I am going to get another 29 gallon and it will be a another low-light planted tank (ie no CO2)
My current 29 has 2x18watt T-5 lighting (Coralife).
Are the T5 HO really that much better than the NO T5 - will I notice a difference between two 29 gal tanks, one with the coralife and one with the HO T5?
1. 30 inch Coralife 2x18 wattt T-5 (36 watts over 29gal)
2. New GLO HO T-5 lighting, only 24inch (as opposed to the 30inch coralife), but 2x24 for 48watts, and supposedly better lighting (better for plants and worse for algae growth). However they are supposed to be over an open tank, and I would have them over glass.
The HO T5 striplight costs quite a bit more than the Coralife striplight, but I am willing to pay that if they are THAT much better.
Any advice please??
The glos have a single reflector. The big advantage that T5s enjoy is that they are very small so reflectors can be nicely aligned around them to provide optimal light. The glos don't have that individual reflector, and neither do the coralifes. I have a coralife and it gives good light, but haven't had time enough to check for good plant growth. Between the two, I'd go with the glos or a 30" coralife PC fixture. Depends if you want CO2 and fertilization or not, and what kind of plants you want to keep and how much maintenance (trimming) you want to do...
Adam
bump - I am about to spring for the HO T5s and just want to be sure they are worth it!
I have one of the T5 HO over my tank and they're well worth it
And they're on sale as of today
Just an FYI, there is no such thing as lighting that is good for plants and bad for algae... if a plant can use it, so can algae
The smaller T5HO setups are definately a good value
That being said.. if you wanna stay low light/low maintenance... you probably want to stick to standard T5. The dual T5HO unit coupled with a not so deep tank will definately mean you'll be in the "medium" light range.
actually, T5 lighting can put out the same if not more par than MH lighting. good reflectors are the key. I'm using them on a 36'' deep tank with no issues at all. very suprised as I've always used MH.
as mentioned, plants and algea will both benefit. the trick is to get the plants outcompeting the algea for nutrients. :)
where are they on sale mseguin???? and how much do you know?
Thanks
Marc
at Superpet, and they're 20% off
Well when I was already out driving today in all that snow I decided to buy the HO T5, because I could always return them but they wouldn't always be on sale. The lights were not included so the price was higher even than I thought. gulp.
I am pretty tempted to go with BD's suggestion (he hasn't steered me wrong yet) and return these and get the coralife NO T5.
Mseguin you are using yours on which tank? and do you use CO2 or anything else? Do you consider it a low or medium light tank?
Veron if they are equiv to MH then I definitely don't want that much light.
I want just enough light for my plants to thrive but not enough that I have to do CO2.
BD: "there is no such thing as lighting that is good for plants and bad for algae... " that is what the sales guy at SuperPet Barrhaven told me, sigh, I am such a dweeb still, in my lack of fishie related knowledge.
Specifically he showed me the back of the box, and how there was less in the red spectrum, which he said was good for plants and not good for algae.
I think I will try to bend some ears at the auction and discuss this further!
ahh ok thanks mseguin ;)