Halide and T-5s

[firefish2020]

This is a serious question and not meant to stir the sand between Halide fans and T-5 fans.

I am upgrading the 120 to a 125 soon and was set on 3X250 MH 10,000Ks and PC actinic as the light source. However what about the possibility of using an array of T-5s instead of halides, or better still a mix of halide and T-5s in a specific arrangement. Could this array cut down on heat and energy used? I simply don't like how the PC actinics look compared to T-5s and T-5 actinics realy color up SPS from what I have seen.

 

[mcox33]

go with the T-5 and MH. I really like what mine looks like when it is just the T- 5 actinic and the mh. Timer went out on the pc's and sometimes Mike forgets to plug them in.

 

[phljess]

I think T5's would be great for an LPS/ softy tank but I really do not believe the hype about the T5's when it comes to SPS/ clam tanks. There is no way they can penetrate depth as well as halides. I also think they would fall far short of the amount of PAR halides can produce. Until I see some real studies between the two types of lighting I will not budge on this point. Maybe in a tank less than 15 inches you could use them for SPS. IMO, they cannot hold a light to a halide. However, the T5 would be great actinic supplements and you may even be able to cut down on the time you burn your halides if you used a couple T5 10K or 6.5K bulbs. I am thinking something like this start with T5 actinics 14 hours 10 hours of 10K or 6.5K T5s and 8 hours of halides. - Yes the pun was intended by the way

 

[firefish2020]

I was thinking about using just the actinic T-5s with the halides. That way they should get good growth from the MH and good color from the T-5 supplementation.

 

[mcox33]

:fish1: :thumbsup: