Power Compacts vs. T5s?

[Dr Colliebreath]

How do power compact fluorescent lights perform? As well as T5s? Virtually all fluorescent lighting threads focus on the T5s and not on the PCs at all.

[Potsy]

When quality T5 bulbs are used in a quality fixture like an ATI or Tek, they blow away pc bulbs. PC lights are outdated lighting technology.

[dunc101]

+1 Potsy. You will get a lot more PAR from T5's than with PC's. The main lighting options today are MH, T5, or LED's.

[rtparty]

The phosphors in T5 and PC are identical for the most part so T5 has no advantage there.

Where T5s have their advantage is the reflector and being cooled. PCs have a major flaw called restrike, the light bounces back into the bulb and goes no where. You can't build an efficient reflector because of their design.

T5s will kill any PC setup in terms of PAR and bulb choice.

[Dr Colliebreath]

Sorry - double post.

[Dr Colliebreath]

Restrike makes sense as a limiting factor to the light available from a PC because the PC bulbs have quite a bit more surface area than the T5s.

I have a 260 watt PC light in a FOWLR with some macro algae that isn't doing particularly well - just sort of dwindling away. I wonder if it is the lights. Maybe 260 watts of PC aren't enough when filtered through my glass lids and glass center brace. The tank is about 24" deep. The bulbs are around 8 months old, and I have 2 10K and 2 actinics. The light fixture has a decent fixture and cooling fans.

I hate to sink a lot of money into more lights unless it really gets macro algae growing. Maybe a 48" or 60" 4 or 6 bulb T5? There doesn't seem to be a lot of information about lighting for macro algae.

[alton]

PC lamps made in china last only about 8 months, plus the cost to replace is about 50% more. Buy a new T5 light and changing lamps less often will pay for itself in time.

[Dr Colliebreath]

On a 60" tank with overflow boxes in each back corner, would a 48" fixture suffice (6x54) instead of a 60" (4 x 80)? Or should I go to a 6 x 80 to make up for the light having to go through the glass. It is a FOWLR plus macro algae, and no significant corals (probably none, given the taste of my butterflies).

[noahlito]

Pcs are more expensive and further behind thecurve. Droop pcs altogether.