VHO to T-5 conversion

[whitesquall]

Hey all, I am about to use the last two VHO bulbs I have for my light fixture which consists of 2x250w se 15K metal halides on icecapelectronic ballasts with 4x46.5" vho's (2x50/50, 2xactinic 03) on an icecap 660 ballast......

I will need to order new bulbs soon and was considering converting to T-5's.

I was thinking of getting 4-sets of the T-5 waterproof endcaps and wire them in place of the T12 VHO endcaps. would this work?

Also which manufacturer caries 46.5" T-5 bulbs? Also what colors should I go with??

My vho's are currently on from 11am-11pm MH's from 1-9pm

thanks for the help, -Alex.

[JPMagyar]

Of course the IceCap will run 4 T5s with no trouble, but I have to tell you that I think you are making a mistake. Four T5s put out less PAR than 4 VHOs by a factor of nearly 30%. So unless the electric savings is crucial, I don't know why you'd make the change.

Just one guys thoughts By the by, watch for my article "Retro Lighting" coming soon which will highlight the differences between T5 and T12. For aquarists it turns out there is no benefit from going to T5. For a warehouse with dozens or hundreds of lamps there is a benefit, but for an aquarium where the choice is 6 T5s or 4 T12s the result is the same, and as to color the UVL line of T12 bulbs proved their coloration ability long before any other lamp was popular and available. Just ask the folks at Pacific East what lamps they have relied on for years and years (T12s).


T12s are not as efficient as T5s that is true, but when you take into consideration the fact that a single T5 produces 30% less PAR than a single T12 and the fact that 4 T12s fit the same space as 6 T5s you'll see that they are virtually identical when it comes to aquarium applications.

Just like LEDs, T5s benefit from advertising and popularity hype rather than plain facts.


Joe

[rtparty]

Usually Joe posts very good information but that wasn't some of it.

T12s wont penetrate a tank nearly as well as a T5 will. That has to do with the reflector.

T12s are also being phased out by the government right now. I can't remember the year but T12s will be gone.

A T12 may put out more PAR per bulb (I highly doubt this by the way) but you will use a bunch more electricity in the process.

I have never once seen a T12 setup that can keep up with a good T5 setup. Post me PAR for a 4 bulb T12 setup and I will post a 6 bulb ATI unit. I promise, the ATI will win.

[JPMagyar]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Usually Joe posts very good information but that wasn't some of it.

Thanks Ryan, I'll take that as a complement!


To begin with I don't want to start anything major 'cuz I'd like to save that for after I try to self publish my own data for a price, BUT I have a little research to back what I am saying.

Bottom Line:

Ryan is 100% correct it's all about the reflectors, and T5s are simply better . .





BUT and this is a big but for Alex who posed the original question. If you compare "apples to apples" and are simply switching the end caps and going for a 1 for 1 exchange you will lose PAR by switching from a T12 bulb to a T5. Inside the lamps T5s and T12s are the exact same technology. The only difference is size which causes the T5 to run on lower energy which in turn reduces heating which in turn makes the lamp more efficient.

As you can see I have my own 6 lamp ATI fixture, which by the way I think is simply the best light you can provide for corals period even beating my venerable Radiums which I use on my display, but the truth is the Hamilton 4 lamp VHO unit sitting next to it provides essentially equal PAR around 200 umol/m2/sec in an aquarium at a distance of 6 inches above the water and a depth of 24 inches to the bottom using UVL 75/25 lamps in both fixtures and an Apogee meter for measurement and corrected readings using a proprietary formula I developed from data given to me by Jacob Bingham an engineer involved in the development of Apogee meters.


Again Ryan is 100% correct that T12s will be gone soon enough, but the fact is and was that when we all switched over from T12 to T5, we all got just a little hoodwinked by the manufacturers who got to increase their lamp sales by a factor of 50%. T5s are more efficient. T5s come with nice parabolic reflectors, BUT given equally efficient reflector design it takes three T5s for every two VHOs to equal the same output, and assuming a 5 year cost analysis it works out to nearly identical total cost of ownership and use. Aquarists are not and will not save money by converting to T5 technology because unlike a warehouse application, we as coral keepers have specific needs over a defined area so the choice is 4 x T12 or 6 x T5 for equal output and the added cost of buying additional lamps negates the energy savings of the T5s (and that doesn't even factor in the cost of production). Of course, one could go 4 x T5 and then the savings are real, but you're giving up PAR because four T5s do NOT put out equal PAR to four VHOs even with the awesome reflector design of an ATI fixture.

Lastly, as I mentioned above, for anyone who doesn't believe that T12s can make colorful corals just call Pacific East and ask the venerable Dr. Mac what lights they used for years and years on their tanks.


Clearly I am beating the proverbial dead horse, and I promise to drop this line of argument with this post, and folks can hate me or disagree with what I am saying. In the end it won't matter since T12s will be gone, but again for Alex I say the answer is:

Stick with your T12s or buy a new fixture.


Your Reefin' Buddy,


Joe

[grigsy]

Save yourself time and money and have a nicer look to your tank - stick with the T12 VHO bulbs.

When supplimenting metal halides, I have never seen anything make the tank look nicer than super actinic blue T12 bulbs. That includes T5 actinics and blue LED.

You can buy 46.5" T12 bulbs from Champion lighting
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=1305

[moondoggy4]

Thanks for the info on the VHO's I will have to stock up and buy more. PS Aqua Cave is good for bulbs also Cheap shipping.

[rtparty]

Very nice post Joe. I really didn't mean to argue or send that tone.

I agree that T12s work very well. GARF is semi local to me and I believe they still use T12s on their stuff. I miss my Sunpower. I am currently running Ecoxotic LEDs and am happy with them but an ATI may be in my future again. I am going to give LEDs another 6 months or so on my tank and see how everything reacts. I am interested in seeing how SPS do. I kept them in my Nano Cube with PC lighting so if they fail now, it is the LEDs.

[A. Grandis]

Originally Posted by rtparty

Very nice post Joe. I really didn't mean to argue or send that tone.

I agree that T12s work very well. GARF is semi local to me and I believe they still use T12s on their stuff. I miss my Sunpower. I am currently running Ecoxotic LEDs and am happy with them but an ATI may be in my future again. I am going to give LEDs another 6 months or so on my tank and see how everything reacts. I am interested in seeing how SPS do. I kept them in my Nano Cube with PC lighting so if they fail now, it is the LEDs.

Yep, more and more people missing their ATI PM and coming back from their LEDs. Thanks for posting that!

Good read!

Grandis.