T-5 lighting worth it?

[cocoa_pleco]

I want to plant the hex tank, but since it's a bit tall would it be worth getting a T-5 light for it? will a T-5 make the plants healthy? since the top of the tank is small, i can get a T-5 from aquatech for 30$, so if it would be good i'll try one

[hungryhound]

I just got a a corallife 36in dual T-5 freshwater aqualight yesterday and have it up and running today. They seem to be pretty good bulbs as my tank seems plenty bright enough with only 1.5w per gallon.

I cannot tell you for sure whether it would be worth it to get a T-5, but the added investment should make your tank brighter, which probably would help your plants.

[Rue]

...it's only worth it if you keep the tank glass clean...so you can see inside!:hmm3grin2orange:

[cocoa_pleco]

lol, good point rue.
I think i will get one. the current light works, but it isnt too strong. a T-5 should do the trick

[Chrona]

T-5 is just the diameter of the bulb, what's the wattage and reflector like on it? Imo, your best bet will be a light strip with incandescent bulbs, and swap them out for compact fluorescent. T-5 is regarded as just as good as metal halide lights, given a good reflector and roughly equivalent wattage, but the reflector is key. They put out a decent amount of lumens per watt over compact fluorescent because there is very little restrike from the straight tubes with a parabolic reflector.