Some good points, you are certainly right a 5 foot T8 tube is 58 watts and a high output t5 in roughly the same length is 80watts, but these are not just T5 tubes, these are high output T5s, they emit a massive amount more visible lightnand at least twice the u.v.b of the standard T8, high output T5 has been used for years to propagate corals and produces a lot more energy and heat than T8. the electronic ballast is essential to run the lamp, these controllers are much more energy efficient with regards to wasted energy than magnetic T8s and hey have zero flicker factor associated with magnetic ballasts. M.V lamps are still essential in most hard shell enclosures but high output T5 will safe guard your enclosures or tables by flooding the whole area in good quality light and u.v, this really is the most important introduction to reptile lighting since we moved from black lights to daylight tubes, T5s can also be dimmed where tech allows.so watt for watt T5 is vastly more efficient, you would need to run at least 4 T8s of the same length to get close to the light output, but pure punch of u.v.b penetration cannot be mimicked.
Please keep the questions coming and I'll do my best to help
j
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