T-5 --- Pc opinion

[technomex]

I am thinking of buying the 3 x 250 MH light fixtures from either Maristar or Coralife. The maristar has an additional 4 x 39 W T-5's and the Coralife has 4 X 96 W Pc's (and moonlights). Price range is about the same for each fixture.

Is more PC light (almost 400W) better than (about 160 W) of T-5?

Fidel

[dwdenny]

I would choose the T5 as the PAR is way better then the PC's. What I have seen some do is run 20k MH with some aquablues and the tank look great of course some pictures always look great. I will look for the PAR numbers on the T5 I know I have seen them on RC.

[pilot_bell777]

I love my T-5s 10,000 time more than my PCs.......and my corals seem to love it more too!

I have a 250DE MH 10K and then 2 36" T-5 True VHO Actinics, and then added moonlights.

I love this setup.....and if I ever get a rectangular tank again I will probably do what Don-in-SA did and run nothing but T5s..

[dwdenny]

You sure they are VHO T5 I know there are T5HO but not VHO. Plus the true actinic T5 stink. From what I have read and seen. If it was me I would run 10k MH then ATI Blue+ bulbs they have a lot of PAR to btw. Here is that thread I talked about above hope it helps http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=724967 I think some where in there it talks about the blue+ and aquablues as well. Like I said I think. :)

[seamonkey2]

hey T-5 true actinic don't stink..they don't even smell :P :P :lol :lol

sorry couldn't help myself

Jose
BTW I got 12 T5s on my 240 no MH at all

[dwdenny]

I knew that some was going to do that after I post but you know you can use the other words now ao oh well. I will have a 4X39w T5 on mine oly 45g though. I think I might beable to keep anything I want at only 14" after 2" sandbed. Might be limited to higher ight corals though not sure trying to figure that one out now.

[pilot_bell777]

That is what I meant DW....guess I just brain farted! LOL..... I tend to disagree, I love my actinic T5s. Not 100% sure they are true actinics, but they are BLUE! LOL They will blind you if you look at them on! LOL

I'm getting all the color I want (Except in my photographry) so I'm happy!

point of my post was I'm soooo happy with my T5s what ever they are that next tank will probably be all T5s.

[dwdenny]

yeah I agree I think I will be really happy when I get mine setup.:) I wll of course be all T5 1 GE 1 Aquablue and 2 blue+(really blue from what I can tell). Just not sure about the amount of light as far as PAR those combo og bulbs have a lot of PAR so I might be restricted to higher light critters I am researching that right now any one else know. I might need to pm Don-in-SA and see what he thinks unless he posts here.