MH or T5 for 90g?

[ACBlinky]

I'd like to ask some opinions. I was thinking of a 2 x 150W MH with either T5, VHO or PC actinics, but just came across a pretty good deal for a Current Nova Extreme 8 x 54W T5 fixture (4 actinic, 4 10K). Should I grab this fixture while it's available, or wait until I find a good MH setup?
Note: There will be lots of open sand in the new tank, and silly as it might sound I REALLY want to see glitter lines. Am I correct that only MH produces them? If T5s make glitter lines, and they're just as bright, I'll grab this fixture while it's available.

Thanks!

 

[raddogz]

You don't get glitter lines with T-5's.

 

[ACBlinky]

That makes the decision for me then, thank you! Now it's off to search for a good MH fixture...

 

[hypermikie]

PM me the good deal on the T-5's if you don't want them!!

 

[tkeracer619]

MMM shimmer. I love shimmer.

 

[pop-i]

Try Marinedepot.com for one of their Coral Life retro-fits if you have a hood or one of the complete hoods. i just purchased one of their retrofits for my 90 for like $650 and it is the best lighting system ever coupled with coral lifes special timer. It come with night time LED, 2X96 W actinics and 2X150 W HQI MH. Here's a link to the pro fixtures http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_coralife_aqualight_pro.asp?CartId= . Check out the retro fits if you already have hood to toss it into.

 

[aquarius77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8324658#post8324658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pop-i
Try Marinedepot.com for one of their Coral Life retro-fits if you have a hood or one of the complete hoods. i just purchased one of their retrofits for my 90 for like $650 and it is the best lighting system ever coupled with coral lifes special timer. It come with night time LED, 2X96 W actinics and 2X150 W HQI MH. Here's a link to the pro fixtures http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_coralife_aqualight_pro.asp?CartId= . Check out the retro fits if you already have hood to toss it into.

That is a beautiful light!

 

[ACBlinky]

Thanks! I haven't purchased the 90g yet, so a hood is certainly an option.

Hypermikie, the deal is on a fixture a reefer here in Toronto bought but can't use - it's pick-up only, so unless you're coming to visit our city it won't work. Sorry about that!

 

[Fcataudo]

I have a 90 just got MH and t-5 combo. The setup rocks. Look into get a combo well worth it.

 

[plandy]

I like both setups. But for my new, under construction, 90 gallons I chose Evo's Extreme T5 lighting. I prefer the design-follows-function approach. The price of the shimmer is too great in order to sacrifice benefits T5 has to offer.

 

[Nano Chris]

Haha i just got one of those coralife aqualight pro retros me happy it came in 2 boxes 2 different days because ups screwed up the deliverys. It looks great i have to get timers though, may i suggest not going with the coralife timers, can cause a fire, im going to Harbor Fraight to see if they have the heavy duty timers for $3.99 each still.

 

[Bebo77]

i used to run only mh on my 300 but i gotta tell you the color combos with T5's make them soo much better then MH's... so you lose the shimmer lines .. your tank will look better with T5's anyways...

 

[jsdratm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8327870#post8327870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Criminal#58369
It looks great i have to get timers though, may i suggest not going with the coralife timers, can cause a fire, im going to Harbor Fraight to see if they have the heavy duty timers for $3.99 each still.

I believe the fire problem was only happening with the analog dial timers, not the newer digital models.

 

[flameangel88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8327968#post8327968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsdratm
I believe the fire problem was only happening with the analog dial timers, not the newer digital models.

Crap! I'm running their dual analog timer with 4X54W and the single analog timer with MH & dual actinic for 12 hrs a day. Do you know how often this have happened?

 

[jsdratm]

I think it is pretty rare, but you might want to replace yours with the new digital model just in case. They are a lot nicer anyways and have a built-in battery to retain the time and programming if power is lost.

 

[flameangel88]

jsdratm, thanks for the info.

 

[ACBlinky]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8327920#post8327920 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
... so you lose the shimmer lines

It's a hard call, because I hear so many great things about T5s. Maybe it sounds silly, but I really REALLY want to see those gorgeous lines on the sand and if MH is what will give me that, I'm going with MH

 

[theatrus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8329718#post8329718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ACBlinky
It's a hard call, because I hear so many great things about T5s. Maybe it sounds silly, but I really REALLY want to see those gorgeous lines on the sand and if MH is what will give me that, I'm going with MH

Go with both Nothing is wrong with actinics.

 

[stereomandan]

It's hard to go wrong with MH. Either is a great choice.

T5 super actinics on an Icecap Dynamic Ballast and reflectors is an inexpensive way to get very nice actinic supplimentation.

Dan

 

[pop-i]

I've got MH running with PC and I still get the beautiful glitter lines. I've seen tanks that have T5's instead of PC's and they have the glitter lines too. Go with both, that way you'll get to have the "twilight" effect of actinic T5's.