lighting a 25g for a BTA>???

[bencozzy]

ok this is what i have been looking at:

a 4-55w cf system

4-75w vho

or a 250w HQI MH

which should i go with? im leaning more toward the cf lighting.

thanks
ben

 

[JamesJR]

I wouldn't use a 250 watt HQI that is a total overkill. I'd go with a 150 at the most.

what about a t-5 fixture? with good reflectors they are comparable to metal halide and the bulbs last longer than the compact fluorescents do. I am biased and I don't like pc lighting.

 

[bencozzy]

ice heard conflicting things on a t-5s lifespan, how long do they really last and would 96 total watts be enough light?

 

[bencozzy]

ok i get what your saying now

i could either go with 6 t-5 HO or a 150w MH.

now what would be best and cost less to maintain?

 

[JamesJR]

Well, they make several different makes for the t-5 lights and I think a 4 lamp fixture would be plenty. If your tank can fit the 6 bulb fixture than go for it but the 4 would be fine.

T-5 uses less electricity but could cost more to replace bulbs than mh, depending on how many bulbs you have and how often you replaced them on the t05 fixture. t-5 lamps are about 25-30 bucks a bulb but they last over a year. Metal halide 150 watt hqi lamps range about 50-60 dollars a bulb up to around a 100. Metal halide bulbs need to be replaced about every year or so. I don't like pc because they aren't very intense, and I think they need to be replaced pretty frequently. definately more than once a year.

 

[gskidmor]

I have a 24 gal aquapod tank with a 70w MH (sunpod). My anemone has grown from 4 inches when I first got it about 2 - 3 months ago to about 7/8 inches now (I feed it once or twice a week with one small silverside).

So I would go with what ever's cheapest and easiest to work with.

 

[SVXH6]

i'd go with a 250MH.. it could always easily be used on another tank in the future.. i have used them on 20L, 29G, it was not overkill at all..