giving up halides?

[spamreefnew]

I have always run 2 x 150 watt halides on all my reefs, but for my next tank i wonder if that would be logical....my next tank will be a standard 90 gallon with softies,zoas,and a few lps like hammer and frogspawn,,,,im kinda sick of caring for sps corals . i love the bule blue look of the actinics. would i be let down if i switch to p/c or vhos??

 

[SDguy]

Why not just get 20K bulbs on your MH that you already have. No extra $$

 

[Milhouse]

PC's? VHO's? Why would you do that. T5! I don't think you'd be disappointed. I have two tanks right now. One has MH and T5. The other just T5. If I had it to do over again I'd go all T5. I love the lack of heat, the combo of bulbs, etc. There are some perks obviously to MH(like shimmer, output, etc), but overall I really dig T5's.

 

[iamwrasseman]

T 5 s are the way to go in my opinion .MH to much heat and need to be replaced more often . you can get good PAR readings with T 5s ,enough for what your gonna do for sure

 

[Nereaga]

I agree with going T5 all the way! I went from Mh---->T5 and love it! Less heat and I love the bulb combos... I still get a mild shimmer effect from surface agitation...

Brad

 

[saltwatermadnes]

Im in the process of switching from MH to t5 and so far its great.. much more variable colors with the simple selection of bulbs, less heat and the coral love it.. I say go all t5 and give up the mh

 

[vsnph]

Definitely T5 !! With all the bulb combination available for us hobbyist, I wouldn't think twice

 

[spamreefnew]

ok cool t-5s it is then when you say t/5s do you mean ho or vho? i thank the actual lamp base size is t/5 for both in the electrical world(about a 1/2" dia.)

 

[spamreefnew]

think oops

 

[spamreefnew]

hey what about t-6 fixtures??? as good as the t-5s??? saw some cheap

 

[birdman1979]

part of the advantage to t5s is the individual reflectors they make for them, which really increase the light output. t5s also have the best bulb selection. some can be 40% overdriven with an icecap ballast. check out the t5 thread by grim. loads of info on there.

 

[spamreefnew]

one more question...before i order a new light.......will the standard size (47 3/4") light strip fixture fit inside a standard 48" canopy? or do i have to order a retro kit?