T5 Vs. Power Compact Lighting

The lighting you choose for your aquarium drastically effects its overall apperance.

There isn't a great difference between power compact lighting and T5 fluorescent lights, except in the technical details. Both will do a fine job of lighting your aquarium and the bulbs you choose are more a matter of taste and cost.

Physical Shape

The biggest different between T5 fluorescent bulbs and power compact bulbs is the shape. T5 bulbs are invariably in a tubular shape like a traditional fluorescent bulb. Power compact lights use the same technology, but are bent in half to create an arc shape, much like the compact fluorescent bulbs now available for screw-base light fixtures. This makes the bulbs smaller, but also requires different pin connections that are specific to power compact lighting.

Upgrades

With the T5 lighting system you can easily upgrade to another style of tubular fluorescent lights as more efficient and compact standards become available, due to the common form factor. With power compact bulbs, the unique shape and pin structure means that you can only use bulbs that are compatible with specialized ballasts.

Efficiency

T5 bulbs and ballasts are renowned for their efficiency, producing as much as 105 lumens per watt. Power compact lighting produces between 30 and 40 lumens per watt. The difference in efficiency and cost of running the lamps is dramatic. However, if you are only lighting an aquarium and not an office building, this might not be an important factor.

References

• Other Power: Efficient Lighting
• American Aquarium Products; Super High Output (SHO) & Standard Compact Fluorescent (CFL)