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Re: [APD] T5 lights, opinions on options
Liz, since you only asked for opinions and not facts: T5 bulbs are
straight, small diameter light sources. PC bulbs are bent T5's
giving a much larger light source, with part of the bulb shielded by
the other part. So, a reflector will be more efficient with a T5
bulb - a line source of light is the most efficient for a long
reflector. I have no idea how much more efficient the reflector
will be, but I imagine a number such as 10-20% would be about right.
Vaughn H.
On Dec 2, 2006, at 8:07 AM, Liz Wilhite wrote:
> Can anyone explain to me why T5 lights are or are not better than
> power
> compact fluorescents and why there is a move to T5 from people who are
> already running quality PC fixturs such as ones made from AH Supply
> kits?
>
> There is a small collection of plants that don't do particularly
> well with
> the 130 watts of PC lights over my 55G. As I am making adjustments
> to that
> tank, one adjustment I am thinking of making is to swap out to a
> fixture I
> have on hand that will allow me to run 130w for the entire
> photoperiod with
> an additional 130 watts for a noon burst period. Another option I am
> considering is to get an AH Supply reflector and put it in the current
> fixture (which happens to be a Current fixture of the Satellite
> variety) and
> see if that gives enough light boost to better grow some high light
> plants.
> Yet another option is to take the equipment I have available,
> purchase an AH
> Supply reflector and build a fixutre that holds T5s. (My assumption
> here,
> without thinking through all the details, is that those reflectors
> should
> work just fine with the smaller diameter T5s.) Obviously, the free
> option
> is using the other fixture, but the other two are relatively low cost.
>
> Opinions appreciated.
>
> --
> Liz
>
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