Basic lighting question... Watts and light type and power? One question is bugging me

j007dreamer · 01/25/2008, 10:05 PM

Now this is a very simple question for the reefer who know basic about lighting ... but me i have to say im confused

If i have power compacts with a total amount of watts being 192

and a T5 with the total amount of light being 195

Is one better then the other ?????

Is it all about the watts and power, does it really matter if it is a PC or T5 or just how many watts they are

My tank is 50 gallons and i have the Aquactinics Tx5 running 5 39watt bulbs , is this any better then say a Pc running two 96 watt bulbs ?

FranktheTankTx · 01/25/2008, 10:16 PM

Oh god yes!!! The Aquactinics T5 light blows the PC light out of the water!! Not even close!

Don't compare watts when talking T5 and PC. Or MH to PC for that matter.

T5 and MH blow PC bulbs away!

For example, you could have 250w of PC... the 5x39w T5 fixture would still kick it's ***!

silverwolf72 · 01/25/2008, 10:18 PM

Its how well they make light from those watts and how well you can get the light into where you need it. A power compact is basically a T5 but half the light output is blocked by the light its self. T5 have the advantage of using reflectors that can get most the light into the tank.

j007dreamer · 01/25/2008, 10:27 PM

God Thank you ... I bought a new light with out much research or knowledge about lighting
And went from the PCs to Aquactinics T5 and started to wondering if just spend money to rebuy what i basically already had

I can sleep better tonight knowing that the T5 is a better light even if the same watts :-)

FranktheTankTx · 01/25/2008, 10:30 PM

Yea!! Not too mention, you purchased a very, I mean VERY good T5 fixture. You threw down some $$$ on that!

pjf · 01/25/2008, 10:31 PM

T5 lighting produces more lumens per watt:

â€¢ PC or pin-based high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt: http://lightingresearch.org/programs...L-efficacy.asp. So 192w x 60l/w ~ 12,000 lumens.

â€¢ T5 lighting produces 90-100 lumens per watt: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi.../lat5/pc1a.asp. So 195w x 90l/w ~ 18,000 lumens.

T5 lamps can accomodate individual parabolic reflectors that will direct even more light into your aquarium. Much of the light produced by PC twin-tubes are absorbed by its neighboring tube. The light reflected from the common reflector often is blocked by the PC tube.

j007dreamer · 01/25/2008, 10:36 PM

Thanks those are great links to save with lots of info !!!

01/25/2008, 10:05 PM	#1
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	Basic lighting question... Watts and light type and power? One question is bugging me Now this is a very simple question for the reefer who know basic about lighting ... but me i have to say im confused If i have power compacts with a total amount of watts being 192 and a T5 with the total amount of light being 195 Is one better then the other ????? Is it all about the watts and power, does it really matter if it is a PC or T5 or just how many watts they are My tank is 50 gallons and i have the Aquactinics Tx5 running 5 39watt bulbs , is this any better then say a Pc running two 96 watt bulbs ?

01/25/2008, 10:16 PM	#2
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Oh god yes!!! The Aquactinics T5 light blows the PC light out of the water!! Not even close! Don't compare watts when talking T5 and PC. Or MH to PC for that matter. T5 and MH blow PC bulbs away! For example, you could have 250w of PC... the 5x39w T5 fixture would still kick it's ***! __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

01/25/2008, 10:30 PM	#5
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Yea!! Not too mention, you purchased a very, I mean VERY good T5 fixture. You threw down some $$$ on that! __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

01/25/2008, 10:18 PM	#3
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	Its how well they make light from those watts and how well you can get the light into where you need it. A power compact is basically a T5 but half the light output is blocked by the light its self. T5 have the advantage of using reflectors that can get most the light into the tank.

01/25/2008, 10:27 PM	#4
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	God Thank you ... I bought a new light with out much research or knowledge about lighting And went from the PCs to Aquactinics T5 and started to wondering if just spend money to rebuy what i basically already had I can sleep better tonight knowing that the T5 is a better light even if the same watts :-)

01/25/2008, 10:31 PM	#6
pjf Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,954	T5 lighting produces more lumens per watt: â€¢ PC or pin-based high-wattage compact fluorescent lamps (HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt: http://lightingresearch.org/programs...L-efficacy.asp. So 192w x 60l/w ~ 12,000 lumens. â€¢ T5 lighting produces 90-100 lumens per watt: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpi.../lat5/pc1a.asp. So 195w x 90l/w ~ 18,000 lumens. T5 lamps can accomodate individual parabolic reflectors that will direct even more light into your aquarium. Much of the light produced by PC twin-tubes are absorbed by its neighboring tube. The light reflected from the common reflector often is blocked by the PC tube.

01/25/2008, 10:36 PM	#7
j007dreamer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 262	Thanks those are great links to save with lots of info !!!