Confused About Lighting

[Drewcipher]

I have a 20 hex tank with a 150 MH on it, and if there was a T5 option I would take it. I like the color better on the T5s. I think you could keep anything with the 2 X24T5, except maybe some light demanding corals and clams. My 26g has 3X39 and I have LPS and softies no problem.
Not that they aren't good, but I have found in all my research about lighting, the tendency for people to jump on the MH bandwagon is pretty overwhelming. Many people maintain fantastic tanks with VHO and T5 lights.

 

[Horace]

First off MH is not a bandwagon, it is a proven technology that works well. Second with a 70w bulb your bulb options will be severely limited. Third T5 is nice (I have 6 of them on my tank so I am aware of how good they are). However, the cost of T5 is not much less than the MH, if at all. The cost to setup a 150w and a dual T5 tank is pretty similar to be honest. Yes the MH will use more watts, but the shimmer is very nice to look at and it is something I really wish my tank had. Personally I think your tank would be fine with either 2xVHO, 2xT5 or 1x150w MH. Any of those optoins are good. Also the cost to replace the bulbs are all pretty similar as well. If you cant afford to replace a single MH bulb then perhaps your in the wrong hobby lol. The replacment cost of 2T5s is going to run $40 as well....same with the VHOs.

 

[travisurfer]

i know about bulb costs and electricity costs. the problem is that i live with my parents and there is no way i could buy a $200 mh fixture and then pay another $60 a year in bulb costs, not to mention a $20 raise in electricity bills. its not a matter of money but teenage politics. so i decided it would be best to get a 2 x 24w teklight and then upgrade to a second 2x24w tek retrofit kit later on when i move out. anyway, with a 2x24w t5HO fixture i would be able to keep anything i want besides clams, most sps, and the more light demanding anemones?

 

[Drewcipher]

I wasn't trying to say it wasn't proven, just that it seems many people answer MH a little too quickly and dismiss other options. Personally, I am far more impressed with well lit VHO or T5 tanks than I am with any MH tank I have seen, but that is my opinion.

Also, I am not sure about your electricity or where travis is, but the difference in electric use can add up over time. T5 bulbs are also cheaper and don't need to be replaced as often.

IMO you can do everything with T5 that you could do with MH, it just depends on your personal preference in how the light looks. If it is strictly a matter of cost, long and short term, I believe you are better of going T5.

 

[travisurfer]

that is what really turned me on to t5HO. many people say mh are great b/c they are flexible. but if you are going to stick to the same tank size(like me) you can just add more light later on and it will still be a lot cheaper. hopefully the new lights will come this summer. im thinking just two aquablues(11000k).

 

[sjm817]

2 AB will be very white. Maybe try 1 AB and 1 blue+. Generally a 50/50 mix of AB and B+ gives a nice look.

 

[Horace]

I agree with sjm....you want 1AB and 1B+ or when the UV comes out...1 SA instead of the B+.

 

[sjm817]

With just two bulbs, I'd skip the actinic UVL or other. The blue+ still puts out some light and PAR

 

[travisurfer]

Im used to the really white look. I have a dual daylight bulb in my pc light. If i used and aquablue and a blue+ what would i be able to keep? and will the corals flouresce?

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7433051#post7433051 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
With just two bulbs, I'd skip the actinic UVL or other. The blue+ still puts out some light and PAR

At this point we dont even know how much PAR the UV will put down...I think its a tad premature to say that, but your right the B+ does put down quite a bit of PAR for a blue bulb.

If you dont use atleast 1 blue bulb, I dont see your corals flourescing very well at all....Thus the reason people typically go with a 1:1 ratio with AB/B+. The tank will still look very white. The white really drowns out the blue when it is on.

 

[Drewcipher]

I have 1 AB and 2 B+. I don't think you would like 2 ABs. Go 1 and 1.

 

[travisurfer]

ok thanks, ill go 1 and 1. what would i be able to keep with this setup?

 

[Drewcipher]

I would start with some softies and maybe an LPS or 2 to get started. Some zoos, hairy mushroom, green star polyps, xenia. Maybe a bubble coral or a frogspawn.