Need T5 Retrofit lighting help

[jtomasi]

I have a 65g tank. I currently run a single Radion G2 centered over the center brace. I also run 4 coralife 65w PCs in the hood. I would like to convert the PCs to 4 39w T5s.

What are the best T5 retrofit kits? Better to buy a fixture and take it apart? Is it worth the cost or should I stick with the PCs?

Please no, “get another Radion” or anything else like that. At some point I will run two Radions or a Radion and a 250W MH but that isn’t in the cards right now. (I dont know if I trully believe in LEDs and MH is too hot and no room for a chiller)

Thank you in advance for your opinions!

 

[ReeferBob]

You are going from 260 to 156 watts. My advice is to keep what you have until you are ready to make a quantum leap. Incremental changes won't do much and in this case you are getting less light.

 

[ReeferBob]

Also a big part of high end lighting is the reflector. A good reflector will double your light output. Compare ATIs reflectors which are considered the best to others.

 

[jtomasi]

Thanks reefbob for your response. Do you think a 65w PC is comperable to a 39w T5 (assuming equal reflectors)? I guess thats the most important question. I always hear people saying you can keep SPS under T5 but not PC. That is actually the basis for why I thought about changing.

 

[ReeferBob]

That is a good question. I have some PC lights but they are on FO tanks. It used to be watts per gallon were what you looked for. Now it is all about spectrum. I don't know what the spectrum differences are between PC and T5. Try to find a chart that shows this. I am sure that there is some report that has this. Also consider getting a true PAR meter (not lumens). This will tell you actual light output at whereever you put the sensor.

In either case, if your retrofit kit does not include a reflector of decent quality, I would not do the retrofit at all. There are plenty of cheap T5 lights out there. Certainly cheaper then the retrofit kits.