So i am building a new tank; 180cm wide, 70cm deep and 60cm high.
So far so good, but now i am in doubt about my lights. This is not so much a question on how much bulbs, since i am allready set i am going for 5 dimmable and switchable rows
The remaining question is this:
a) Go for 2x T5 HO 39w bulbs per row side by side (so 10 lamps in total)
Pro: is that i can light one side of the tank with more pars, or other colors
Con: need twice as much ballasts
b) Go for 1x T5 HO 80w bulb per row (so 5 lamps in total)
Pro: 80w will most likely penetrate deeper into the water then 39w?
Con: is limited to 1.5 meter in length, however i wonder if it will affect me since i can spread my lights.
c) Go for 1x T8 HO 70w bulb per row (5 lamps in total)
Pro: with 176cm it best matches my tank width
Pro: most efficient (10w less then the 80w version, while keeping thesame lumens)
Con: Not available in 6500K (from Philips at least)
As far as "C" is concerned; with T8 lights nowadays the decrease in lamp output and lamp life versus T5 is negligible (dutch site)..
Your thoughts are welcome :gw
So far so good, but now i am in doubt about my lights. This is not so much a question on how much bulbs, since i am allready set i am going for 5 dimmable and switchable rows
The remaining question is this:
a) Go for 2x T5 HO 39w bulbs per row side by side (so 10 lamps in total)
Pro: is that i can light one side of the tank with more pars, or other colors
Con: need twice as much ballasts
b) Go for 1x T5 HO 80w bulb per row (so 5 lamps in total)
Pro: 80w will most likely penetrate deeper into the water then 39w?
Con: is limited to 1.5 meter in length, however i wonder if it will affect me since i can spread my lights.
c) Go for 1x T8 HO 70w bulb per row (5 lamps in total)
Pro: with 176cm it best matches my tank width
Pro: most efficient (10w less then the 80w version, while keeping thesame lumens)
Con: Not available in 6500K (from Philips at least)
As far as "C" is concerned; with T8 lights nowadays the decrease in lamp output and lamp life versus T5 is negligible (dutch site)..
Your thoughts are welcome :gw