Anyone using T5 lights?

[vinz]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone is using T5 lights?

How do they compare to PLs and MH in terms of light and heat output?

[vinz]

Been searching around (yeah, I'm goofing off in the office):

1. The light output is the more or less the same watt for watt no matter what tube you use, T12, T8, T5 or PL. The difference is the amount of watts output per cm. So effectively you can use less tubes and less space.

E.g. a 4ft T8 FL gives you only 36W, whereas a 4ft T5 FL gives you 54W.

E.g. You only need 6x54W T5 instead of 9x36W T8 (or 36W PLs) to get about 3 WPG of light over a 4'x2'x2' (114USG) tank.

2. T5s have better reflectors made for them. Also being thinner, they block less of the reflected light. Such reflectors are hard to find for T12, T8 and PL lamps. If you get good reflectors, you can get up to 90% extra light (vs no reflectors). The other tubes are thicker and tend to block a good portion of the reflected light.

So, if you get T5 lighting and do not get good reflectors for them, you are gaining very little advantage against the other tubes.

According to this info, you can also get away with less WPG for T5s if you get good reflectors. So instead of the 6x54W in the above example, you could use only 4x54W and still effectively get more light into the tank then the 10x36W PLs.

It is also with effective reflectors that the T5s are able to cut deeper into the water then the other tubes.

[vinz]

On average, I think it's safer to assume good reflectors give about 60% more light.

[BFG]

Vinz, I am currently using T5 for my mom's shrimp tank. Just changed it last 2 week. I was using 2x36w previously but had acquire a 2nd hand T5 set from a reefer which uses 3x24w. It uses a 'M' parabolic reflector. You want to view them?

[BFG]

Here are some discussion on T5.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

[aquarius]

I want to get T5s for my yet to be set up planted tank but don't know where to get them except NA cos the marine shops that i occasionally go to sells mostly MHs. Frankly speaking the reflectors in the T5's which NA sells is not exactly the "special" type that vincent say would be better.
I believe the T5s will eventually be the preferred light over the PLs in the near future but am clueless as to where to find more varieties and if possible at affordable prices. Anybody knows where to get them?

[tawauboy]

i believe electrical shops at kelantan lane will have these t5 tubes. not too sure if they have the proper reflectors for t5 tubes. check them out.

[vinz]

Local shops/eshops:

M-shape reflectors http://www.delightings.com/index.cfm?GPID=3
Ad by member Orgas http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=14451
Quite a number of custom made solutions and DIY parts at SgReefClub's sponsor's forums http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?c=11

[vinz]

BFG,

How do you find the T5s? 3x24 = 2x36, but is it perceivably brighter?

I might come take a look, I'll let you know.

[BFG]

I can say it is brighter than pl. I am currently using the 'M' parabolic reflector with Aquaz 6500k T5 tube bought from DELighting. For those getting T5 light tubes, please get the HO or VHO version ( High Output or Very High Output ). These are the ones that can be used for aquarium eg planted tank or marine tank.

Aquarius, I would recommend getting the T5 set from DELighting or Orgasbt. It is costly but that's only in the beginning. Both dealer are local and can be contacted easily if there are problems with your set. They do deliver to you if I'm not wrong.

I'm not regretting changing mine from PL to T5. My chiller for that 2ft shrimp tank kick in lesser ( as far as I notice ).

[aquarius]

Wah... The site BFG gave has a very very very long discussion on T5s! I read a bit here and there in that site to have a feel of what it's all about cos it's too long and conclude that you probably can't really rely on the no of watts for T5 as you would for PL/FL to lit a tank. Eg If you're using 3 x 39watts which should be enough for a 3ft tank (about 2.8wpg) but for the T5s, it's probably 1.5 to 2 times more watts??

The reason why i came to this conclusion is becos the reefers probably use this "wpg" and ended up with stressed or "burned" corals.

Quote :
I can say it is brighter than pl. I am currently using the 'M' parabolic reflector with Aquaz 6500k T5 tube bought from DELighting. For those getting T5 light tubes, please get the HO or VHO version ( High Output or Very High Output ). These are the ones that can be used for aquarium eg planted tank or marine tank.

I read somewhere in one of the treads that if you use the normal PL tube e-ballast to drive the T5s, you will not be driving the T5s to it's full potential/capacity. You need the HO e-ballast to drive the T5s. Is this true?

[BFG]

My conclusion from reading from the link is that you can't compare a T5 to a PL tube. T5 somehow gives out a brighter luminescence that MAY be the same to a Metal Halide lamp but the difference is that Metal Halide is a point source whereby T5 is not. It is like having a MH lighting on a FL tube. Just my personal opinion. Might be wrong.

Aquarius, the reason is that PL tubes comes at 36w and need a 36w e-ballast while a T5 tubes comes at 24w for a 2ft, 39w for a 3ft and 54w for a 4ft. T5 need it's own e-ballast rated for the tube. Hope this helps.

[izzat]

I read somewhere in one of the treads that if you use the normal PL tube e-ballast to drive the T5s, you will not be driving the T5s to it's full potential/capacity. You need the HO e-ballast to drive the T5s. Is this true?

High Output (HO) T5 tubes must be minimally driven using an Electronic ballast.
The Electronic ballast will also light up the tube but not to it's full potential.

If you want to maximise your HO T5 tube, you need to use special T5 Electronic ballast, such brands are Vossloh & Tridonic Atco.

T5 tubes comes at 24w for a 2ft, 39w for a 3ft and 54w for a 4ft

The above wattage corresponding to the length are for High Output (HO) T5 tubes.
For Normal Output (NO) T5 tubes, it's different rating but it's still the same for Very High Output (VHO) T5 tubes

In this case, a VHO T5 tubes would need the special T5 E-ballast to drive it

[aquarius]

This afternoon went over to Reborn Aquarium to check out the T5s. The "DIY" T5s with the parabolic reflectors that is hanging over the coral tanks looks simple and very nice!! Looks like i'll be DIYing the lights due to the very high cost. I'm wondering if NA's T5 bulbs are the HO type cos they are only $12 each for a 3ft compared to the ones at Reborn Aquarium which are priced at $22 and above.

Quote :
My conclusion from reading from the link is that you can't compare a T5 to a PL tube. T5 somehow gives out a brighter luminescence that MAY be the same to a Metal Halide lamp but the difference is that Metal Halide is a point source whereby T5 is not. It is like having a MH lighting on a FL tube. Just my personal opinion. Might be wrong.

I share your sentiments too. If it gives out brighter luminescence, this means it can penetrate deeper which is good news for people with deeper tanks. But does the WPG still applies when deciding on the no of tubes to use?

[vinz]

Re-read my second post in this thread.

[aquarius]

Oopps.... read too fast when i first read it thats why i overlooked what you were saying.
From this tread it looks like not many planted people use them or have enough experience to comment on it.

[vinz]

Yeah, at the moment T5s are not popular with local planted tank hobbyists. It's all the rage with the marine guys though.

The planted tank shops are not pushing it either.

Soooo.... maybe AQ can start the trend.

[BFG]

For planted tank I guess should have no problem with the 3w/g rule. Plants may develop shorter stem or deeper red colouring I think. For reefer the coral bleached as it was not accustom to the sudden changes of the light. What reefer forgotten is that as time pass, light bulb no matter what form they are will start to decrease in performance. So if they been using a mh for a year and suddenly change to a new T5, the coral might be in shock. Corals are live animal and not plants.

NA has started selling T5 for a few month already. The rest will follow. To give more awareness for T5, we can start the trend here too. If more people uses T5, hopefully the price will come down.

Vinz, you want to convert to T5?

[vinz]

Thinking, thinking, but been spending too much on tank already... still owe $$$ to Benny for the filter.

I really like to give it a try though... if I can get away with less WPG, even better... cut down elec bill.

[vinz]

Well some people (especially people with existing PL or MH setups) need to start trying and then write down their experiences. If it's positive, I'm sure more people will turn to T5s.

I need to let my tank stabilise first, before I can change to T5 and observe the differences.

NA is selling them installed in standard FL casings, so there are no advantages from good reflectors. You might as well treat them as PLs.