T5-HO vs PC for tall tank lighting

[aquabee]

Hey all. I'm currently researching lighting options for a 105 gallon tall tank (48" long and 30" tall). The setup will be low tech, maybe with Excel and Flourish, but no CO2 running. The plants will be mostly slow-metabolizers and low light, such as bolbitis, anubias, some of the swords, and java fern. The issue I've had with plants in this tank in the past is that I can't get great penetrance of the light all the way down to 30+ inches.

I'm looking into T5 high output vs power compact fixtures, and I've been reading a ton of articles on this. But nothing beats personal experience. Ideas/thoughts, anyone? What kind of lighting would be best for this tank and its flora?

Thanks all!

[mnemenoi]

In my opinion T5HO offers better penetration to depths, but PC offer more spread. I prefer the look of 10,000K to 6500K, with more of a crisp white light.

[sunkenmetal]

currentusa LEDs !

[aquabee]

T5-HO vs PC for tall tank lighting

In my opinion T5HO offers better penetration to depths, but PC offer more spread. I prefer the look of 10,000K to 6500K, with more of a crisp white light.

Is that what you have on Suki's new tank? I know that's a tall one too, 150g right?

[aquabee]

T5-HO vs PC for tall tank lighting

currentusa LEDs !

LEDs don't get anywhere near the bottom unfortunately. I'd love to be able to have those though, for the shimmer as well as saving electricity cost.

[sunkenmetal]

LEDs don't get anywhere near the bottom unfortunately. I'd love to be able to have those though, for the shimmer as well as saving electricity cost.

i am talking about the pro leds from current usa. I have them we can try them out on your tank to see if they hit the bottom. But T5HO would be the way to go if you don't like leds.

[aquabee]

T5-HO vs PC for tall tank lighting

i am talking about the pro leds from current usa. I have them we can try them out on your tank to see if they hit the bottom. But T5HO would be the way to go if you don't like leds.

Sounds good. But I read online that their max penetrance is 20-24" and even with that, the lighting at the bottom is super weak. But let's try it!

[mnemenoi]

The 3W Cree LEDs offer better brightness and penetration, but are hella more expensive then the 1W that most are familiar with. They have a 48" 3 Watt LED fixture on that same site I sent you Bee. When you were over we were running 2 54 watt 10,000K T5HO and 4 64 Watt PC 10,000K bulbs. Eventually I'll be getting another 2 - 54Watt 10,000K T5's as its a 4 bulb fixture, but 2 originally came as Actinics and they just make crazy algae for me.

[sunkenmetal]

Sounds good. But I read online that their max penetrance is 20-24" and even with that, the lighting at the bottom is super weak. But let's try it!

Just let me know when...

[eklikewhoa]

I made a light fixture with 3w Crees/Luxeon and if its for not so demanding plants it can me made fairly cheap in comparison to any available fixture.

If you go the route of T5HO, the brother in-law has a 8bulb TEK with mostly new daylight bulbs (mixed k for better visual)

[Andrew_B]

Use led spotlights. a 9w (3x3w) 6500k bulb that fits in a regular e27 socket is 4.00 from ebay. Penetration issue solved!

[Darbex]

T5-HO vs PC for tall tank lighting

Ecotech radions

[sunkenmetal]

Ecotech radions

Hells yea

[Darbex]

As you see in my journal it gets plenty of PAR on my 27" tall and thats at 51% power and you get the added bonus of sunlight shimmer in MH. Or you can go with Panoramas. I have two you can buy from me.

[sunkenmetal]

As you see in my journal it gets plenty of PAR on my 27" tall and thats at 51% power and you get the added bonus of sunlight shimmer in MH. Or you can go with Panoramas. I have two you can buy from me.

Once she sees the price I am pretty sure she won't go that route lol.