t5s or pcs

[blind1993]

this is a random question that is eating my brain away.

since you can keep sps under t5s that means they have more output, right?

so what would be more powerful 4 65w pcs(1 reflector) or 2 54w t5ho(individual reflectors)

DISCLAIMER: i am not using this for my tank it is just pure curiosity.

 

[victor626nj]

t5 because they run cooler last longer and with an single reflector you can get better par......plus i have t5

 

[blind1993]

that is what i thought. i never believed that they add virtually no heat till i actually touched a bulb yesterday and i was amazed.

 

[victor626nj]

well they do get hot especially if you over drive them just not so hot that you leave your skin behind like mh

 

[blind1993]

well when i upgrade to t5s i wont overdrive them. also i found a nice t5 combo of bulbs that looks nice.

 

[victor626nj]

just make sure you put a fan at the ends to keep them cool

 

[blind1993]

yea, when i put a mh over my tank for a day just to see i was amazed by the heat and how t5s put the same amount of light out.

i would have bought that retro i posted but it would have cost me 40 a month, alottt of heat also.

 

[victor626nj]

dude for your tank i would have gotten 150 watt mh alot less heat and i would have ust added a fan

 

[blind1993]

it doesnt matter i have changed my plans to make the tank most covered in zoas, and ricordias since they are easy, colorful, and mostly cheap.

 

[roland jacques]

Four 65 watts PC lamps w/flat reflector will put out more light than two 54 t-5s with parbolic refectors. 260 watts vs 108 watts.

Personaly id rather have the two t5s with less PAR. Bulbs last longer = $avings. they take up less space.........

 

[blind1993]

Roland Jacques;139366 wrote: Four 65 watts PC lamps w/flat reflector will put out more light than two 54 t-5s with parbolic refectors. 260 watts vs 108 watts.

Personaly id rather have the two t5s with less PAR. Bulbs last longer = $avings. they take up less space.........

yea but if you have the same wattage t5s will support clams and all but the pcs will not, do you see where i am getting at?

i think maybe we should test the par on each with brand new bulbs, anyone up for it?

 

[roland jacques]

Yeah, if you have 260 watts of T5 with parbolic reflectors vs 260 watts of PCs w flat reflectors. The T5s will have much more PAR.

To suport clams in a deep tank you might want to overdrive the T5s with IC ballast.

 

[blind1993]

what if they both had indivdual reflectors?

 

[jaustin]

you should get 6 t-5s....that will do it!

 

[blind1993]

oh yea thats perfect, no i am getting a 2 bulb indivual reflector retro for now and then will upgrade IF i want hard corals(which i think are overated because of care and stillness)

 

[william1]

I have two 265 watt pc on my 90 gallon and I support a gigas clam, colt, coral, zoos, anemone, frogspawn, xenia.

 

[victor626nj]

WILLIAM1;139709 wrote: I have two 265 watt pc on my 90 gallon and I support a gigas clam, colt, coral, zoos, anemone, frogspawn, xenia.

hey you work at magic dragon tatto right