T-5 Lighting vs. Compact Flourescent

[owenz]

How do people feel about T-5 lighting in comparison to compact flourescent? I recently visited the inverts.com store in Seekonk, Massachusetts and was really impressed by the diverse corals they were growing under T-5. For example:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...4RS&ref=3312&subref=AA&GCID=C12188x003&ctt=60

Using T-5, you get 156 watts in a 36" hood. Using compact flourescent, you get 192 watts in the same hood. And while T-5 units are cheaper at first, they have four bulbs you need to periodically replace at $25 instead of two bulbs at around that price.

Thoughts?

 

[Unarce]

The advantage is the same one that DE bulbs have over SE metal halides. The thin diameter allows quality reflectors to allow more light through, greatly reducing the 'restrike' of light.

In both cases, the PAR is higher per watt but the spread is awful, which is why T5 fixtures have so many bulbs.

 

[owenz]

Interesting. Given the similarity in prices between T-5 and compact flourescent, do you feel T-5 is the better buy?

 

[Unarce]

Personally, if you're not willing to go MH, than T5's would be the next best thing. I've seen some very nice SPS and clam tanks under T5's.

 

[fishgills]

T5's last a lot longer then pc's i believe 18 months before they losse spectrum.
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[magicman76]

you are refering to hight output T5's correct?

 

[ChrisRD]

Yes, the T-5 lamps being used in the hobby are HO.