T 5 vs. compact fluorescent lighting

joy solomon · 10/22/2007, 12:43 PM

Could someone who has used both T 5 and compact flourescent lighting compare them for me? Which one generates more heat? Is the light output equivalent on a watt per watt basis? For example, is the lumen ouput greater for 220 watts of PC lighting vs. 160 watts of T-5? Which did you find more aesthetically pleasing? This for a FOWLR tank 7ft. x 2 ft. x 2ft.

happyface888 · 10/22/2007, 01:26 PM

Toss the pcs, they cause more heat and t5s look better. Sorry I am no expert at comparing light. I did own pcs before I swaped to t5s/

RobbyG · 10/22/2007, 01:36 PM

T5's are brighter and probably generate less heat.
I would definetly go T5 if I was you.

Steve973 · 10/22/2007, 03:02 PM

T5s are brighter and cooler, but make sure you have the best reflectors possible. That's the really important thing with them. The second most important part of a T5 setup is the ballast, as I understand.

10/22/2007, 12:43 PM	#1
joy solomon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 62	T 5 vs. compact fluorescent lighting Could someone who has used both T 5 and compact flourescent lighting compare them for me? Which one generates more heat? Is the light output equivalent on a watt per watt basis? For example, is the lumen ouput greater for 220 watts of PC lighting vs. 160 watts of T-5? Which did you find more aesthetically pleasing? This for a FOWLR tank 7ft. x 2 ft. x 2ft.

10/22/2007, 01:36 PM	#3
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	T5's are brighter and probably generate less heat. I would definetly go T5 if I was you. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

10/22/2007, 01:26 PM	#2
happyface888 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Francisco CA Posts: 3,987	Toss the pcs, they cause more heat and t5s look better. Sorry I am no expert at comparing light. I did own pcs before I swaped to t5s/

10/22/2007, 03:02 PM	#4
Steve973 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 469	T5s are brighter and cooler, but make sure you have the best reflectors possible. That's the really important thing with them. The second most important part of a T5 setup is the ballast, as I understand.