MH power bill???
- Thread starter blakeorme
- Start date
cilyjr
Active member
i never have had a chiller...the person who posted that lives in miami where i am sure it is much warmer than ohio... do you keep the tempature in your house very warm? is the sump and or tank in a small enclosed area...lots of factors will make a difference..
i have a single fan that blows across the sump to my system and it keeps the temp down where it needs to be!
i have a single fan that blows across the sump to my system and it keeps the temp down where it needs to be!
blakeorme
New member
Ahh... The confusion continues. The statement "T5's are more energy efficient" is what I'm stuck on. To light my tank I would need at least a 8-10 bulb T5 fixture. Thus, x2 250watt MH pendants seemed as easy and cost efficient with the "shimmer effect" as an added bonus. Plus, the intial cost is less than the $1200 ATI T5 fixture. Lower start up cost, equal electric bill, shimmer effect, and similiar bulb replacement cost (8 month 2 bulb, vs. the 12month 10 bulb)
IMO, the MH's may be slightly more efficient and create a nice shimmer effect with the lighting. Many people think they are worth it just for this shimmer effect.
However, I have a slight preference for T-5s because they provide more uniform illumination. MHs don't light the tank as consistiently and I have more problems with them, whith regards to corals being shaded out, or not getting enough light, or one side of a coral dying back, because it isn't getting enough light etc...
My biggest complaint with T-5s are that you have to replace way too many lightbulbs. I like being able to just replace one or two and not having to keep track of 8-10...
However, I have a slight preference for T-5s because they provide more uniform illumination. MHs don't light the tank as consistiently and I have more problems with them, whith regards to corals being shaded out, or not getting enough light, or one side of a coral dying back, because it isn't getting enough light etc...
My biggest complaint with T-5s are that you have to replace way too many lightbulbs. I like being able to just replace one or two and not having to keep track of 8-10...
da1jewfish
New member
My single 175 watt MH light costs me in my area Lake wORTH, FL approx $20/month
blakeorme
New member
My concern was on the opposite side. I was concerned that with the bigger T5 10 bulb fixtures that it would be harder to find homes for some lower light corals.
On cost, maybe the increased heat with the MH's will off-set some of the heat costs I'll experience from the lovely Ohio winters.
p.s. just moved from Orlando, FL. Thats what inspired the new tank build.
On cost, maybe the increased heat with the MH's will off-set some of the heat costs I'll experience from the lovely Ohio winters.
p.s. just moved from Orlando, FL. Thats what inspired the new tank build.
How do you snowboard in FL? Is that a new hobby? :lol: I like snowboarding, but would give it up in an instant for the nice warm weather of FL :lol:
Anyway back to reefing... I haven't had any problems with low-light corals and T-5s, but have had problems with low light corals and MHs. Don't know exactly why, but I think that t-5 light is sufficient, but less intense than MHs, so it isn't such a problem. Also, MHs may produce more UV light, which may irritate some corals, but I'll have to admit that that is a debatable topic.
MHs can help heat the tank some, but so can t-5s. I think Icecap has a fan on a temp sensor that turns on at a set temperature, something like that is great for the more varied climate states such as Ohio.
Anyway back to reefing... I haven't had any problems with low-light corals and T-5s, but have had problems with low light corals and MHs. Don't know exactly why, but I think that t-5 light is sufficient, but less intense than MHs, so it isn't such a problem. Also, MHs may produce more UV light, which may irritate some corals, but I'll have to admit that that is a debatable topic.
MHs can help heat the tank some, but so can t-5s. I think Icecap has a fan on a temp sensor that turns on at a set temperature, something like that is great for the more varied climate states such as Ohio.
on the spot
Active member
Welcome to the middle, and thanks for spanking the stepchild*, he was getting a bit full of himself.
Being a fan of MH, I'd go that way. There is a very large thread here on the Lumen Bright reflector, if you haven't committed to one reflector over another you should give it a read. The nuts of the thread goes you raise the bulbs up higher, less heat transfer to the water, and better illumination.
*MSU
Being a fan of MH, I'd go that way. There is a very large thread here on the Lumen Bright reflector, if you haven't committed to one reflector over another you should give it a read. The nuts of the thread goes you raise the bulbs up higher, less heat transfer to the water, and better illumination.
*MSU
azrednex
New member
When you are doing power consumption calculations ,disregard the wattage output of a lamp and instead multiply the amperage of the ballast by the supply voltage. This is the actual power draw(wattage) of the fixture. There is sometimes large differences due to the fact that electronic ballast are way efficient in comparison to mag type
I had an 8 bulb t5 setup, and switched to 2x250w MH. My canopy is open top, and I get about 1/2 gal more evap a day with the MH, but the temp stays the same. I don't use any fans either. Most T5 setups come with built in fans, so I don't think the power draw would be much different. I'm alot happier with the MH, but there are alot of people happy with t5's. Go look at both, they are both good options. It comes down to personal preference.
Megabite
Member
Welcome to Orlando! I moved here 5 years ago.
I replaced my T-5's with MH. Couldn't live without the glimmer. So yes, I bought things twice and not just with the lighting. I tried to be frugal with my money when buying equipment at the beginning and ended up spending MUCH more due to it.
As for lights, I have 3 250 HQI with electronic ballasts on my 180 and couldn't be happier. I replaced the cheap reflectors I bought originally with the ones below. HUGE difference in light distribution. There's light everywhere in the tank now. The smaller reflectors tend not to be efficient. I have a chiller but it barely turns on. I have a cheap $5 fan from wallmart blowing the sump and a couple of 5" fans in canopy all hooked up to an AC JR (highly recommend a controller BTW). I keep the temp in the house about 78 - 79 and the tank at about 79.5.
Sunlight Supply Lumen Max Elite HQI 250W Fixture
Dimensions: 11" L x 11.5†W x 5†H
I replaced my T-5's with MH. Couldn't live without the glimmer. So yes, I bought things twice and not just with the lighting. I tried to be frugal with my money when buying equipment at the beginning and ended up spending MUCH more due to it.
As for lights, I have 3 250 HQI with electronic ballasts on my 180 and couldn't be happier. I replaced the cheap reflectors I bought originally with the ones below. HUGE difference in light distribution. There's light everywhere in the tank now. The smaller reflectors tend not to be efficient. I have a chiller but it barely turns on. I have a cheap $5 fan from wallmart blowing the sump and a couple of 5" fans in canopy all hooked up to an AC JR (highly recommend a controller BTW). I keep the temp in the house about 78 - 79 and the tank at about 79.5.
Sunlight Supply Lumen Max Elite HQI 250W Fixture
Dimensions: 11" L x 11.5†W x 5†H
goldmaniac
New member
I just switched from a dual 150w hqi metal halide hood to an 8x54w t5 setup for my 48"x24"x24" tank. without a canopy, my temperature went from 83 to 78.
T5's are more efficient than metal halides, seems like lots of experts forget/ignore this. so 400 w of T5's would produce more overall light than 400w of a metal halide. (there's exceptions, of course, the best metal halides w/ electronic ballasts could very well be just as efficient or more so, big $$, beyond my budget) In metal halides, more % of electricity is converted into heat, as opposed to light, in general.
As for the tank, my corals seem to like the overall light better than metal halids. The zoas and rics gobble up the light while sitting on the floor of the tank. I miss the shimmer, but if I really want it back, i'll just buy a LED spotlight addition to make the shimmer:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~CU01643~idCategory~FILTFILDLK.html
T5's are more efficient than metal halides, seems like lots of experts forget/ignore this. so 400 w of T5's would produce more overall light than 400w of a metal halide. (there's exceptions, of course, the best metal halides w/ electronic ballasts could very well be just as efficient or more so, big $$, beyond my budget) In metal halides, more % of electricity is converted into heat, as opposed to light, in general.
As for the tank, my corals seem to like the overall light better than metal halids. The zoas and rics gobble up the light while sitting on the floor of the tank. I miss the shimmer, but if I really want it back, i'll just buy a LED spotlight addition to make the shimmer:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...~idProduct~CU01643~idCategory~FILTFILDLK.html
GSMguy
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13576009#post13576009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dukenukem
Either way, you're going to get opinions from both sides, and end up no where. Look at both types, and choose which ones you prefer. Hallides do put out heat, but I believe the lighting is more appealing. However, the efficiency of the T5 is great. Why not do both
MH and t5 watt for watt heat the tank equally a watt is a watt is a watt .
Metal halide is the most efficent form of artificial light available for aquariums
They do work well together
blakeorme
New member
I really like the Lumen Max Elite; I was looking at just running x2 250watt"ers" and calling it a day. The tank is rimless and I wanted it to "flow"(pun intended) with the rest of the living room. The elites look to have a quality build for form and function. Suggestions on a quality dual 250 electronic ballast?? ...The funny part is, I'm looking at lights when I can't even seem to get the rocks to "sit" where I want them to. They seem to fall in place better than I can place them.
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