T5 Vs. MH
- Thread starter jabo
- Start date
JustDisGuy
New member
I'm going to preface my remarks by stating that at this point I have no personal experience, but I've been reading tank setup information extensively for the past several weeks, from a variety of sources.
The reading I've done recently suggests that T5 isn't very good for tanks deeper than about 30". The author of those articles stated a general preference/bias toward MH. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to share with you to let you read it yourself.
For my two cents, if it's not 30"+ deep I'd go with the T5, just because of the excess heat generated by the MH lamps.
The reading I've done recently suggests that T5 isn't very good for tanks deeper than about 30". The author of those articles stated a general preference/bias toward MH. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to share with you to let you read it yourself.
For my two cents, if it's not 30"+ deep I'd go with the T5, just because of the excess heat generated by the MH lamps.
Mako Shark II
Fish are Friends not Food
L.E.D.'s?
ducklabdad
New member
I have t-5's and really like for my purposes, but if I was going to re-do my setup and when I put in a new system I will go with LED,s.
Metal Halides-Great growth, expensive to maintain, excess heat!!
But remember this is a hobby full of "opinions" you have to make your own decisions. I just think the LED is the technology to go with in the long run.
Metal Halides-Great growth, expensive to maintain, excess heat!!
But remember this is a hobby full of "opinions" you have to make your own decisions. I just think the LED is the technology to go with in the long run.
Rudolph
New member
I have t5's but I have seen MH and they are nice...with such a deep tank the MH might be the better way to go...I don't like the idea of the excess heat as mentioned earlier so I am happy with t5's MH are of course more expensive and I imagine the bulbs are as well.....also, the MH guys can chime in, you may need a chiller to keep the tank temp low if the lights are going to be in a canopy? So, more $$$....unless you can have them free hang above an open tank....then I guess the heat goes in your room? anyway, I think the biggest issue, if you are not worrying about $$, is checking the depth issue and if you have to have MH to get light to the bottom (what will be on the bottom...something that needs bright light...claims?)
mim37204
New member
I know I decided to go with LED par38's for my setup in progress, however before that I was leaning more towards T5's, but I wasn't going deeper than 18 inches. FWIW, if the tank's footprint area is small enough not to spend a fortune on the LED's they do come with a variety of optics to really penetrate the water to MH intensity even at depth.
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