90g Lighting: T5 or MH?

[joeyf]

Ok, so I have narrowed my choices down for my new lights for my 90g (standard 48x18x24h).

I have decided for my lighting requirements that one of these two options will suit my needs-

T5- Either a T5 4x54w retro from IceCap (so overdriven to ~88w each), or possibly a Tek 4x54w retro setup, with another 2x54w Tek retro added later when budget permits. With this I would need to add a canopy right away.

~or~

MH- Either a Current USA 48" Sunpod 2x150w Fixture, or 2x Aquamedic Oceanlight 150w pendants. I was also considering getting 2 Current USA 20" Sunpods and run them as pendants, since it would give me more flexibility in the long run, and it works out to be the same price as the 48" fixture. A canopy can be added later, which would be what allows me to get one of these more expensive options.

Which would you choose?

 

[The Grim Reefer]

What do you want to raise? The T5's will have way more intensity than 150 halides.

 

[Ti]

Why not do both?

 

[joeyf]

What do you want to raise? The T5's will have way more intensity than 150 halides.

Softies, LPS, zoos, couple mushrooms, a few SPS, and MAYBE a clam.

Why not do both?

Too much heat and electricity consumption. Although, once I get my canopy if I go with the MH, I was thinking about getting one of those helios 54w actinic strips to supplement, since the sunpods only have 14k bulbs with them.

 

[joeyf]

BTW, by SPS, I mean montipora. And that is a big maybe on the clam.

 

[Rekonn]

Do you have a DSB in the tank? How deep does the light need to penetrate? Would you be ok with keeping the SPS and clam towards the top of the tank or would they be at the bottom?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7395497#post7395497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
Why not do both?

yeah, why not?

i am on my 90

 

[joeyf]

I have a SSB @ approx 1-1.5" deep. I would be just fine keeping them towards the top.

As I mentioned, I am considering supplementing the MH w/ T5 later down the road, but as of right now, I am looking for just one setup, due to cost reasons.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

Those Helios T5 units aren't very good, and they're NO not HO. I'm not sure they'd be good supplements. However, I'm not sure you would need supplementation with a 14k MH bulb.

IMO, if you're gonna get a canopy anyways, don't go for the fixture, you're limiting your options that way. Get a canopy now and do the retrofit. Also, many fixtures aren't meant to work inside canopies, so if you went that route and got a canopy later, you'd have to buy a new setup anyways.....

 

[joeyf]

Not neccesarily...

I want to either go with the retrofits from either IC or Tek for T5. Or if I go MH, I decided that I am going to go with 2 of the CUSA 20" sunpod fixtures, and run them as pendants. The canopy that I would get if I go MH is about 12-13" tall and open on top.

The helios T5 thing was just a thought, but I'm sure I could figure out a way to rig a 2x54w Tek retro in to supplement the MH later.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

the 20" sunpods are only 150W each. You might want to think about getting 2x250w MH retros first. If you run them with a 14k bulb, you could do without actinic supplements until you're ready to get the 2x54W T5s.

Or

Just get the 4x54w T5s and a canopy now, and add some more later.

i just think you'll get more lighting if you go with retros rather than fixtures.

 

[joeyf]

250w will heat up my bedroom too much. I am having a hard time with the 4x65w PC's as is. Not to mention the cost to run the 250w halides.

Everyone seems to underestimate the 150w DE's for some reason. They can out perform most 250w SE setups. FWIW, everything is doing just fine under the 4x65w PC's that I have been using since I set this tank up in Feb. The 2 montis that I have are a little on the brown side, but otherwise everything is great.

The reason I'm still considering the fixtures is cause MH is supposed to be the best (although my experience w/ a 250w DE over a 29g was dismal), and the runner up for deeper water penetration is supposed to be T5.

 

[joeyf]

Anyone else?

 

[Tomzpc]

I would get the T-5 retro without a doubt. If you don't plan to go better than 150 watters with MH than IMO it isn't worth it. The T-5 setup will blow it away for intensity.

 

[joeyf]

I appreciate the advice that saves me $$ In all seriousness, thanks

Now, the question is, which retro???

Icecap 4x54w overdriven (w/ 2 aquablue and 2 blue+ bulbs)

or

Tek 4x54w not overdriven (w/ 2 aquablue and 2 blue+ bulbs), and eventually add another 2x54w Tek retro adding another blue+ and a GE 6500k (when budget permits).