Lighting suggestions

[drej424]

We've decided to turn our 150 tank to a mixed reef instead of mostly softies. We have a drop ceiling above the tank, so I'd rather something I can mount instead of hang. I work on the tank myself a lot, so weight and bulk of the fixture is an issue for me. I was thinking of 2 36" MH and T5 combo units. Should I go with 400's or would 250's be okay? The tank is 29" deep.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions you all have. Thanks

Denise

 

[keefsama2003]

honestly i would look into how much extra a month you will pay and then make the decision accordingly

 

[bobbbm]

T5's all the way I am sold on em! Huge money savings. Although you do lose the dapple effect... my growth and coloring have been great!


Look I actually have an opinion guys WOOT! Weather its a good one I dunno LOL.

 

[Reef Junkie]

I have heard good things about T-5's as well, but if you start approaching the same amount of wattage as a MH setup, then just go MH.

I personally like the 250 watt electronic ballast MH's. You would probably need two and I would definitely purchase Luminarc reflectors for that setup.

If you're handy, you can make the whole thing yourself and make it so it works with your maintenance habits.

You can buy all of the equipment from Tony (acropora) as well. He should have it all in stock and since he's on Long Island, you can save yourself the shipping costs. His website is reefexotics.com

Also, if you buy MH bulbs that are more blue in visible light they throw out (14k/20k) you won't need supplimental lighting.

Good luck.

 

[eboonaman]

i have a 120 and brought two mini Luminarc reflectors with 250 MH reeflux 10k and elec. ballast from Tony. I love them, IMO the 10k reeflux gives off perfect blue white color.
I made a hood and mounted them inside. but if you hang them you have to balance them , speak to tony and he can instruct you how to. also I think Vinny (lira treasurer) hangs his and he can instruct you on this also. They are very light in weight compared to a canopy or full light unit.

chuck

 

[Monkeyfish]

I'd get 2 250 MH lamps with 14,000K bulbs for a standard 150g tank.

 

[Zoa]

How many 54w T5s do you guys think would approximate an appropriate substitution for one 250w mh as far as coral growth etc? I am not talking about wattage, as the goal is to have lower and therefore not equal wattage.

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Lighting

Lighting

Denise,
The luminarc mini reflectors with bulbs weigh less than 5 lbs. 250 Watt is plenty here. If the tank is not too far from the wall perhaps you could fashion an arm to hang them from. Can't beat these reflectors but I suggest a glass cover from the start. THEY WILL COST YOU! You can look @ mine if you like.
Vinny

 

[Spracklcat]

Is there any issue of T-5's not able to penetrate as deep as MH? (peanut gallery please leave it alone)

FWIW I love my T-5's, and I know at least one 150g tank growing SPS just fine with just t-5's, but the corals sit high in the tank.

 

[Zoa]

Spracklcat....how long is the tank with the T5s and how many bulbs are you using?

 

[Spracklcat]

I don't recall the exact specs--I'd say the tank is 48" long and probably has 6 x 54W bulbs. It is a custom tank though--maybe 48" long, 24" deep and 30" wide.

 

[Zoa]

ok--thanks Spracklcat...

I would like to switch to the T5s due to LIPA, and I want to make sure it will be comparable to two 250w MH...

What I would really like is the Solaris.......but that will have to wait...

 

[Justjoe]

A 150 with T5's will do just fine for most corals , especially softies. Check out the Aquatinics site on RC, they make some nice fixtures and have donated some to LIRA in the past.
If you don't decorate the ends of the tank and leave it open, you wouldn't need the 6' fixture either. The quality of the reflector and cooling of the bulbs are crucial to T5's working well.

Just remember a watt is a watt is a watt, or as Sanjay says a photon is a photon is a photon. It doesn't matter how you are using your watts, they are all the same with LIPA (funny how LIRA is so close to LIPA...)
Also have to figure in bulb replacement costs/ year too.
Need sleep now..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz................

 

[bobbbm]

Here is the T5 Q&A Thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1120850

I know what you are saying Joe but I cannot explain it. I went from (2) 175W MH bulbs and one 96W Atinic .446 Total Watts.. to an 8X 54W T5 fixture. 432 Total Watts... and I am saving over $50 month.. Maybe there is loss in the ballast?

 

[bobbbm]

I am also getting good growth and color from the T5's Tank is now 5 months old.









WHen I bought the fixture I changed some of the bulbs to Geiserman from Les..

I have them in this order From front to back

True Atinic
10k
True Atinic
10k
6500k True Blue
10k
6500kTrue Blue
10k

 

[drej424]

Thanks everyone for all the great input! I'd rather stick with T5's as long as they can support SPS growth. (Bobbbm's exploding MH light experience makes me nervous!)

We really appreciate all of your suggestions. Thanks again!

Denise

 

[d4a2n0k]

A T-5 setup with good individual reflectors has more PAR at the sandbed than 250w MH bulbs. Its been tested.

If this is a standard 150, 48 x 24 x 30, then an 8 x 54w setup with individual reflectors will put out more light than a 2 x 250w MH setup even with Lumenarc reflectors. The key is good individual reflectors like the IceCap SLR. They will also give better coverage end to end with absolutely no dead spots. You will not save much in electricity (500w vs. 432w) but you can get any look you want when you have the flexibility of 8 bulbs. Also, a proper T5 setup is not cheap by any means. You will spend more on a T5 setup than a MH setup in this situation.

Truthfully, if you go the MH route and want to be able to keep SPS anywhere in the tank you should go with the 400's. I had a standard 120 with 2 x 250's and Lumenarc Minis and had to be careful where I placed my SPS. A lot of parts of the tank didnt have enough light to support SPS.