mh or t5

Wd40

New member
Basically what im trying to get to is if u get better color and growth with one or is a combination the best?
 
A mixture of both is what is use altho the metal halide overpower the few t5s in my canopy and I love it. I will be tryin all t5s on my 56 gallon I'm setting up. I've seen both types tanks as well as combination of both and they all look nicE. Just personal preference.
 
Just can't resist anymore

Just can't resist anymore

Ok, for 30 years I've dreamed of having a MI. I've read everything I could get my hands on since that day and lately (past few years) have followed this thread. These days (tha web!!!:lolspin:) I read what I can find on the web but there is not much more aside from a sponge requirement.

I have a 180g with 50g sump (really a 75+ gal but runs with 50) which I know is on the small side for these fish but I can not resist. I plan to have one ordered from hopefully Hawaii as this seems to be the shortest hop to Canada. I intend to have it shipped to a LFS.

The tank is mature and has been running for 4+ years. There is about 140 lbs of live rock at most with most of that LR that came from my previous 6+ year 90 gal setup. It has plenty of coralline variety and other critters growing on it.

What is the best approach to adding a MI to my tank? I have 10 chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 small powder blue and 1x 3" tomato clown (the clown worries me more then the PBT). Do I have a shot at this? Should I add a few small fish at the same time? Based on fish behaviour, it seems to me that the MI's streamer would be a prime target for fish to attack. Is this the case? Which fish should be avoided with a MI. I can't part with the PBT and realize any delicate fish (including a PBT) should be kept alone to be king for them to thrive over years).



......SORRY FOR THE LONG POST - JEEZE :bounce2:
 
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Ok, for 30 years I've dreamed of having a MI. I've read everything I could get my hands on since that day and lately (past few years) have followed this thread. These days (tha web!!!:lolspin:) I read what I can find on the web but there is not much more aside from a sponge requirement.

I have a 180g with 50g sump (really a 75+ gal but runs with 50) which I know is on the small side for these fish but I can not resist. I plan to have one ordered from hopefully Hawaii as this seems to be the shortest hop to Canada. I intend to have it shipped to a LFS.

The tank is mature and has been running for 4+ years. There is about 140 lbs of live rock at most with most of that LR that came from my previous 6+ year 90 gal setup. It has plenty of coralline variety and other critters growing on it.

What is the best approach to adding a MI to my tank? I have 10 chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 small powder blue and 1x 3" tomato clown (the clown worries me more then the PBT). Do I have a shot at this? Should I add a few small fish at the same time? Based on fish behaviour, it seems to me that the MI's streamer would be a prime target for fish to attack. Is this the case? Which fish should be avoided with a MI. I can't part with the PBT and realize any delicate fish (including a PBT) should be kept alone to be king for them to thrive over years).



......SORRY FOR THE LONG POST - JEEZE :bounce2:


I'm lost here. What's 'MI'?
 
MH all the way with 454 actinic VHO. I don't dig T-5s....too many bulbs for me to brake, i'm clumsy.
 
Ok, for 30 years I've dreamed of having a MI. I've read everything I could get my hands on since that day and lately (past few years) have followed this thread. These days (tha web!!!:lolspin:) I read what I can find on the web but there is not much more aside from a sponge requirement.

I have a 180g with 50g sump (really a 75+ gal but runs with 50) which I know is on the small side for these fish but I can not resist. I plan to have one ordered from hopefully Hawaii as this seems to be the shortest hop to Canada. I intend to have it shipped to a LFS.

The tank is mature and has been running for 4+ years. There is about 140 lbs of live rock at most with most of that LR that came from my previous 6+ year 90 gal setup. It has plenty of coralline variety and other critters growing on it.


What is the best approach to adding a MI to my tank? I have 10 chromis, 1 sixline wrasse, 1 small powder blue and 1x 3" tomato clown (the clown worries me more then the PBT). Do I have a shot at this? Should I add a few small fish at the same time? Based on fish behaviour, it seems to me that the MI's streamer would be a prime target for fish to attack. Is this the case? Which fish should be avoided with a MI. I can't part with the PBT and realize any delicate fish (including a PBT) should be kept alone to be king for them to thrive over years).



......SORRY FOR THE LONG POST - JEEZE :bounce2:

pretty sure he is referring to a morish idol, i think he posted in wrong forum and thread.


anyways.... i had a mh/t5 fixture, i am gonna try all t5 when my new tank arrives on the 17th of july, i'll have more input then, but i do know that MH put off a lot of heat, the main reason i am gonna try all t5.
 
pretty sure he is referring to a morish idol, i think he posted in wrong forum and thread.


anyways.... i had a mh/t5 fixture, i am gonna try all t5 when my new tank arrives on the 17th of july, i'll have more input then, but i do know that MH put off a lot of heat, the main reason i am gonna try all t5.

YUP!!!, wrong post (doh!)
 
I would also go with a combo mh and t5. I personally like the look. I can't live without the shimmer of the halides and the color options of the t5s.
 
IN GENERAL you get better growth from MH and better color from T5.

I used to use a 10K MH in a growout tank then move them under some T5s to color up before placing them in my display which was also T5.
 
u gotta compare MH + chiller set up to T5 set up

MH with no chiller will have wild temp swings and wont get any color.

T5 u have less heat, more choices on the color, and ....
 
Ive never needed a chiller on my tanks, and have been running halides for a long time. I currently have 2x250w over a 65g and my temp swing is ~3-4 degrees. if my tank gets too hot I just throw on another fan.
 
Ive never needed a chiller on my tanks, and have been running halides for a long time. I currently have 2x250w over a 65g and my temp swing is ~3-4 degrees. if my tank gets too hot I just throw on another fan.

and the SPS arent stressed ? good colors ?

when my temp swing goes above 1 degree I start seeing signs of stress on the SPS colonies.
 
u gotta compare MH + chiller set up to T5 set up

MH with no chiller will have wild temp swings and wont get any color.

That's a pretty blanket statement. Personally, I love the color you get out of a 20,000k radium. And I've had MH w/o a chiller and been fine. There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not you need a chiller, IMO/ IME. It's not as simple as saying if you have MH, you must have a chiller.

and the SPS arent stressed ? good colors ?

when my temp swing goes above 1 degree I start seeing signs of stress on the SPS colonies.

Had great color under MH, no stress assuming I acclimated everybody (which is true for T5's as well). My tank has a 3.5-4 degree temp swing every day, and my SPS are fine.


Anyway, either or a combination of the two can work. I prefer MH, even though I'm running T5's right now. Next tank will be straight MH.
 
I do not run a chiller on my 125 3 x250 watt mh. I kepp the ac on though. I would supplement with actinic. You cannot beat the shimmer I have t5s over one and mh over another. The mh win hands down for the shimmer. The t5s look great when actincics are on however you can use those with mh.
 

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