View Full Version : VHO vs T5 heat, etc
Rich_Lucas
01/31/2007, 10:24 PM
Is there a huge heat difference between VHOs and T5s? How do they compare to say power compacts? Also on a 6ft 120g tank if I go with VHOs, is it better to use 6' bulbs or 3' bulbs?
Rich_Lucas
02/01/2007, 08:29 PM
Anyone?
T5 lamps generate ~100 lumens per watt and T5HO lamps generate ~90 lumens per watt (http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/lat5/pc1a.asp).
PC lamps (pin-based High Wattage Compact Fluorescent Lamps or HW-CFL) generate ~60 lumens per watt (http://lightingresearch.org/programs/nlpip/lightingAnswers/HWCFL/HWCFL-efficacy.asp).
VHO T12 lamps generate only ~50 lumens per watt (http://www.elliptipar.com/vertical/Vertpdf/VertGdLg.pdf).
Another great advantage of T5 lamps are fixtures that provide individual reflectors for each lamp.
Rich_Lucas
02/01/2007, 10:17 PM
What does this mean when it comes to heat? I'm not looking to keep anything that requires a lot of light although keeping my options open is always nice. The problem is the very low canopy that is on this tank and I don't want to be generating a lot of heat in there.
The heat generated is based on wattage. To minimize heat for the light produced, choose the most efficient lighting: T5 or T5HO. Avoid PC and VHO lighting.
Make sure that each of your T5HO lamps has an individual reflector. The reflector will maximize the light directed into your tank without using electricity or producing heat.
Rich_Lucas
02/02/2007, 10:41 PM
Ok thanks, I was thinking T5 was hotter than the VHOs so that helps quite a bit. I was just looking at some T5 bulbs but they don't appear to come in 6ft length. What configuration would you suggest for a 6ft tank to get the best lighting?
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