Lighting Opinions - T5 or MH

[daveml]

Heys guys need some input on different lighting options. I am currently running a nova extreme 6x54 T5 over my 90 gallon but have an opportunity to pick up a Hamilton 2x175 W MH with 2x110W VHO for $250.

I've been pretty happy with the t5 and coral growth but really like the shimmer of the MH...

What should I do? Any thoughts? The $250 seems very reasonable.

Let me know what you think

Dave

 

[tmz]

Very reasonable. I like the mh vho combo and have used it for years with good sps response in a 24 inch deep tank with 250w 14 k. I use 20 k 175s in my lps tank and the sps I have sprinklled in there do well. Never tried t5.

 

[Tonynlo]

I just switched from MH to t5. I do miss the shimmer of halide, I love the versatility and bulb options you get with a t5 setup.

 

[truebeliever71]

For about the same money you can build yourself a killer LED light which will give you the shimmer you love and save you money in the long run.

 

[toddmh]

I don't think a 48" LED diy kit can be made for 250.00..But If I am wrong plese post info about it,I want one

 

[pascal32]

What do you have for corals?

 

[votek]

I don't think a 48" LED diy kit can be made for 250.00..But If I am wrong plese post info about it,I want one

Have to agree. Your looking at about 2 grand for a capable LED kits for 48" tanks.

 

[Johnny C]

Personally, I think that MH + VHO setups are becoming slightly outdated; they use a lot of energy, produce a noticeable amount of heat and are expensive to replace bulbs. I have had great success with T5s and I'm about to pull the trigger on a small LED system. I'm all for the excellent growth and color of a 250w Radium and some UVL Actinics, but at some point you have to ask yourself if it's worth it or not. JMO

PS- If you have some funding and want to spice up your lighting scheme, consider adding a 48'' ReefBrite LED Strip. It's got the PAR of 1-2 T5's and it will add a ton of 'pop' to your corals and fish. LEDs are fun!

 

[wswftball02]

I use t5s and as others have said I love the fact you can pick and choose which bulbs and bulb color spectrum you include. (Obviously some bulbs work great at bringing out certain colors and other bulbs can bring out other colors.) This kind of set up really allows you to adjust your lightings to how you want, if your missing on certain colors just change a bulb to a differnt one.

I use a 4 bulb t5 fixture on a 75 (Going to upgrade to a 6 bulb soon hopefully). And as far as the reefbrites and leds go, I have personally used the reef brites in combination with my lights and noticed minimal differnce on coral color in my tank.... if at all. Although I think it is because I have a majority of super blue bulbs so the blue leds just got washed in with my t5s because I run 3 geissmann super blue plus and 1 kz fiji purple.

JMO though of course, many people have used the reefbrites and love them. They are sick though running them alone with no other light on, but no one leaves them on like that or if they do its only for like an hour for a "dawn" and "dusk" affect

 

[davidpesce]

Have to agree. Your looking at about 2 grand for a capable LED kits for 48" tanks.

No where near that cost for a DIY fixture. $500-$550 tops

If you're looking at the short term, yes T5s are cheaper. But if you look 1 year down the road when you've had to replace your bulbs and pay for the electricity to run them, LEDs win hands down.