PL vs T5

[dreamzcape]

To bros who have dabbled in lighting equipment of all sorts,

In general for the same tube length(eg 2ft lighting), does the PL give out more heat than the T5 whereas T5 gives out more lumens? T5 HO is gives out more lumens than T5 NO but in terms of heat emission, is it about the same?

Read somewhere that T5's (both NO and HO )are brighter and yet cooler than PL lights so was hoping that lighting expert bros can give comments.

[dreamzcape]

eh no one knows ??

[cci[RR]us]

You can try reading WWM. They call PL as PC, Power Compact. I don't remember them saying T5 HO is better than PC.

[Terryz_]

My 36w PL on my 2ft is definitely hotter than 2x39w T5 on my 3ft..... You can feel the air just above the surface... and my 2ft tank temp is higher than my 3ft tank(Maybe due to water vol...)...

[chewlaoheng]

go T5 ... PL more X and not as good...

[Terryz_]

If you DIY, the price is ard the same...

[yellowfin tuna]

hi,,

many claim T5 bulbs are easy to fuse?? life span abt 6 mths,... is it true??

and does PL light give enough life for both the coral and fish???

[Clownfish]

hi,,

many claim T5 bulbs are easy to fuse?? life span abt 6 mths,... is it true??

and does PL light give enough life for both the coral and fish???

T5 bulbs are not easy to fuse at all, n this is dependant on the brand too of course...

T5 HO emit more heat than T5 NO... but u get more lumens...

in terms of brightness PL n T5 HO are initially comparable... however, the problem with PL is that the tubes loses their intensity easily, say 3~4 mths... for T5 HO, they are supposed to maintain their intensity much betta... maybe change tubes once a year if u do not hav demanding corals...

[yellowfin tuna]

T5 bulbs are not easy to fuse at all, n this is dependant on the brand too of course...

T5 HO emit more heat than T5 NO... but u get more lumens...

in terms of brightness PL n T5 HO are initially comparable... however, the problem with PL is that the tubes loses their intensity easily, say 3~4 mths... for T5 HO, they are supposed to maintain their intensity much betta... maybe change tubes once a year if u do not hav demanding corals...

ok,,, thanks... will take note,,,

cos a fair bit of people i spoke to,,, always claim T5 easy to fuse.... dunno why also.... you know how it cost for a 6ft PL light???

[tineng]

PL generate more heat then comparable T5. the good brand PL can generate higher lumens (only very slighty) then t5 and last quite long. But these good brand PL are seriously not as cheap......

PL are also shorter and you can probly squeeze more ....but there are not water proof connectors for PL so its unlikely you will be able to place them closer to the water......unlike T5 where some bro are placing them just a few cm off the surface of the water

[dreamzcape]

wow...suddenly got so many reply....nice...coz...I was thinking of getting a rainbow T5 NO light 4 tubes T5 then the middle 2 i put blue and out 2 put white. The tank i'm thinking of using it for is only 1 ft in depth so i think NO is enough.

My original main question was whether for 2ft lighting PL or T5 produce more heat per tubes and given the response can it be fairly safe to assume that the statement is true?

[supremo]

just to add to the questions (sorry, couldn't add any answers )....Is there a 1ft T5? Looking to put it for my 1ft cube

[dreamzcape]

i haven't seen any 1ft T5...not sure about other bros.

No one else wants to comment on the statement? Would just like to confirm again if for example i use 2 x T5 HO and 2 X PL, which will cause the water to heat up more? Just saying again, I thought I read that T5 is brighter but won't heat up the water as fast as PL...begging bros to please comment

Thanks