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View Full Version : T-5 vs pc


bill37
01/30/2007, 06:27 PM
I curious if it is only better to go with T-5's over pc's if they have individual reflectors?? If not individual reflectors are they equal?

detroit_fan
01/30/2007, 06:44 PM
short answer -no, not imo. t5's are the best thing i have done to my tank.
just out of curiostiy why would you want t5's w/o individual reflectors?

GSMguy
01/30/2007, 06:50 PM
t5 is not equall to pc in any way and its way better with reflectors

d4a2n0k
01/30/2007, 06:52 PM
T-5's without individual reflectors are almost useless. The bulbs are so narrow that without parabolic reflectors, theres just not enough light output.

The better parabolic reflectors increase the intensity by about 300%.

Its hard to say but PC's could be about equal to T-5s without ind. reflectors.

GSMguy
01/30/2007, 07:16 PM
still have way more lumens per watt from a t5 resulting in more par making them appear the same brightness as a pc when really they are full of par

Covey
01/30/2007, 07:25 PM
My very first reef tank I ran them side by side on a flat reflector. The 39W T-5HO was quite a bit brighter than the 65W PC.

PC don't even come close to T-5s

bill37
01/30/2007, 07:31 PM
I have seen some fixtures without ind reflectors and was just curious. I hear Current is coming out with a fixture in April that has ind reflectors.

GSMguy
01/30/2007, 07:58 PM
every day there are like 3 of these threads and nobody ever beleives that pc is so much poorer but once you have seen a T5ho with individual reflectors you dont understand the colors are very nice

Covey
01/30/2007, 10:22 PM
What I am saying is that reguardless of the reflector PC vs T-5HO. T-5's are still FAR more efficient PPFD per watt wise.

bill37
01/30/2007, 11:31 PM
Thanks everyone.

hahnmeister
01/31/2007, 01:00 AM
Well, we all know that the reflector is a key component of a blinding T5 system (responsible for 60% of their output on higher end systems). But the bulbs themselves are better as well. T5s have higher quality phosphors, able to withstand heat that is 20degreesC higher than PCs to last longer (PCs need replacing every 9 months, T5s are double that easily). They also have a higher lumen per watt ratio. PCs top out at about 60, and T5s top out at 95, close to halides. The ballast spec for T5 is also a higher quality, running at a higher frequency (close to 100khz on your better ballasts, while PCs often ran at sub-40 khz). More light, less heat.

GSMguy
01/31/2007, 10:02 AM
thanks hahn i will use your post to illustrate the differences

bill37
01/31/2007, 10:01 PM
Thanks hahn. I think I have made my decision.