T5 of MH

[shoddyk]

I finally have the money to replace my Power Compact lighting in my 125g long. I have a 6" hood and would have to replace it if I decide on going with Metal Halide lights. I have been reading alot and I'm getting mixed opinions on T5 and MH lights. I have seen some really good looking T5 tanks and some really good looking MH tanks. Please post pictures of your T5 and Mh tanks so I can decide which one I like the best. What are your opinions on the best lighting??? Thanks

 

[shoddyk]

I forgot to tell you that I have clams, lps, and softies right now and would like to so with sps corals once I change the lights.

 

[old salty]

125g with T5s. Lots of small SPS frags, some softies, and a clam on the bottom. I have no regrets for not using MH's.

 

[Horace]

If you have softies/LPS, I would steer away from T5. T5 are best for pure SPS tanks. My softies/LPS did not care for the T5s very much and it took them along time to adjust. Now they just look OK. MH are better for them because they create more shadows and lower light areas.

 

[shoddyk]

Old Salty, how many light's are you running and what size. If I go with the T5's I think I will go with 8 x 80watt bulbs but not sure yet.

 

[old salty]

I'm using two 39 inch, six bulb TEK units. They sit on 2x4's painted black. The softies are growing very fast!!

 

[JMBoehling]

I have had no problems with my softies. I have a 90 with (04) 54 Watt T5HO's and my Zoos, GSP and LT Anemone are doing great, as are my SPS..

 

[jnb]

I had 6 bulb tek t5 and then went with 2 times 250 (which also has 2 54 watt t-5s which I only use for sunset transition) with ice cap speed variable fans.

500 watts v 234

tek hood is quieter - no noise

tek hood takes up more real estate and more difficult to get out of the way

mh hood is so much lighter and also has moonlights

some life under tek hood seem to not like so much light

mh shimmer is way cool as well as the shadows that get cast -

mh give tank more character imo in many cases

t5s imc (in my case) seem make a better photograph

I am running 20k xm bulbs which are less par than the preferred 14k (but I like the blue) running on ice cap ballast which I understand may not burn the bulbs as nicely as other ballast


T5

MH

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[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/490682005_09_24_mh_14k.jpg