PC or T5 for a 29 gal tank

faramir · 09/03/2007, 07:59 PM

Hi everyone, im just a begginer in this hobby.....i bought an eclipe III but without warning about it works for freshwater or marine fish tanks only, and of course, wath i want its a reef tank....

Well, ive been asking a lot in others forums and many people recomended me this one......

Now im about to change my eclipse hood and i have an specific question....i found 2 options for my 30" tank... ONE http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...vendor~.htmlis T5 HO CURRENT USA

And the other one is CURRENT USA PC: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~CU01022.html

Please tell me wich one is the better option to me....(considering quality and cuantity of ligth, heat, electricity consuption and oportunities of having any kind of corals)

Thanks...

big_s · 09/03/2007, 08:20 PM

i have the pc's pn my 30g and i love them. Same one u r lookin at man great buy go 4 it. More then enough light for a 30g.

latazyo · 09/03/2007, 08:24 PM

this should not even be a question

T5s and PC are not on the same level at all

if you only want to keep softies then go with the PCs because they're cheaper and stay cool

if you want to keep everything available to you in this hobby, then get the T5s, they're more expensive but worth it for sure, I love mine (which are now for sale, btw)

hawkfish21 · 09/03/2007, 08:25 PM

I wouldn't buy either one of those units. I don't believe the current T5's have individual reflectors. I would get a Tek unit from Reefgeek.

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ight_Fixtures/

latazyo · 09/03/2007, 08:34 PM

thanks hawkfish

I didnt realize you had picked out units to compare

dont buy T5s w/o individual reflectors

thecichlidpleco · 09/03/2007, 08:37 PM

The current outer orbit extremes do not have individual reflectors. But I would get that over PC.

faramir · 09/03/2007, 09:53 PM

Thanks guys....but my budget is limited so which one would you pick between CURRENT PC o CURRENT T5?i want to have sps but if CURRENT T5 is so badly...i woudl quit sps and keep softies....but if i can try with t5 (not the best, but it works) why not?.....if you have a third option (similar price of course) id love to hear about it...

hawkfish21 · 09/03/2007, 09:54 PM

T5 over PC any day.

hawkfish21 · 09/03/2007, 09:55 PM

Forgot to mention this. Try looking for a used unit and save some $$$.

RickySan · 09/03/2007, 10:15 PM

well if you must have one of those...T-5's are the way to go....compared to other t-5's you might want to upgrade, but PC are the lowest of the low stick with the t-5!!

jubjub · 09/03/2007, 11:35 PM

i just bought some lights off ebay some nice metal halide 250w ones for the price of T-5's you might check that

wolfie03 · 09/04/2007, 06:33 AM

T-5 over PC but im pretty sure you could find a very nice used 150 watt MH for the same price.

wolfie03 · 09/04/2007, 06:34 AM

ha just saw post above, good job

onecrzyboi4u · 09/04/2007, 09:08 AM

i'm using current nova extreme t5 on my tank.. it's real good lighting in my opinion. i have a variety of corals in my tank there all growing and looking good. i even have a clam whose tripled in size since i have gotten it. but, as mention above id get a t5 fixture with individual reflectors. my next upgrade will be MH hopefully.

Reef-on!

Man-Reef isDown · 09/04/2007, 09:14 AM

Don't get the Extreme T5, without the SLR they are not much better than the PCs... This guys is selling a Tek unit on the FS forum, check it out-

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1199044

XSiVE · 09/04/2007, 09:30 AM

For those of you saying that t5 without individual reflectors is 'not that much better than PC' you're uninformed...

I suggest you try out both and see the growth differences in corals, you will be amazed..

The T5HO Nova extreme fixtures are a good buy if you're on a budget, much better than comparative PC fixtures.

09/03/2007, 07:59 PM	#1
faramir Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Venezuela Posts: 3	PC or T5 for a 29 gal tank Hi everyone, im just a begginer in this hobby.....i bought an eclipe III but without warning about it works for freshwater or marine fish tanks only, and of course, wath i want its a reef tank.... Well, ive been asking a lot in others forums and many people recomended me this one...... Now im about to change my eclipse hood and i have an specific question....i found 2 options for my 30" tank... ONE http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...vendor~.htmlis T5 HO CURRENT USA And the other one is CURRENT USA PC: http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~CU01022.html Please tell me wich one is the better option to me....(considering quality and cuantity of ligth, heat, electricity consuption and oportunities of having any kind of corals) Thanks...

09/03/2007, 08:24 PM	#3
latazyo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,972	this should not even be a question T5s and PC are not on the same level at all if you only want to keep softies then go with the PCs because they're cheaper and stay cool if you want to keep everything available to you in this hobby, then get the T5s, they're more expensive but worth it for sure, I love mine (which are now for sale, btw) __________________ Friends dont let friends use HOB overflows.

09/03/2007, 08:34 PM	#5
latazyo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 3,972	thanks hawkfish I didnt realize you had picked out units to compare dont buy T5s w/o individual reflectors __________________ Friends dont let friends use HOB overflows.

09/03/2007, 08:37 PM	#6
thecichlidpleco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,227	The current outer orbit extremes do not have individual reflectors. But I would get that over PC. __________________ knowledge is power, power leads to abuse, study hard, be evil Owning a tank is like being with that girlfriend who could care less about you, but you couldn't stand being without her. Current Tank Info: 125 Reef, (3) 250w aquamedic oceanlights ETSS 600 skimmer, mag12 return, (2) Tunze 6055's with 7095 controller, 100 gallon sump

09/03/2007, 10:15 PM	#10
RickySan Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 518	well if you must have one of those...T-5's are the way to go....compared to other t-5's you might want to upgrade, but PC are the lowest of the low stick with the t-5!! __________________ RM3 Current Tank Info: AGA 30g Reef 36x12x18, 4x39 ATI T5, 39w LED, Koralia 425, VorTech MP10wES, HOB CPR 2 Skimmer, 60lbs LS, 40lbs LR

09/03/2007, 08:20 PM	#2
big_s Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 112	i have the pc's pn my 30g and i love them. Same one u r lookin at man great buy go 4 it. More then enough light for a 30g.

09/03/2007, 08:25 PM	#4
hawkfish21 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,968	I wouldn't buy either one of those units. I don't believe the current T5's have individual reflectors. I would get a Tek unit from Reefgeek. http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...ight_Fixtures/

09/03/2007, 09:53 PM	#7
faramir Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Venezuela Posts: 3	Thanks guys....but my budget is limited so which one would you pick between CURRENT PC o CURRENT T5?i want to have sps but if CURRENT T5 is so badly...i woudl quit sps and keep softies....but if i can try with t5 (not the best, but it works) why not?.....if you have a third option (similar price of course) id love to hear about it...

09/03/2007, 09:54 PM	#8
hawkfish21 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,968	T5 over PC any day.

09/03/2007, 09:55 PM	#9
hawkfish21 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,968	Forgot to mention this. Try looking for a used unit and save some $$$.

09/03/2007, 11:35 PM	#11
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	i just bought some lights off ebay some nice metal halide 250w ones for the price of T-5's you might check that __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

09/04/2007, 06:33 AM	#12
wolfie03 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA, Richmond Posts: 30	T-5 over PC but im pretty sure you could find a very nice used 150 watt MH for the same price.

09/04/2007, 06:34 AM	#13
wolfie03 Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VA, Richmond Posts: 30	ha just saw post above, good job

09/04/2007, 09:08 AM	#14
onecrzyboi4u Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lexington VA Posts: 1,893	i'm using current nova extreme t5 on my tank.. it's real good lighting in my opinion. i have a variety of corals in my tank there all growing and looking good. i even have a clam whose tripled in size since i have gotten it. but, as mention above id get a t5 fixture with individual reflectors. my next upgrade will be MH hopefully. Reef-on!

09/04/2007, 09:14 AM	#15
Man-Reef isDown Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 5	Don't get the Extreme T5, without the SLR they are not much better than the PCs... This guys is selling a Tek unit on the FS forum, check it out- http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1199044

09/04/2007, 09:30 AM	#16
XSiVE Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Waterford, MI Posts: 790	For those of you saying that t5 without individual reflectors is 'not that much better than PC' you're uninformed... I suggest you try out both and see the growth differences in corals, you will be amazed.. The T5HO Nova extreme fixtures are a good buy if you're on a budget, much better than comparative PC fixtures.