T5's vs Halides

[SurfOnH20]

ichth,
Opps. It helps to read he fine print..Interesting topic since my electrical bill has gone up a lot over the past few months..

 

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7068064#post7068064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ichthyojason
I currently have 2x250W HQI MH's

I'm not sure I do agree with the numbers even if you are replacing them every 6 months. The bulbs are much cheaper, and if I replaced my 2 metal halide bulbs with 6 T-5s The 6 new bulbs would be less than the replacement cost of one SE MH bulb.

In your first post you said you were running HQI, are you not running HQI bulbs? What MH bulb and reflector are you running right now? I'm just trying to get an idea of your though process. I am thinking that 2 phoenix 14k cost approx $130 - $140 and the last 1 year. Most of the guys in Europe with the T5 systems and awsome tanks run the T5 bulbs for 6 months. Keep in mind that those guys are not overdriving them with Icecap ballast like those in the US. Why are they changing them so often? It's because they say that the 18 month life is a crock and they are seeing negative changes in the corals after 6 months. T5 has a big advantage to metal halide because it gives the corals light from all sides. I personally like the shimmer that only a metal halide can give.

 

[Siapin]

I went with the "shimmer" a few months ago, and I'm never going back!!!!!!!

Honestly, MH is worth that in itself IMO!!!