T5 vs. MH

[orangekush4]

closest light to the sun is the MH.I personally would never use T5 by them selfs.The shimmer is a big thing for me.IMO T5 tanks look unnatural.I have never seen a T5 tank with frags to colony's.Most every tank out there with T5s that do have big colony's grew them with MH.I would put my money on MH for growth.

 

[happyclam]

So basically they both put out the same light and use the same wattage, its just whether you want the dispersed uniformity of T5, or the pinpointed riple of MH, with a couple pluses and minuses to each?

 

[ejpreefer]

I like my MH much better, I have had both. They give a more natural look.

 

[orangekush4]

T5 on a 660 ballast donse not last 12 months.People will use MH for years to come,I don't see them going any where.MH have been in the indoor gardening for 40 years and steel going strong.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13107115#post13107115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by orangekush4
T5 on a 660 ballast donse not last 12 months.People will use MH for years to come,I don't see them going any where.MH have been in the indoor gardening for 40 years and steel going strong.

Yea, and we have been using incandesant bulbs for over 100 years.

All these points are moot anyway because in the near future LED will be the dominate light source.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13106656#post13106656 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
So basically they both put out the same light and use the same wattage, its just whether you want the dispersed uniformity of T5, or the pinpointed ripple of MH, with a couple pluses and minuses to each?

Pretty much. The only thing is you will have an easier, and possibly cheaper time getting the right colors for your palette.

 

[serpentman]

I think the only true eventual death of MH will be LEDs or a similar technology once the technology and cost improves. Even VHOs continue to linger around as people migrate back claiming to receive better coloration over T5s. Don't get me wrong, I am always amazed at how bright they are when I see a fully lit T5 tank. I especially like the idea of them for prop setups as you get more efficient coverage over a point source light.

Me personally, I gotta have that shimmer.

 

[zachtos]

I can't say if I honestly like my T5 better then MH or not. I have a 240G SPS tank lit purely w/ T5, never used MH on this tank. I have great growth, but I feel poor coloration in the polyps. The real issue is water quality. I can' t say for sure because keeping the nutrients ultra low is a huge battle in my 500G+ water volume heavily stocked system.