hqi/t-5 advice...

[maxpower39]

want to run a new light set up to reduce electrical/heat problems..
am considering hqi/t-5's based on what i have heard about lumens...
i heard that 250watts of t-5 bulbs produces the same lumens of a 400watt single ended metal halide...
i want to run all bulbs 220volts...will this be possible?

if i want 8 watts per gallon to grow anything...
what would the recommended wattage be with the hqi/t-5 setup?

it will light a 150xt (4ft.x2ft.x31inches tall)lots of rock...deep bed...
i have a center brace so i want the light to be balanced and i want three stages of lighting...sun up/down intensity...

thanks for your help peeps...

 

[joetbs]

You should get a combination of 4x T5s and 150w icecap spot pendants/bulbs. These have par rivaling a 250w DE bulb, while running an electronic ballast. The 6.5k is a crisp white, not the usual '**** yellow.' For the extra money upfront, you save alot in the long run with a cut in power consumption, heat output, and on top of that the bulbs last 2 years.

joe

 

[kkris]

The T-5's won't have near the penetration that the MH will have. Mine throw off very little heat. Talk to Greg at reefgeek.com. He has been selling T'5's longer than anyone else in the country. He'll probably sell you on a pair of 250 HQI with a pair of T-5's. You can always add another pair later. Look at the advance accustart ballasts for the T-5's. They throw off virtually no heat.
My .02 2 x 250HQI (10-14K) with a pair of ATI blueplus.

 

[dflint]

I bought my T5's at reefgeek also... highly recommend him and the icecap T5 reflectors. my bulbs are blue+ and daylights. I would go with the URI actinics if they are avaible now.. what kind of tank/corals are you going for?

 

[dppitone]

The T5s are not really designed to be a main lighting source for a reef tank with that kind of depth. The effectiveness/penetration starts to fall off pretty signifcantly after about 12" of depth. And anything you put lower than 18" from the T5s will suffer. So that's were relying on the MHs is important.