Coloring up difference between T5's and PC's (same watts)

angel_eyez84 · 10/27/2010, 12:11 PM

im wanting to upgrade one of my 29g biocubes to t5's, but the 20" is only 72 watts which is the wattage that i'm running currently for my stock pc's... what i'm wondering is am i going to be able to tell a difference in the color of my corals running the same wattage as the pc's? i was looking at the 24" 96 watt but i think it is going to hang over the sides of my tank at least 2".

allsps40 · 10/27/2010, 12:15 PM

You should just do a 150 watt HQI Viper or Coral Life fixture on your bio cube. These 2 lights work great on your tank. Plus you will be able to keep any corals you like.

angel_eyez84 · 10/27/2010, 01:17 PM

not wanting to go with a metal halide for heating issues and i think it would be over kill for a tank that small with just softies... just wanting my z's and p's to get there color back up...

kgross · 10/27/2010, 01:45 PM

I will say that with the correct bulbs and reflectors, the T5 setup will give you more light and better color. A t5 bulb with a good reflector can put around double the light into the tank compared to a PC bulb or even a t5 with a simple reflector.

Now the question is, are you going to get a good T5 setup, or a normal one, if it does not have good bulbs and good reflectors I don't think you will see any difference to be honest.

angel_eyez84 · 10/27/2010, 01:51 PM

its not a great fixture but its what i can afford right now... its an oddessy 4 bulb each bulb has its own reflector. and i'm planning on ordering new bulbs not using the ones that come with it...

kgross · 10/27/2010, 01:54 PM

To be honest I would not spend the money on it. They are not known for being very good, and from what I have seen the reflectors are not very good, so I don't think you will get much more light. Save up for something good if you want to upgrade.

Kim

10/27/2010, 12:11 PM	#1
angel_eyez84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: louisiana Posts: 68	Coloring up difference between T5's and PC's (same watts) im wanting to upgrade one of my 29g biocubes to t5's, but the 20" is only 72 watts which is the wattage that i'm running currently for my stock pc's... what i'm wondering is am i going to be able to tell a difference in the color of my corals running the same wattage as the pc's? i was looking at the 24" 96 watt but i think it is going to hang over the sides of my tank at least 2". __________________ Sandy Current Tank Info: 2 55 gal reef, 120 gal reef

10/27/2010, 01:17 PM	#3
angel_eyez84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: louisiana Posts: 68	not wanting to go with a metal halide for heating issues and i think it would be over kill for a tank that small with just softies... just wanting my z's and p's to get there color back up... __________________ Sandy Current Tank Info: 2 55 gal reef, 120 gal reef

10/27/2010, 01:45 PM	#4
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	I will say that with the correct bulbs and reflectors, the T5 setup will give you more light and better color. A t5 bulb with a good reflector can put around double the light into the tank compared to a PC bulb or even a t5 with a simple reflector. Now the question is, are you going to get a good T5 setup, or a normal one, if it does not have good bulbs and good reflectors I don't think you will see any difference to be honest. __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

10/27/2010, 01:51 PM	#5
angel_eyez84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: louisiana Posts: 68	its not a great fixture but its what i can afford right now... its an oddessy 4 bulb each bulb has its own reflector. and i'm planning on ordering new bulbs not using the ones that come with it... __________________ Sandy Current Tank Info: 2 55 gal reef, 120 gal reef

10/27/2010, 01:54 PM	#6
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	To be honest I would not spend the money on it. They are not known for being very good, and from what I have seen the reflectors are not very good, so I don't think you will get much more light. Save up for something good if you want to upgrade. Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

10/27/2010, 12:15 PM	#2
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	You should just do a 150 watt HQI Viper or Coral Life fixture on your bio cube. These 2 lights work great on your tank. Plus you will be able to keep any corals you like.

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