[spacenyc]

keep on getting great, first-hand, non-sales info here so i will continue to ask. have lots of freshwater equipment so can i just use t8 and t 12 saltwater bulbs in the fixtures? can i use t-5 bulbs in freshwater fixture? i ve ruled out metal halide but will i need a chiller for t-5.

what is the advantage of pc lighting over the t lighting?

i am only planning on keeping soft corals and maybe an anemone, not looking for anything difficult for the immediate future. also all my tanks are less than 2 feet deep except for the one tank that will be fowlr thanks in advance

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

[ming]

the number after the T is the diameter of the bulb

[KathyC]

T8 and T 12 lighting is not used on a reef tank, though you could use them on a Fowlr tank. You could also put T5 lighting on a fowlr.

The 'T' bulbs and PC are all fluorescent bulbs but simply configured differently. The biggest difference is in the reflectors.
Many people use PC lighting if they are only keeping soft corals. The usual suggestion around here is to buy the best lighting you can afford as in the future, if you want to keep corals that require 'higher' light, you will then have to upgrade, and it costs more to buy 2 sets of lights than 1

Many will tell you that anenomes require MH lighting....you might want to do more research on their requirments before purchasing your lighing!

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

[marrone]

T12 are VHO, though they're not going to be making them in the future, as everything will be T8. That what I was told.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[cowfish]

The number designates the diameter of the bulb. Typically people use either compact fluorescents or t5ho for photosynthetic organisms (in regards to fluorescent bulbs). There is a difference between t5 and t5ho. The "ho" (high output) is the one you want for reefs/corals.

[masterswimmer]

Everyone is on the right track, just a bit short on the information. The number following the T represents the diameter of the bulb to a point (as long as you put the number after the T over 8 you'll be correct). Here's how the math works:

The original fluorescent bulb was 1" in diameter. That is a T8 bulb. 8/8= 1 (inches being the unit) so a T8=1"

T12= 12/8 = 1.5" diameter bulb

T5= 5/8 = 5/8" diameter bulb

T6= 6/8 = 6/8" (or reduced the fraction to 3/4) or 3/4" diameter bulb

PC bulbs are just power compacts and normally are 1" diameter.

VHO bulbs (the standard most use for actinic bulbs) are T12 or 1.5" diameter

HTH,
swimmer

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[jcurry]

You can keep most soft corals & LPS under both PC & Flourescent lighting. You can also keep certain anemones under the same lighting. I have 3 RBTAs under 6 tubes of T12 VHO for several years with good color and growth.
Some of the nicest RBTAs I've ever seen were kept under PCs with a heavy actinic spectrum.

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

	LPS Large Polyped Stony corals – In the aquarium hobby this is a common division of the species of stony corals based upon the visual assessment of the size of the polyps. Corals in this category were among the first stony corals to be kept successfully in captivity and include many very beautiful species. Commonly kept Genera include Euphyllia (hammer/frogspawn coral), Favia (brain coral), Plerogyra (bubble coral), Lobophyllia (meat/tooth coral), and Caulastrea (candycane coral). LPS corals also include the popular solitary non-colonial stony corals such as Fungia (plate coral), Cynarina (button coral), Trachyphyllia (open brain coral), and Herpolitha (tongue coral). Like their SPS counterparts, LPS corals require good water quality, intense lighting of the appropriate spectrum, adequate water movement and regular supplementation of calcium.

[xoomercom]

Quote: Originally Posted by marrone T12 are VHO, though they're not going to be making them in the future, as everything will be T8. That what I was told.

Everything will be T5 or smaller and T12 were offered in standard, HO and VHO

T5s also come in standard an HO (high-output) variety which could then be overdriven giving you the VHO effect.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[xoomercom]

Quote: Originally Posted by masterswimmer Everyone is on the right track, just a bit short on the information. The number following the T represents the diameter of the bulb to a point (as long as you put the number after the T over 8 you'll be correct). Here's how the math works: The original fluorescent bulb was 1" in diameter. That is a T8 bulb. 8/8= 1 (inches being the unit) so a T8=1" T12= 12/8 = 1.5" diameter bulb T5= 5/8 = 5/8" diameter bulb T6= 6/8 = 6/8" (or reduced the fraction to 3/4) or 3/4" diameter bulb PC bulbs are just power compacts and normally are 1" diameter. VHO bulbs (the standard most use for actinic bulbs) are T12 or 1.5" diameter HTH, swimmer

You missed the T8 which is 8/8" in diameter (1") hehe but yes you are completely right on the number designation.

The "T" stand for tubular.

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[jay1335]

He has the t8 read closer