MH vs. T5

CaptainFlyingFishGuts

CaptainFlyingFishGuts

Rock Arranger
Premium Member
I need some advice. I'm setting up a 120g tech tank. I'm interesed in setting up a mixed reef and keeping SPS mostly, but a few LPS and a clam or two. I had decided that I wanted to get the coralife 48" Aqualite Pro 2x250W MH with actinics fixture. So I called an internet site to see if they can get that light and they said they are stopping carrying the Coralife lights and that they were on the low end of lighting fixtures. She then suggested a couple other MH fixtures and mentioned a few T5 fixtures.

So now I'm confused and need some guidance. I was under the impression that T5 fixtures limited you to what corals you could keep (no sps), but were cheaper in the long run due to the bulb price and electric usage. Am I going to be coral limited? The tank is only 24" deep. Does anyone have 24" deep sps tank pics run with T5 fixtures?

So I'm considering the ATI 8 bulb Powermodule if I go T5. I'm not sure what to get if I go with MH. The $900 for the ATI fixture is at the very top of what I want to spend. Does anyone out there have the 48" Aqualite Pro? What is your opinion on it's quality / performance?

I'm also wondering if watts = light output? I'm guessing not due to the efficiency of the bulb. So does a T5 fixture put out as much light as a 2x 250W fixture?

I realized I've asked a lot of questions. Hoping for some guidance.
 
i have an ati powermodule 6 bulb on top of my 90, they are really nice fixtures and the colors on my corals are great, i am really happy with t5, i have mostly sps, here is a photo

DSC01397.jpg


good luck

sana
 
Do you have a FTS pic with the light showing? I'm interested in what it looks like with legs vs. hanging. I'm hoping to use legs on whatever light I get.
 
Watts is definitely not light output, look into PAR readings.
T5 is a very good alternative to MH, better if you factor in the lower elec. usage and heat output, but you loose the shimmering effect.. :)
Take a look at the TOTM's, they have some examples of T5 SPS tanks.
 
Just looking at the bulbs I would have thought the tank would look blue but the colors really Sana.
 
T5HO vote right here.

i just pieced out a pretty nice 8x54 T5HO retro setup with bulbs for $504 from DIYREEF. not too bad and you could grow anything.
 
I prefer MH myself, but there are tons of people (including myself) that run T5's and have no problem keeping SPS. I actually had a hard time getting my orange cap acclimated to the T5's without bleaching.

The ATI PM would be a great fixture if you plan on going T5's. Best T5 fixture out there, with the exception of the Sfiligoi fixtures.

Here's just one of a couple of different threads from the SPS forum, Who's using T5 HO's, and there are some pretty impressive T5 SPS tanks.

I also agree with the comment about the MH fixtures vs. MH retros. If I were going the MH route, I retro something with some good quality reflectors into a hood.
 
Ok, I think I'm sold on T5's now. Lots of good tanks out there keeping SPS and running T5's. I'm going to go with an ATI PM with 8 bulbs. Thanks phenom5 and SonnyX for the advice.
 
T5HO with quality reflectors are every bit as good as 250MH lighting, down to about 26" of depth. I have a 75, predominately SPS, with a 6 bulb T5HO Tek5 fixture above it. I'm growing some of the highest light demanding SPS 2/3 of the way down the tank. No heat issues, better color combination choices, lower power consumption....I love it. I also recommend Reefgeek.
 
Look into the ATI Sunpower, and save your self some $$$$!

I just switched from a 250 watt Radium(3 months old) in a LumenBright reflector driven by a Lumatek ballast(needless to say this is some of the top of the line MH stuff creating HIGH par for a 250 watt setup) and my T-5 setup is bleaching my SPS even with the fixture at 14" above the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also my chiller has yet to turn on since the switch!!!!

Btw I have the ATI 6 lamp Sunpower, and LOVE it!!!!!

I have seen both the PowerModule and Sunpower in person, and as for as performance......the sunpower hangs right beside the powermodule!!! The power module does have a nice stainless steel housing and a fan per pair of bulbs, but the Sunpower has the SAME reflectors, a fan per 3ish bulbs, and a very nice lightweight aluminum housing.......

Oh and as for as fans go........you have the ability to turn the speed of the fans up or down. I have mine 1/2 way up(as reccomended by GRIM) so they can easily handle what ever you throw at them!!!

Hope this helps........as I have always been a fan of Metal Halide, but must say, I think the times are changing!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for the tip on the sunpower. I'm still leaning towards the Powermodule unless they make a 7 or 8 lamp (preferrably 8) fixture. With the tank width being 24", I feel I need the extra two lamps. It sure is a lot cheaper though. Just fans and two lights are all that's different?
 
Sana's tank pretty much kills the debate over whether T5's can keep SPS or not.

I have SPS under T5s--- it was a 10 gallon tank for 8 months and I just upgraded it to a 25-tall, so I don't have any pics yet. It's only a 4X24.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15303402#post15303402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phenom5


FWIW, I highly recommend ReefGeek. Great prices & customer service.
Click to expand...
'


Agreed!!!




For light tube combos, there is a T5 Q&A thread that you will get some good responses, but please know that not all T5's are created the same. Stick with brands like UVL, ATI, Gieseman, Korralin-Zucht, and a few others.

If you go with a 6-bulb unit, I highly highly recommend you try out the Korralin-Zucht Fiji Purple in your combo. It's a red/blue bulb that looks purple to the human eye, but puts out a TON of PAR and looks wonderful, especially in combo with ATI Blue-plus and ATI Aquablue Specials.
 
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