SPS Experts: Can you recommend a good MH/T5 fixture?

[Zstriker]

I know LEDs are the thing right now, but I am not ready to jump on the bandwagon....I currently run a ATI sunpower, but miss Metal Halide - Any recommendations of a good MH/T5 fixture? If you are currently using one, please let me know your experience with SPS color and growth!

Thanks!

 

[elegance coral]

Any of them will "work", and work well. Personally, I'd stay away from the MH/T5 fixtures though. They're typically HQI MH's with small reflectors, and cheap parts. I'd go mogal base MH's in one of the larger, quality reflectors, and a good retrofit T5 kit.

 

[jackson6745]

Giesmann fixtures are excellent. They have single and double ended halide/T5 fixtures. They are expensive new but I see them selling for less than half retail thanks to the LED craze

 

[stevedola]

x2 Giesmann

 

[oscar.millan]

Sfiligoi and Giesmann would be my only two pics. Current USA was my first and it was clearly an entry to mid level fixture.

May want to look at T5/LED as well.

 

[aqua80]

+ 1 t5/led combo

Love my giesemann spectra (mh/t5)
But for my new tank will go T5/LED
with your powermodule you could just add 1 or 2 reefbrite leds stripes

what did you miss from MH ? shimmer ?

 

[t4zalews]

Giesemann makes a nice unit but you can build you're own canopy and have all the fixtures for cheaper and you have what you want.

 

[Stolireef]

I have the Hamilton Belize and like it. That said, I am a little sorry I didn't go with the Geisman for the extra set of t5s.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[trueblackpercula]

x2 giesmann

x3

 

[oscar.millan]

Building your own is easier said than done. The beauty of a fixture is the easy of setup, clean cabling, and easy mounting. Having done both there are pros and cons, not sure I'm sold on one solution over the other.

 

[franklypre]

why not just throw some stunner strips or DIY LEDs on the T5 fixture. It should give it the shimmer atleast. As far as t5/halides, the best IMO is an Icecap 250/400wDE pendant w/pheonix or a 20k w T5 actinics for supplement. That said I like the halide LED combo almost as well.

 

[Steve175]

x4 for Giesemann Spectra. My growth with my 400W Spectra makes me ignore the LED threads

 

[Zstriker]

I guess to confess - the whole reason I want to go back to metal halide, is that I think my sps corals had a little deeper color....colors are great under the sunpower, but they are pastel....and yes- I have spent the last two years trying to balance nutrient import/export in order to minimize the pastelness (probably not a word)....

I'll look into the giesemann spectra....one worry is - they don't seem to run fans.....how much heat is the 250watt raising your water temp....and don't the t5s over heat quite easily?

Thanks guys!

 

[dowtish]

Your ATI fixture is not causing your corals to be pale.

And just FYI, if you add LED to a T5, the T5's will kill the the shimmer when all of them are on.

But for the initial question. Do you have a canopy on your tank? If so, DIY would serve you better, but if not Geissmen is the way to go.

 

[Zstriker]

Any suggestions of where to find a giesemann spectra used? Price is steep...$1600....decisions, decisions

 

[REEF SMAC]

I think this fixture is pretty nice looking as well.


http://coralvue.com/lumen-brightt5led-fixture/


I don't personally have this exact fixture but I do have the Lumenbright pendants and love them.

 

[letsgrow34]

I bought a used current t5/mh fixture a few months ago. I love it. The fans are a little noisy but that doesnt bother me. I am running 2 brand new pheonix 14k 250w de bulbs and 2 giesemann pure actinic 48" t5 and 2 ati blue plus bulbs and moonlights as well. I paid 200 used from local reef club site and its plenty of light and great price with great color and growth!

 

[JPMagyar]

Initially I wasn't going to say anything, but truly I can't resist. I happen to have 2 outdated PFO fixtures that are proven winners so if you have a 48 inch tank and you want the best of the best just send me a PM

Joe :beer:

 

[Zstriker]

Initially I wasn't going to say anything, but truly I can't resist. I happen to have 2 outdated PFO fixtures that are proven winners so if you have a 48 inch tank and you want the best of the best just send me a PM

Joe :beer:

Joe- Thank you for the offer, but decided to pull the plug and have a giesemann spectra on ordered. Hopefully, I won't be disappointed, but it appears to have been recommended by many.

Amazing tank btw- I do however enjoy the look of your new t5/MH combo fixtures, much more sleek!

 

[davidgnome]

Joe I would be interested in both those.