T8 lighting

rogergolf66 · 05/28/2007, 06:12 PM

What is the difference between T8 lighting and T5 lighting?

Roger

DarG · 05/28/2007, 06:17 PM

3/8"

Beaner3 · 05/28/2007, 07:23 PM

haha

salty3 · 05/28/2007, 07:26 PM

Im intrested to. I saw t8 fixtures here new for about 15.00 and wanted to know if they will work.

rogergolf66 · 05/28/2007, 07:27 PM

well thanks for that waist of time.

rogergolf66 · 05/28/2007, 07:28 PM

they will work it is only lighting my questions is are they on FO tanks or are they a good filler for reef tanks or if I used enough of them could I use them like some people use T5s of corals?

salty3 · 05/28/2007, 08:03 PM

Thats what I want to know if I can use enough for a reef tank with softy's. The local hardware store has hanging fixtures that are t8 and I want to know if they'll work before I buy them.

Well heres a bump in hopes someone who know will see it.

sjm817 · 05/28/2007, 08:08 PM

T8s are normal output bulbs. A 4' is 32W. They are a more efficient replacement for NO T12s. Fine for FO tanks, some low light corals, but not full reef. People have overdriven them with Ice cap ballasts, but then you still dont have good reflectors.

rogergolf66 · 05/28/2007, 08:55 PM

yes you would need to add a good reflectior. From what I know the bulb or wattage is not a importand as Lumans so If you have a great reflector you could create good output. even at 32 watts

pjf · 05/30/2007, 04:08 PM

T8 tubes are 1-inch (8 x 1/8") in diameter. A typical T8 tube for your 4-foot long 75-gallon aquarium would be a 32-watt T8.

The following 4-foot long fluorescent tubes are pin-compatible and interchangeable: T12, T10, T8, and T6.

If you are replacing a T8 tube and want to keep your current fixture, I recommend the thinner T6 (6 x 1/8" = 3/4") which is 3/4" in diameter. A parabolic reflector can more easily direct light from a smaller diameter tube into an aquarium. The large 1.5" diameter T12 blocks much of the light bouncing off a reflector.

If you are willing to replace your ballasts with higher wattage ballasts, the 55-watt T6HO (high output) is an option. Both the 32-watt T6 and the 55-watt T6HO are available from www.naturallighting.com. This company also has T6 fixtures with individual reflectors for each tube.

BeanAnimal · 05/30/2007, 04:17 PM

The problem is PAR per square foot. NO output T12 bulbs are actually very efficient. The problem is that you can not pack very many of them over top of a tank. MOST of the light emmited from the top and sides of the bulbs is wasted. (actually over 3/4 of the light)

So that brings us to T8 bulbs. You can certainly get MORE of them over a tank and therefore increase the PAR, but most of the light from the top of the bulbs is wasted, as the bulbs themsevles cast their own shadow as well as catching and scattering a good portion of the reflected light. We still waste a majority of the light.

That brings us to T5 bulbs. They are VERY narrow and we can get a good number above a tank. Better yet, we can build very slender parabolic reflectors that take a large portion of the light from OVER and BESIDE the bulb and get it down into the the tank and still fit a decent number of the fixtures (bulb and reflector) above the tank.

If we tried to use parabloc reflectors on T8 or T12 bulbs, they would need to be HUGE to work properly and you would not be able to fit enough over the tank.

05/28/2007, 06:12 PM	#1
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	T8 lighting What is the difference between T8 lighting and T5 lighting? Roger

05/28/2007, 07:27 PM	#5
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	well thanks for that waist of time. __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

05/28/2007, 07:28 PM	#6
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	they will work it is only lighting my questions is are they on FO tanks or are they a good filler for reef tanks or if I used enough of them could I use them like some people use T5s of corals? __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

05/28/2007, 08:08 PM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	T8s are normal output bulbs. A 4' is 32W. They are a more efficient replacement for NO T12s. Fine for FO tanks, some low light corals, but not full reef. People have overdriven them with Ice cap ballasts, but then you still dont have good reflectors. __________________ - Scott

05/28/2007, 08:55 PM	#9
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	yes you would need to add a good reflectior. From what I know the bulb or wattage is not a importand as Lumans so If you have a great reflector you could create good output. even at 32 watts __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

05/28/2007, 06:17 PM	#2
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	3/8"

05/28/2007, 07:23 PM	#3
Beaner3 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Goodbye Minnesota, Hello Leadville CO Posts: 266	haha

05/28/2007, 07:26 PM	#4
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Im intrested to. I saw t8 fixtures here new for about 15.00 and wanted to know if they will work.

05/28/2007, 08:03 PM	#7
salty3 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Right here Posts: 894	Thats what I want to know if I can use enough for a reef tank with softy's. The local hardware store has hanging fixtures that are t8 and I want to know if they'll work before I buy them. Well heres a bump in hopes someone who know will see it.

05/30/2007, 04:08 PM	#10
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	T8 tubes are 1-inch (8 x 1/8") in diameter. A typical T8 tube for your 4-foot long 75-gallon aquarium would be a 32-watt T8. The following 4-foot long fluorescent tubes are pin-compatible and interchangeable: T12, T10, T8, and T6. If you are replacing a T8 tube and want to keep your current fixture, I recommend the thinner T6 (6 x 1/8" = 3/4") which is 3/4" in diameter. A parabolic reflector can more easily direct light from a smaller diameter tube into an aquarium. The large 1.5" diameter T12 blocks much of the light bouncing off a reflector. If you are willing to replace your ballasts with higher wattage ballasts, the 55-watt T6HO (high output) is an option. Both the 32-watt T6 and the 55-watt T6HO are available from www.naturallighting.com. This company also has T6 fixtures with individual reflectors for each tube.

05/30/2007, 04:17 PM	#11
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	The problem is PAR per square foot. NO output T12 bulbs are actually very efficient. The problem is that you can not pack very many of them over top of a tank. MOST of the light emmited from the top and sides of the bulbs is wasted. (actually over 3/4 of the light) So that brings us to T8 bulbs. You can certainly get MORE of them over a tank and therefore increase the PAR, but most of the light from the top of the bulbs is wasted, as the bulbs themsevles cast their own shadow as well as catching and scattering a good portion of the reflected light. We still waste a majority of the light. That brings us to T5 bulbs. They are VERY narrow and we can get a good number above a tank. Better yet, we can build very slender parabolic reflectors that take a large portion of the light from OVER and BESIDE the bulb and get it down into the the tank and still fit a decent number of the fixtures (bulb and reflector) above the tank. If we tried to use parabloc reflectors on T8 or T12 bulbs, they would need to be HUGE to work properly and you would not be able to fit enough over the tank.