Reflectors

[masonicman]

Is individual reflectors a must with VHO T5s?

[ukroylisa]

YES!!. That is the advantage of T5's, you can use a relatively small reflector to guide the light that would otherwise be lost back into the tank. If you do not use a reflector you will be losing a lot of light energy.

[masonicman]

Ok what about T5s with one reflector over all the bulbs?

[crvz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13679444#post13679444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by masonicman
Ok what about T5s with one reflector over all the bulbs?

there's no benefit to T5s output without individual reflectors, they're no better than pc or VHO (even if they have one reflector over all the bulbs).

[masonicman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13679596#post13679596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
there's no benefit to T5s output without individual reflectors, they're no better than pc or VHO (even if they have one reflector over all the bulbs).
Why???? Just for my info

[HiJacK]

i pulled this off another site...

quote:

"There can be quite a bit of difference in the use of T5 lights vs. other fluorescent lighting (T5 bulbs are fluorescent, they're just a smaller diameter than typical bulbs). The benefit lies in it's diameter, which is a mere 5/8". If you use the individual reflectors, you're able to maximize the use of light due to the parabolic shape of those style reflectors. Doing so puts a much larger percentage of the light coming out of the bulb down into the tank. Larger diameter bulbs don't utlize individual reflectors, mostly due to how large those parabolic reflectors would be, so there is a lot of wasted lights on other fluorescent bulbs (PC, VHO, etc).

So watt for watt, when using the individual reflectors (also referred to as SLR, or singe lamp reflector) the T5 bulbs are more "effecient" in getting lighting into the tank. However, without those reflectors, they're really no better than any other fluorescent bulbs.

The comparisons for T5s and MHs are T5s with individual reflectors, not one big reflector. The individual reflectors produce 300% more light. 4x54w with individual reflectors is equal to a 400w MH."

It's not a must, but you'll get more out of your lights. I've heard there is a HUGE difference in brightness with individual reflectors. The more popular brands are:

Tek
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~48in_Sunlight_Supply_TEK_II_T5_Retrofit_Reflector_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_L ighting_Accessories_Reflectors_For_Flo._(VHO__PC)~vendor~Sunlight_Supply_Inc~SearchStr~reflectors~ac tion~view~idProduct~SL2715~idCategory~FILTACRAFL.html

IceCap
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~IceCap_47_inch_Single_Lamp_T5_Retrofit_Reflector_For_T5~vendor~IceCap~SearchStr ~reflectors~action~view~idProduct~IC1715~idCategory~FILTACRAT5.html

[barjam]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficacy

There is also an efficiency difference purely from watt/lumen point of view. Obviously the biggest difference, by far, is the reflector though.