light covnersion 400 watt mh to power compact or t5

kilo · 10/20/2006, 09:15 PM

What should I go with . I will now be keeping a fish with live rock and what ever corals will live. Should I go to power compact at 192 watt or 96. Or should I go with t5 78watt

65 gallon

kilo · 10/21/2006, 10:54 AM

^

kilo · 10/21/2006, 02:06 PM

Any advice would be great I don't have any experience with the t5 only with the power compacts. COuld I keep the same corals zoanthids and muchroom with the 192 or 96 as I could with the 78 watt t5

Hammercoral · 10/21/2006, 04:25 PM

t-5 for sure PC are not even in the same league.

kilo · 10/21/2006, 04:40 PM

Is 78 watts enogh for my 65 gallon.

kilo · 10/22/2006, 02:50 PM

please help

vishboy · 10/22/2006, 03:06 PM

How long is your 65?

edwing206 · 10/22/2006, 03:21 PM

78 watts of t5 puts out more light than 198 watts of pc. just be sure to get good like reflectors as that is where most of the light comes from.

epicfish · 10/22/2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by edwing206
78 watts of t5 puts out more light than 198 watts of pc. just be sure to get good like reflectors as that is where most of the light comes from.

What?! 78 watts of T5 is more light than 198 watts of PC? Really? I didn't know it was that drastic!

HornetMech242 · 10/22/2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by edwing206
78 watts of t5 puts out more light than 198 watts of pc. just be sure to get good like reflectors as that is where most of the light comes from.

I dont think it is that drastic of a difference. What source did you get this from so that i may read up on it for my light upgrade as well.

Chris

kilo · 10/22/2006, 07:46 PM

Tank dimensions are 36L x 18W x 24H? I had a deep sand bed and used a 40 watt MH before but the focus then was corals and now it will be fish.

Henry Bowman · 10/22/2006, 07:54 PM

You should check out this thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=939236

PC's are not even comparable to correctly reflected T5's. The "Grim Reefer", a forum member, has done actual PAR studies on T5's and there are plenty of folks that have chimed in on their successes.

It has an in depth discussion on T5's and their effectiveness. In general, you are going to find out that you can keep about anything under a good T5 set up with GOOD reflectors that you can under MH. Check out www.aquactinics.com or www.reefgeek.com to look at specific lighting options. The key is the combo of lights, getting the correct color temps and a good individual reflectors for each tube, many fixtures come this way. There are multiple comments regarding overdriving T5's with icecap ballasts which increases the light output of T5's while only shortening the life of the bulb fr 18 months to maybe 12 months.

FWIW

10/20/2006, 09:15 PM	#1
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	light covnersion 400 watt mh to power compact or t5 What should I go with . I will now be keeping a fish with live rock and what ever corals will live. Should I go to power compact at 192 watt or 96. Or should I go with t5 78watt 65 gallon

10/22/2006, 03:21 PM	#8
edwing206 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Shoreline,Washington Posts: 4,518	78 watts of t5 puts out more light than 198 watts of pc. just be sure to get good like reflectors as that is where most of the light comes from. __________________ The name's Luis. :) Current Tank Info: 50G cube

10/22/2006, 07:54 PM	#12
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	You should check out this thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=939236 PC's are not even comparable to correctly reflected T5's. The "Grim Reefer", a forum member, has done actual PAR studies on T5's and there are plenty of folks that have chimed in on their successes. It has an in depth discussion on T5's and their effectiveness. In general, you are going to find out that you can keep about anything under a good T5 set up with GOOD reflectors that you can under MH. Check out www.aquactinics.com or www.reefgeek.com to look at specific lighting options. The key is the combo of lights, getting the correct color temps and a good individual reflectors for each tube, many fixtures come this way. There are multiple comments regarding overdriving T5's with icecap ballasts which increases the light output of T5's while only shortening the life of the bulb fr 18 months to maybe 12 months. FWIW __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

10/21/2006, 10:54 AM	#2
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	^

10/21/2006, 02:06 PM	#3
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	Any advice would be great I don't have any experience with the t5 only with the power compacts. COuld I keep the same corals zoanthids and muchroom with the 192 or 96 as I could with the 78 watt t5

10/21/2006, 04:25 PM	#4
Hammercoral Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Elmhurst Posts: 220	t-5 for sure PC are not even in the same league.

10/21/2006, 04:40 PM	#5
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	Is 78 watts enogh for my 65 gallon.

10/22/2006, 02:50 PM	#6
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	please help

10/22/2006, 03:06 PM	#7
vishboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: MO Posts: 676	How long is your 65?

10/22/2006, 07:46 PM	#11
kilo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: ny Posts: 241	Tank dimensions are 36L x 18W x 24H? I had a deep sand bed and used a 40 watt MH before but the focus then was corals and now it will be fish.