T5 or Compact Flor?? which one better and why please help!

[macclellan]

Originally Posted by Orlando

http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-ligh.html

I have their 150w MH Pendant. The aluminum is the same - pretty soft and scratch prone. This is fine on a pendant, but I wouldn't want it on a strip light.

No individual reflectors - flat backed.

Comes with actinic by default.

Can't beat the price though!

[bigstick120]

Catalina are quality fixtures, I have the T-5 version above and its nice, not Tek quality but for half the price its pretty darn close.
I also have 2 Catalina nano fixtures a 2X13 watt and and 3X13 watt, all nice!

[lauraleellbp]

Yep, I'm with Mac and Big. I have a Solar (Catalina) 24watt CF fixture plus my 4x54watt T5HO, and I really do like both of them- T5HO the best, hands down.

I would have bought a Tek if I could have found one used around the time I was looking for my lighting, but I have absolutely no complaints about my Solar. It's more light than I really know what to do with over my low-tech tank LOL

If you're looking for super-high-tech, want the most lighting you can possibly get out of a fixture, etc etc etc- then certainly go with Teks, or DIY with Icecap, or Sunlight supply retrofits.

If you want an excellent fixture on a budget, then IMO it's hard to beat the 48" Catalina- especially if you get Geisemann bulbs with it.

Ingg is another person who's using the same fixture and says pretty much the same about the quality and lighting results he gets over his tank (he's actually the one I first saw with one...)

[YSS]

Old thread, but I have another question. My 135W Jebo CF unit died on me two days ago on my SW tank after three years. Not getting much response over at reefcentral, so I thought I would ask here. I am looking to replace with either all T5HO fixture or MH. If I were to get the T5HO fixutre, how many watts of T5HO would be equivalent to the 135W of CF lighting? Impression is that folks here prefer T5HO over CF and split even between T5 and MH.

[lauraleellbp]

What size tank do you need the fixture for?

If 135 watts of CF was getting the job done for you, then IMO 108 watts of T5HO with a decent reflector should, as well. 108 watts would be a 2x54 watt fixture, if you're looking at 48" tank. (Though the 4x54 watt Catalina Solar T5HO fixture is the best deal ATM. I still love my Catalina Solar )

[YSS]

My tank is 36G Bow Front (30" long). I was looking to upgrade the lighting with this opportunity. I was thinking about getting a 96W Nova Extreme T5 (four 24W bulbs), but it doesn't sound like that's going to be an upgrade over the 135W CF unit. I guess I will have to look in to MH.

[lauraleellbp]

I don't remember- does the Nova have individual reflectors? If so- then yes, it would be.

[thefishmanlives]

If you want to go MH, I have a fishneedit.com 150 watt MH pendant that comes with mounting legs and a hanging kit. Got it for $133. Awesome value and the choice of 10000k, 8000k, or 6700k bulbs. Comes with a Magnetic ballast tho, but its pretty quiet. Silent with the stand closed. Im very happy with the bang for the buck, cant beat it. When I was considering t5ho or MH I would have got the catalina as the best bang for the buck with t5ho. If money was no option, then TEK with giesemann bulbs hands down. Or a setup with Icecap reflectors etc. More bulb options with T5HO as well. Only upgrade your lighting if its going to be a true upgrade. Dont goto t5ho just because its the latest thing, more efficient etc etc. IF you arent satisfied with your current lighting then upgrade to something stronger. If your happy with your growth etc amount of light, then stay with what you got. If you just want a different look then try different bulbs. OR if you have the room over your tank , add another PC fixture to run side by side with what you have, an often overlooked option.

[YSS]

Thanks for the feedback. My 135W CF unit died so I need to get new lighting. So, I wasn't sure to get another 135W CF unit, T5HO, or MH. Someone mentioned that MH wouldn't work well because of my plastic center brace on the tank. That MH might melt the brace and also the brace would cast a shadow, which I don't get. Would MH cast shadow that CF or T5 woudln't? Anyhow, I just may go with 135W CF unit. It's the cheapest option.

[lauraleellbp]

The shadow from the center brace would be a bigger deal with a MH fixture over either T5HO or CF because the point of origin is so much smaller with MH bulbs, the shadow would be bigger. With flourescent fixtures the bulbs span more of the top of the tank so the spread of light at the bottom of the tank would be better. There would still be a shadow visible at the top of the tank with flourescent fixtures, but the bottom of the tank would be better lit.

Does that make sense?

If you go with another CF fixture, go with www.AHSupply.com

[YSS]

Got ya. Thanks! So between a 135W CF unit and this 96W T5HO unit, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=12772 ,which would provide more and better lighting?

Or would two of these 48W units, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=16770, better than one 96W?

Or I suppose I can get a 36" 156W unit if I can fit it on top of my tank.

[lauraleellbp]

30" tanks are such a bear to light, IDK why...

The Nova Extreme would win hands down over CF... but it doesn't seem to come in a 30" size.

If you want this tank to be high light, I don't know that you'd want to use 2x the 2nd fixture, it's only T5NO, not HO.

Just because of the size issue, you may do best with AHSupply's lights, since their reflectors are so much superior to both of these fixtures you just linked.

[YSS]

I did a quick research and the difference between T5HO and T5NO is the wattage. The both units in the links use same wattage bulbs, so I think they are both T5HO units. I think I am going to try T5HO whether it's 24" 96W unit, two 30" 48W units, or 36" 156W unit.

[thefishmanlives]

i wouldnt go with the 36" fixture cause you wouldnt be getting all the light to the water in your 30" wide tank, you would be wasting a good amount. How deep is your tank? From the fixtures you mentioned Im thinking a 24x4 t5ho fixture with a decent reflector is the way to go. The catalina one fits the bill and may be you only option here as getting 2 budget t5ho fixtures with poor reflctors may not get enough light down to your plants, depending on how deep your tank is. The MH would have been perfect for you but that brace is gonig to block too much as the MH light is focused to a smaller area. Id hate to see you downgrade your lighting. a 55x2 AH supply 30" enclosure may also be another good option. Although I like a catalina 24x4 T5ho better in this situation. I think its $149. The MH would have cost you $135 anyways. Plus you have a ton of bulb options.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by YSS

I did a quick research and the difference between T5HO and T5NO is the wattage. The both units in the links use same wattage bulbs, so I think they are both T5HO units. I think I am going to try T5HO whether it's 24" 96W unit, two 30" 48W units, or 36" 156W unit.

No, depending on the fixture, there can be a big difference in the technology, as well.