T5 lighting vs Compact over nano

Bigmike · 04/24/2007, 04:43 PM

Is my thinking that T5s are better for a nano tank correct? Im looking to put about 4-5 8W T5s over a 3 gal as opposed to two 18W compacts. I want sufficient light without heating my water too much. Will the T5 setup keep my water cooler and produce as good of strength lighting? I always thought that T5s were slightly more intense than compacts and ran a little cooler, is this correct?

Any input would be great! thanks

Mike

spleen93 · 04/25/2007, 07:00 AM

8 watt T5s??? Where are you finding 8 watt T5s? The smallest T5s I've seen for sale here in the US are 24 inch bulbs which run 14 - 24 watts depending on whether they're NO or HO bulbs.

For a nano like that, I think you'd have to do either CF or a small MH pendant if you want to blast the light. What are the dimensions of your nano?

(edit: found the 8 watt T5s you're talking about - I think those are FW bulbs (the replacement bulbs for the Eclipse 6 gallons - 12 inches long). You COULD use those ... but the big advantage of T5s is the usage of indvidual parabolic reflectors with each bulb. Since these reflectors don't come standard in a 12 inch length (Marineland doesn't bother with a reflector), you'd have to DIY your own if you wanted to do it. Might still be simpler to do CF in this size tank)

Spleen

slavearm · 04/25/2007, 09:20 AM

Or you could buy those and buy a large IC SLR and cut it in half, thus getting two reflectors.

04/24/2007, 04:43 PM	#1
Bigmike Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silverado, CA Posts: 1,151	T5 lighting vs Compact over nano Is my thinking that T5s are better for a nano tank correct? Im looking to put about 4-5 8W T5s over a 3 gal as opposed to two 18W compacts. I want sufficient light without heating my water too much. Will the T5 setup keep my water cooler and produce as good of strength lighting? I always thought that T5s were slightly more intense than compacts and ran a little cooler, is this correct? Any input would be great! thanks Mike __________________ I don't even like goats!

04/25/2007, 07:00 AM	#2
spleen93 crabby hermit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: somewhere at the end of the rainbow Posts: 1,363	8 watt T5s??? Where are you finding 8 watt T5s? The smallest T5s I've seen for sale here in the US are 24 inch bulbs which run 14 - 24 watts depending on whether they're NO or HO bulbs. For a nano like that, I think you'd have to do either CF or a small MH pendant if you want to blast the light. What are the dimensions of your nano? (edit: found the 8 watt T5s you're talking about - I think those are FW bulbs (the replacement bulbs for the Eclipse 6 gallons - 12 inches long). You COULD use those ... but the big advantage of T5s is the usage of indvidual parabolic reflectors with each bulb. Since these reflectors don't come standard in a 12 inch length (Marineland doesn't bother with a reflector), you'd have to DIY your own if you wanted to do it. Might still be simpler to do CF in this size tank) Spleen __________________ Spleen "Put that in your Mag Drive and smoke it." - jnarowe "Beware of the banter" - mpoletti "Now I know that some things are just out of our control and we should enjoy the good parts as much as we can." - pookstreet Last edited by spleen93; 04/25/2007 at 07:17 AM.

04/25/2007, 09:20 AM	#3
slavearm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 821	Or you could buy those and buy a large IC SLR and cut it in half, thus getting two reflectors. __________________ Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance Current Tank Info: 135G with 60 Sump mostly SPS