is T5 power a function of bulb length?

kolosy · 10/27/2008, 12:37 PM

i have a 36" outer orbit fixture with 39w t5s. is it possible to get stronger t5s into it? all 36" bulbs that i've seen have been that power, though i'll be the first to admit i haven't done much looking outside of dfs.

jprince58 · 10/27/2008, 12:50 PM

Yes...and no. They are the same power as in how many watts (electrical unit of power measurement) is used to power the lamp. However, not all lamps are created equal in the amount of light produced (output) vs. the power consumed. Look for lumens and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) as an indication of how much biologically useful light a lamp produces.

WaterKeeper · 10/27/2008, 12:55 PM

The 36", actually 33", Lamp you have is a T-5HO and is currently the strongest they make at 39 watts. I don't think anyone offers a true T-VHO at this time but they have 39 watt, V-HO they call them, that can be overdriven to 60 watts using an electronic ballast.

kolosy · 10/27/2008, 01:34 PM

hm. i'm just trying to understand the lighting game a bit better.

here's what i have so far. corals supposedly grow better with 10000k lighting, but color up better with actinic/15000k+. i have 2 10000k 150w mh bulbs and 4 36" (consequently 39w) t5 actinics in my setup. so what i'm trying to do is bump up the actinic power of my rig without sacrificing the daylight temps.

am i on the right track? or should i just say forget it and get a slightly hotter mh setup? maybe 14000 or 15000k?

WinnipegDragon · 10/27/2008, 01:39 PM

You already have a ton of light if this is over your 46g. If you want to change the colour of the lighting, just change your MH bulbs to 12k or some such.

kolosy · 10/27/2008, 01:41 PM

i do want to change the color, but i'm concerned that the shift in spectrum will affect coral growth. is that unfounded?

nikon187 · 10/27/2008, 01:45 PM

you will be fine

WaterKeeper · 10/27/2008, 01:47 PM

I'd stay with what you have. As you push the K value up the output of the lamp decreases proportionately. They have lamps now that claim 30,000 Kelvin but they look to the eye like a candle. Part of that is our own response to light as the eye gets less sensitive as light moves away from the yellow-green portion of the spectrum yet, if you actually measure the PAR value, it too is low. A 10,000 K lamp give good output and includes some orange-red, not much but a little, and that too is photosynthetically active. You then enhance the blue with the T-5 actinic.

What you have, I feel, is fine but you can bump up the T-5 output. An electronic ballast, like the IceCap 660 series, can allow that 39 watt tube to deliver up to 60 watts. The drawback is you need a $450 ballast and the tube lifetime is significantly shortened. One of the pluses of T-5 is they are good for at least two years. Over drive them and that can decrease to six months. Its up to you but, unless you have problems that you can pin down to low light output, I'd be comfortable with what you have.

kolosy · 10/27/2008, 01:56 PM

fair enough. thanks.

10/27/2008, 12:37 PM	#1
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	is T5 power a function of bulb length? i have a 36" outer orbit fixture with 39w t5s. is it possible to get stronger t5s into it? all 36" bulbs that i've seen have been that power, though i'll be the first to admit i haven't done much looking outside of dfs. __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

10/27/2008, 12:50 PM	#2
jprince58 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jenks, OK, USA Posts: 751	Yes...and no. They are the same power as in how many watts (electrical unit of power measurement) is used to power the lamp. However, not all lamps are created equal in the amount of light produced (output) vs. the power consumed. Look for lumens and Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) as an indication of how much biologically useful light a lamp produces. __________________ 'I refuse to discount another man's opinion -- until he opens his mouth to speak.' -- Anonymous Jeff Prince Current Tank Info: 72g bow mixed reef; 40g frag

10/27/2008, 12:55 PM	#3
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	The 36", actually 33", Lamp you have is a T-5HO and is currently the strongest they make at 39 watts. I don't think anyone offers a true T-VHO at this time but they have 39 watt, V-HO they call them, that can be overdriven to 60 watts using an electronic ballast. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/27/2008, 01:34 PM	#4
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	hm. i'm just trying to understand the lighting game a bit better. here's what i have so far. corals supposedly grow better with 10000k lighting, but color up better with actinic/15000k+. i have 2 10000k 150w mh bulbs and 4 36" (consequently 39w) t5 actinics in my setup. so what i'm trying to do is bump up the actinic power of my rig without sacrificing the daylight temps. am i on the right track? or should i just say forget it and get a slightly hotter mh setup? maybe 14000 or 15000k? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

10/27/2008, 01:39 PM	#5
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	You already have a ton of light if this is over your 46g. If you want to change the colour of the lighting, just change your MH bulbs to 12k or some such. __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

10/27/2008, 01:41 PM	#6
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	i do want to change the color, but i'm concerned that the shift in spectrum will affect coral growth. is that unfounded? __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.

10/27/2008, 01:45 PM	#7
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	you will be fine __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

10/27/2008, 01:47 PM	#8
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I'd stay with what you have. As you push the K value up the output of the lamp decreases proportionately. They have lamps now that claim 30,000 Kelvin but they look to the eye like a candle. Part of that is our own response to light as the eye gets less sensitive as light moves away from the yellow-green portion of the spectrum yet, if you actually measure the PAR value, it too is low. A 10,000 K lamp give good output and includes some orange-red, not much but a little, and that too is photosynthetically active. You then enhance the blue with the T-5 actinic. What you have, I feel, is fine but you can bump up the T-5 output. An electronic ballast, like the IceCap 660 series, can allow that 39 watt tube to deliver up to 60 watts. The drawback is you need a $450 ballast and the tube lifetime is significantly shortened. One of the pluses of T-5 is they are good for at least two years. Over drive them and that can decrease to six months. Its up to you but, unless you have problems that you can pin down to low light output, I'd be comfortable with what you have. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

10/27/2008, 01:56 PM	#9
kolosy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 655	fair enough. thanks. __________________ not yet. maybe someday. Current Tank Info: 90L RR mixed reef, panworld 150ps external pump, t5/mh/led, 20g under-tank sump, 27g above tank sump, 27g fuge with 4" dsb, macro and lr rubble.