i know these are new for aquariums but i hear good things about them. anyone use them or seen them? are they really much brighter than pcs and do they beat halides? tia!
I have a 24" T-5 System from Sunlight Supply. It's brighter then Power Compacts to my eyes and also under my PAR meter, but it could be more to do with the reflector design. A.
It doesn't compare to metal halides over any given area, however. My AB 250W DE MH (phew, a mouthful!) is definitely brighter.
You'll find claims that T-5's rival MH's, but I would still think depth would be an issue. Like Len described, it's the thin bulb that maximizes the effects of the reflector. Up to 300% in some cases. Still, there's nothing like the shimmer effect of MH.
