts than the T12s will they put out more light? Just thinking about changing for the future.

 

[jennm]

I'm not sure (although someone else might know).

VHO was all the rage about 10 years ago. It's still around but not much. It was sort of replaced with compact fluorescent, but compact fluorescent is going away in favour of T5HO. Just the evolution of the technology I guess.

Both VHO and T5HO are "high output" (well so is PC...) but with VHO and T5HO, they are more watts than a typical standard fluorescent lamp of the same size.

For example, a standard T12, 48" lamp is either 32 or 40 watts (depending on brand). T8 are usually 32 watts. T5 (normal output) is 28 watts and T5HO is 54 watts.

VHO is also T12, but a 48" lamp is usually 110 watts. I believe there are/were HO T12s that put out 75 watts on a 48" lamp.

How this translates to heat/temperature, I'm not sure.

I can tell you that there are a ton more lamp/Kelvin temperature choices in T5HO than there were in VHO or PC.

Jenn

 

[snowmansnow]

One thing you MAY consider is leaving a FEW t12s in the system. IMO (and many agree w me) the old VHO actinics can't be beat.

The t5s are just newer technology and are a little more efficient, thus the smaller size and greater output.

I can't speak to those particular lamps, but if you have any questions about ATI I can probably help.

As far as running cooler they may run a LITTLE cooler. Keep in mind actively cooling the endcaps will help the lamps run cooler, longer, and more effectively.

Careful when you swap over not to fry all your stuff. Folks that have never done a t5 only system generally underestimate how much powerful the little things are.

 

[rbredding]

I've got T-12 VHO's for Actinic supplementation on my setup (with 250W MH's)...

quick answer is that yes, the T5's will run much more efficiently than the same number/length of T12's..

I don't think that anyone knows enough about them as to whether the T5's will put out the same par as the T12's.. (but maybe there is someone here who can help with that)
it could be that you'd have to run 10 T5's to get the same par that 8 T12's delivered...
(but again, I'm speculating)

 

[darcurr]

SnowManSnow;594514 wrote:
As far as running cooler they may run a LITTLE cooler. Keep in mind actively cooling the endcaps will help the lamps run cooler, longer, and more effectively.

+1

The heat from the bulbs will not matter as much as how you deal with the heat. I have both, and can't tell a difference in temps.