PC vs T5

[wegotcrabs]

I have been doing alot of research and ask alot of questions on this topic. I know T5 are alot better, and put out more par then PCs. My question is it worth it to go from 4x96 pcs to 4x54 ATI t5s. I know its less wattage but from what ive heard it doesnt matter bc T5 produce more usable light. Anyway the fixture is $550. Is it worth it?

[atvdave]

If you want to keep corals, then YES.

If a fish only then no, Your PC's will be fine.

[wegotcrabs]

I have a BTA- monti caps- shrooms, leathers, zoos. Everything has been doing fine for over a year. The bulbs are do for a changing that is the reason im thinking about the upgrade. Is there a noticable difference and will a 4x54 T5 fixture really put out that much more light then my pcs?

[atvdave]

Every body's tanks are different , but when I got back into the hobby I had a 92gal corner with a 4x96 PCs.

I was able to keep shrooms fine but my toadstool, frogspan, and some LPS's just keep shrinking or wilting. My tank was 24" deep so I got a MH, PC combo system and man.. they all just took off.

I then up-graded to a 125 and got a T-5 (14x39w) system. Man, It rocks. My zoa, toadstool, frogspan, LPS, SPS, BTA, and much more are growing like wildfire.

I think if you want to add more stuff then T-5's is the way to go, but if the PC's are working for you then there's really no need. You just may be limited as to what you can add in the future.

[wegotcrabs]

I guess my question is how much more light will this fixture put out?

[Craig Lambert]

Originally posted by wegotcrabs
I guess my question is how much more light will this fixture put out?

A Ton!

[ridinfast03]

Oh man T5 all the way - bulbs usually have a life span of a year and half of usuable light at about 20-40 per bulb give or take your lfs or e-store opposed to 6 mo of pc usuable light at nearly a given 40-70 per bulb.

For Example 3 yrs.
PC will be replaced 6 times at say 50.00 x 4 = 200 per cycle twice a year = 400.00 x 3 = 1200.00 total for three years.

T5 with 54w helio bulb replacements
14.00 x 4 = 56.00 changed twice in 3 years = 112.00

These figures are very brief and it is late so I hope my math is correct. I got these prices from a site sponsor so in my opinion the numbers do the talking. Most people dont change their pc bulbs every six months like suggested but usually see a rapid decline from an insufficient bulb immediately afterwards. Plus like everyone else has experience t5 bulbs reach a lower depth and consume less wattage

[pjf]

Hope this helps:

• PC or pin-based high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt: http://lightingresearch.org/programs...L-efficacy.asp. So 4 x 96w x 60l/w ~ 23,000 lumens.

• T5 lighting produces 80-100 lumens per watt: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi.../lat5/pc1a.asp. So 4 x 54w x 93l/w ~ 20,000 lumens.

• The ATI T5 fixture has individual reflectors that will direct even more light into your aquarium. The twin tubes of a PC lamp absorb a portion of each others light and a portion of the light bouncing from the common reflector.

I believe that with the individual reflectors, the T5 will bring more light into your aquarium with half the wattage.

[Craig Lambert]

Originally posted by pjf
Hope this helps:

• PC or pin-based high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt: http://lightingresearch.org/programs...L-efficacy.asp. So 4 x 96w x 60l/w ~ 23,000 lumens.

• T5 lighting produces 80-100 lumens per watt: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi.../lat5/pc1a.asp. So 4 x 54w x 93l/w ~ 20,000 lumens.

• The ATI T5 fixture has individual reflectors that will direct even more light into your aquarium. The twin tubes of a PC lamp absorb a portion of each others light and a portion of the light bouncing from the common reflector.

I believe that with the individual reflectors, the T5 will bring more light into your aquarium with half the wattage.

I might add that if you run them on an IceCap Ballast, those 54W bulbs run at 80 watts, and Icecap Single Lamp Reflectors are very efficient at reducing light loss.