PC versus cheap T5HO

Porthos · 02/23/2007, 10:29 AM

I'm still looking at lighting, and would like to get T5's with individual reflectors, but I don't want to spend that much, and as I am new to the hobby, I don't plan on doing any corals for a long time, and if I do, I would just do beginner corals.

So, with that said, I have been looking at these two fixtures:

Nova Extreme T5HO
Coralife Lunar PC

Both are about the same price (and a resonable price for me), both include individual power cords, and both have lunar lights built in. However, one is PC lighting, and the other is T5HO with a single reflector (and yes, I have read and I know that this is not as good as individual reflectors).

So, which one would you recommend? Thanks!

luke33 · 02/23/2007, 10:57 AM

Either will do fine with softies, but not sps. The nova is better imo than the pc.

labatt · 02/23/2007, 10:59 AM

Word on the street is that T5's w/out the individual reflectors perform as poorly as PC's. Save your money up and buy something better IMO. I wasted 350 bucks on a 6x65 PC fixture less than a year ago and am about to replace it. Just my opinion, and as others say, your mileage may vary.

650-IS350 · 02/23/2007, 11:01 AM

Just go with a TEK light system.. . T-5's w/ individual reflectors.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ight_Fixtures/

WaterKeeper · 02/23/2007, 11:28 AM

I agree that the individual reflectors do help a lot. The other thing going for the T-5's are the color rendition. For some reason PC tubes just don't seem to produce the color quality of a T-5 tube. It may just be my own preference but I have heard the same from people that switched from PC to T-5's.

alizarin · 02/23/2007, 12:38 PM

Your sig says you have a 92 gallon corner tank - is that 4' wide, by 3' tall by 2' front-to-back? T5s and PCs won't penetrate half that depth very much. But if you don't know if you want to commit to the hobby yet I'd look on the used section here and for your local club and buy a used 48" PC setup. Since you're not going to keep corals I don't think the pros of T5s (better color, more light) are as much of a loss. And if you're like most of us you'll end up upgrading to where everybody else is (or quitting the hobby) and the low cost of used PCs won't be such a big loss.
That's my opinion anyhow.

papagimp · 02/23/2007, 12:53 PM

I agree with alizarin, if you plan to commit to this hobby for any reasonable length of time, invest in the better T5HO fixture. I originally purchaed a cheap PC fixture and some beginner corals, It didn't take 6 months for me to realize that it wasn't going to cut it for me, and i had to sink another sum of cash on better lights to allow the hobby to progress for me. Definatly worth it in the long run. It pains me to see half empty FOWLR tanks and setups with only minimal light corals and beginner stuff.

Porthos · 02/23/2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alizarin
Your sig says you have a 92 gallon corner tank - is that 4' wide, by 3' tall by 2' front-to-back? T5s and PCs won't penetrate half that depth very much.

Close, its 4' wide, 3' front to back, and 2' tall. Does this make a difference? I've read that T5s are good for about 20".

The shape of my tank is another problem. The Tek T5 systems are 36" x 15", but since my tanks narrows to a point towards the back, I can only handle a 36" x 8", and then add a 24" x 8" behind it. This is another reason I was looking at the Nova Extreme as the 36" isn't too deep (only 7").

What if I were to start out with the Nova Extreme 36" T5 system, then when I did want to move to corals, I added a better 24" T5 system or a MH to go with the Nova T5? Would this work okay since most of the corals would be at the back as this is where most of the live rock will be? I think I'm going to have to go with two light fixtures in the end anyways just because of the shape of my tank.

650-IS350 · 02/23/2007, 01:20 PM

My tek 8bulb 48" ( 8x54watt ) is 24" away from my sand bed and 5-6" on top of my tank... I have SPS/LPS/Zoos etc... they are all doing fine and thriving.

alizarin · 02/25/2007, 09:31 AM

2' isn't so deep. But keep in mind a single reflector won't likely penetrate as well as individual so it probably won't go quite so deep.

....BUT...
If the Nova fits your hood well and you don't want to muck about with building something on your own you can always sell it on the for-sale forum here and not be out too much money if you do decide to upgrade in a year.

Post some pictures when you're done - I bet it's going to look nice! =)

02/23/2007, 10:29 AM	#1
Porthos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 24	PC versus cheap T5HO I'm still looking at lighting, and would like to get T5's with individual reflectors, but I don't want to spend that much, and as I am new to the hobby, I don't plan on doing any corals for a long time, and if I do, I would just do beginner corals. So, with that said, I have been looking at these two fixtures: Nova Extreme T5HO Coralife Lunar PC Both are about the same price (and a resonable price for me), both include individual power cords, and both have lunar lights built in. However, one is PC lighting, and the other is T5HO with a single reflector (and yes, I have read and I know that this is not as good as individual reflectors). So, which one would you recommend? Thanks!

02/23/2007, 10:59 AM	#3
labatt Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 179	Word on the street is that T5's w/out the individual reflectors perform as poorly as PC's. Save your money up and buy something better IMO. I wasted 350 bucks on a 6x65 PC fixture less than a year ago and am about to replace it. Just my opinion, and as others say, your mileage may vary. __________________ no, I can't spell or type

02/23/2007, 11:01 AM	#4
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	Just go with a TEK light system.. . T-5's w/ individual reflectors. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ight_Fixtures/ __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

02/23/2007, 11:28 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I agree that the individual reflectors do help a lot. The other thing going for the T-5's are the color rendition. For some reason PC tubes just don't seem to produce the color quality of a T-5 tube. It may just be my own preference but I have heard the same from people that switched from PC to T-5's. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

02/23/2007, 12:53 PM	#7
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	I agree with alizarin, if you plan to commit to this hobby for any reasonable length of time, invest in the better T5HO fixture. I originally purchaed a cheap PC fixture and some beginner corals, It didn't take 6 months for me to realize that it wasn't going to cut it for me, and i had to sink another sum of cash on better lights to allow the hobby to progress for me. Definatly worth it in the long run. It pains me to see half empty FOWLR tanks and setups with only minimal light corals and beginner stuff. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/23/2007, 10:57 AM	#2
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Either will do fine with softies, but not sps. The nova is better imo than the pc.

02/23/2007, 12:38 PM	#6
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	Your sig says you have a 92 gallon corner tank - is that 4' wide, by 3' tall by 2' front-to-back? T5s and PCs won't penetrate half that depth very much. But if you don't know if you want to commit to the hobby yet I'd look on the used section here and for your local club and buy a used 48" PC setup. Since you're not going to keep corals I don't think the pros of T5s (better color, more light) are as much of a loss. And if you're like most of us you'll end up upgrading to where everybody else is (or quitting the hobby) and the low cost of used PCs won't be such a big loss. That's my opinion anyhow.

02/23/2007, 01:20 PM	#9
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	My tek 8bulb 48" ( 8x54watt ) is 24" away from my sand bed and 5-6" on top of my tank... I have SPS/LPS/Zoos etc... they are all doing fine and thriving. __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

02/25/2007, 09:31 AM	#10
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	2' isn't so deep. But keep in mind a single reflector won't likely penetrate as well as individual so it probably won't go quite so deep. ....BUT... If the Nova fits your hood well and you don't want to muck about with building something on your own you can always sell it on the for-sale forum here and not be out too much money if you do decide to upgrade in a year. Post some pictures when you're done - I bet it's going to look nice! =)