T8 Fluorescent Tube
T8 fluorescent tube lights are the standard lighting units which come with almost all
aquariums that you can purchase for tropical fish.
They are inexpensive, come in a variety of types and efficient in their job at providing
illumination.
The term T8 refers to the size of the tube, 1 inch diameter, and the type of fitting it
requires, G13 bipin/single pin/recessed double contact.
They are typically produced in three types, Colour Enhancing, Plant Growth or Daylight/Original.
Which allows for control over the type of lighting
you can put over your aquarium and gives the user the ability to change the feel of their
display.
Lights in this category are available from 14 watts up to ~40 watts and are ideally suited
to aquariums where the focus is on the fish rather than plants.
Plants can be grown with T8 lighting, but only ones which require low light levels such
as Anubias or Cryptocoryne.
T8 bulbs need to be replaced every 10-12 months as they will lose their colour frequency as
the gasses inside degrade over time.
T5 Fluorescent Tube
T5 fluorescent tube lights are very similar to T8 bulbs in shape but are thinner, 5 ⁄ 8
of an inch diameter, and have a different fitting, G5 bipin.
They are available in a variety of different light colours such as daylight, plant growth,
tropical and reef white.
T5 lighting is advantageous over T8 because they are smaller in comparison and have a
higher output of light per watt.
This increased output makes them ideal
for use over planted aquariums as they are ideal for keeping plants alive which require
brighter lighting.
T5 bulbs are more power efficient than T8 bulbs and last longer before they degrade
in output and need to be replaced, ~ 16-24 months.
Bulbs of this type are generally available between 24-54 watts.