lighting

[mingxu]

I am in process to set up 300g tank (72 x 36 x 27 ). I have several choise but difficult to decide which type to choose.
1, 3 400w with some T5
2. 3 250w with some t5
3. 12 80w t5

do you have any suggestion? I see more people using t5 even with big tank, appreciate you can give some input?

Ming

 

[BigAirHarper]

All personal preference really. I prefer the shimmer of the MH look but have my tank open topped so temp isn't an issue. I would go with the MH with some T-5 supplement. It gives a nice look. As far as wattage goes, if you are looking to place some high-light clams on the sand bed or keeping SPS down lower, I would go with the 400W to be safe. But if softies and other lower light coral are in your future the 250's would work perfectly. Just my .02

 

[mingxu]

Thanks, do u know t5 reaaly save energy?

 

[BigAirHarper]

Well I would say a watt is a watt. So u can compare them that way. T-5s probably do use energy more efficiently but the MH just really give the tank a shimmer that mimmicks the ocean. Some t5s to supplement and give the dusk/dawn effect would be nice. For the MH I like the 14000K bulbs for a nice blue that isn't too white. HTH

 

[redfishsc]

Comparing the light output (ie, how useful they are to us reefers watt for what) of MH and T5 tends to become a draw.


Personally I think more depends on the QUALITY AND AGE of the bulbs you are using and QUALITY of the reflectors you will use.


For example, I'm pretty sure that a 175 Iwasaki 15,000K mogul base MH lamp would blow the socks off of a similar wattage T5 setup with ATI Aquablues and UVL Aquasuns.

But put any other 175w MH in there and you have a draw, IMO. The Iwasaki 15,000K is a legendary (and costly) bulb.


Same goes for the Iwasaki 6,500K 250W lamp that can be run even more efficiently on an old style Mercury Vapor ballast (if you can still find this bulb, it's hard to find)--- puts out an INSANE amount of par compared to most other MH bulbs (including other 6500K bulbs).



I am with BigAirHarper, this will come to personal preference.


On a 300g I would be more inclined to put the MH on there.

As for which whether to use 250 or 400s, you could always put a 400 in the middle (where your most light-hungry clams and sps would go) and the 250's on the ends--- would still save you 300 watts of energy and allow you to grow all kinds of stuff.


Spend your money on GOOD REFLECTORS and not on light output--- in your case this will be a big deal on a deep tank like that. That sounds like a wonderful tank dimension--- nice and wide, long, and about the right depth.


By the way, as you research your lights, look at Melev's sight and check out his discussion on MH lights.

He reviews his reflectors and personally I would look to "mimic" what he has done.

http://www.melevsreef.com/mh_lighting.html

http://www.melevsreef.com/par_readings.html

 

[mingxu]

thanks for good information. I was told that Galaxy 400w metal halide with electronic ballast is very good, Icecap too, which better? Galaxy has 5 year warranty, Icecap has 3 years, reflactor: lumen Max Elite, very good? Lamp: Radium 400w with 20000k I heard is very good? Your experience?

 

[BigAirHarper]

redfish made some good points. Reflectors are a definitely a key part of the setup. As far as bulbs go you really need to try and find some setups so you can see what kind of look you prefer. That's an interesting idea to put a 400 in the middle and 250s on the sides. Sounds like it's a good idea and I would be interested to see what the look is like.