Lighting nub here

[Syquest15]

looking to get explained lighting for different purposes for saltwater and even freshwater.
whats the difference between t-5 and compact fluorescent?
which is good for what?
whats better?
best brands?
all advice appreciated.

[Turf]

You might do a quick search on here and I think you'll get 90% answered on the Salty side in a few min.

[David Grigor]

Compact flourescent is ineffecient because of the shape of the bulbs. There is lots of light restrike going on with the twin bulbs even with reflectors. T5s being linear, with a good individual reflector you can redirect vitually all the light to the tank without any restrike. Also in general, T5s last longer too. But the overwelming reason is the light output as previously described.

T5s will give you the flexability to keep a wider range of corals with good color and growth than with compact flourescents ( or really any other flourescent type bulbs ) and doing so with less wattage.

You do have to be careful though when buying T5s as not all T5 setups are the same. Many low quailty T5 brands try to capitalize on T5 popularity. Quality Individual reflectors for the bulbs are a must for any T5 setup. A T5 setup that doesn't have them really isn't any better than a Compact Flourescent.

[Syquest15]

so T-5 > compact fluorescent when the light itself allows for most/all light to be directed to the tank.

which has a greater output? T-5 = less wattage? so less output?

All the compact fl's ive seen come in 2 sets of 2 bulbs = 4 bulbs total
my former odyssea had two t-5 single tub bulbs, is this standard on both of these?
How do they match up output wise 4 compacts versus two isolated (bulb wise, like you described bring the "necessity") t-5's?

i appreciate your time.

[David Grigor]

so T-5 > compact fluorescent when the light itself allows for most/all light to be directed to the tank.


Correct, but this only applies to individual parabolic reflectors around the T5s because it eliminates the restrike of light on the bulbs and directs virtually all the light to the tank. Same cannot be applied to T5s with flat reflectors as the light from the upper half of the bulb bounces around some restriking the bulb and some light angles not being directed down.

Odyssea T5s are total crap. Because of the bad reflector design they produce half the output t5s are capable of. Heat more than any other flourescent really play a large role in T5 output. So well ventalated with fans, plus good quality reflectors such as Icecap SLRs will run circles around an Odyssea in performance with same number of bulbs.

Watts mean absolutely nothing. Trying to compare lighting based on input electricity is totally backwards thinking. You measure light output in PAR or LUX not watts.

It doesn't really matter to me how many PCs you throw under they hood, they just can't match the intensity of good T5s.

No really getting what your trying to ask with the other questions. Tell me the size of tank, and the corals you plan to keep and can give you a better idea how many T5 bulbs would be adequate.