T5 vs Compact Spirals

[Nights85]

So the thing is I am going to be making a stand/hood
for my tank some time soon and I am wondering should
I get 2-4 more 6500k daylight compacts for my hood
or get a fixture with couple T5-HO?

I am wanting plenty+ lighting for the tank
aesthetic/something my plants will really benefit.

 

[yikesjason]

I have one of each set up at my house. I have a 25 gal hex with a cheap and easy hood I made with 3 spiral compacts. And I have a nice Catalina Aquarium t5ho fixture on my 125 gal. It really depends on the size of tank you have, and how nice you want you set up to be.

Spiral compacts are nice because they are cheap and easy. But you aren't going to get many tech style points for them. They are kind of inefficient because you loose some of your intensity do to restrike, when light from one part of the spiral hits another part of the spiral instead of the tank.

T5 fixtures are great because they are the most efficient, coolest running, and longest lasting of the florescent lights widely available. If you have a bigger tank and really want to have some stronger lighting, t5 is the way to go.

 

[Yanbbrox]

My latest juwel tank had the t5 upgrade from new, good luck with the project

 

[Nights85]

So if T5 looks better runs more
efficiently and is more powerful then I
suppose that is what I'll go for! thanks! ;D

 

[velanarris]

Yeah T5 really is superior to most lighting types in almost all applications.