t5's vs compac using a light meter

reefsahoy · 03/21/2006, 04:18 PM

I got my 6 t5 from tek light today and installed it on my tank. I had a coralife 4 65 watt compac lighting on my 80 gal bowfront and used my light meter which is calibrated on a yearly basis and is extremely accurate "used on medical equiptment" with a before and after installation. Using my coralife fixture I had 35 lux at the very bottom of my tank. After installing my TEK light I measured in the same spot a whopping 117 lux.

DesertBandits · 03/21/2006, 04:45 PM

I just did some math. The T5 is about 2.5times as powerful. Im sure if PC was straight w good reflector it would be the same output. PC really just isnt good for trying to aim light in 1 direction, so much of it restrikes.

reefsahoy · 03/21/2006, 04:57 PM

honestly, it looks brighter. I installed the atinics in the front and that was where i was aiming the light meter. unfortunately i aimed in only one location. I should have taken several spots and averaged it out. I think if i did it would have been brighter. The cp white lights were in the front and the atinics were in the front for the t5's

reefsahoy · 03/21/2006, 06:13 PM

actually it's over 300% brighter! 35 lux times 3.3=115.5 lux. had to turn off two of the lights so i don't burn the corals i have in the tank now. Have to aclimate them slowly. will probably turn all 6 on by next week wed. if you calculate by lux/watt then t5's are 2.7 times more than cp's

03/21/2006, 04:18 PM	#1
reefsahoy I can see thru you! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 2,685	t5's vs compac using a light meter I got my 6 t5 from tek light today and installed it on my tank. I had a coralife 4 65 watt compac lighting on my 80 gal bowfront and used my light meter which is calibrated on a yearly basis and is extremely accurate "used on medical equiptment" with a before and after installation. Using my coralife fixture I had 35 lux at the very bottom of my tank. After installing my TEK light I measured in the same spot a whopping 117 lux.

03/21/2006, 04:45 PM	#2
DesertBandits Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 430	I just did some math. The T5 is about 2.5times as powerful. Im sure if PC was straight w good reflector it would be the same output. PC really just isnt good for trying to aim light in 1 direction, so much of it restrikes.

03/21/2006, 04:57 PM	#3
reefsahoy I can see thru you! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 2,685	honestly, it looks brighter. I installed the atinics in the front and that was where i was aiming the light meter. unfortunately i aimed in only one location. I should have taken several spots and averaged it out. I think if i did it would have been brighter. The cp white lights were in the front and the atinics were in the front for the t5's

03/21/2006, 06:13 PM	#4
reefsahoy I can see thru you! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 2,685	actually it's over 300% brighter! 35 lux times 3.3=115.5 lux. had to turn off two of the lights so i don't burn the corals i have in the tank now. Have to aclimate them slowly. will probably turn all 6 on by next week wed. if you calculate by lux/watt then t5's are 2.7 times more than cp's