Whats the most dominant successful Light fixture for SPS? Metal Halide or ATI T5 ????

[luk81a]

Wanted peoples opinion on best lighting for SPS dominant reef tanks. Seen a lot of great looking tanks using both T5 & MH. Currently have Aqua Medic Ocean Light plus w/ 2x150w MH & 2xT5. Thinking instead of LED's, go back to T5 unit for SPS tank. ATI power module 8x54w or 6x80w?

 

[110galreef]

Personally I feel MH is the best for growth, replacement cost, shimmer and color.
Down side is heat, and electricity use.


T-5 works excellent for growth and colors, but no shimmer, lower heat and less electricity
Lots of bulbs to replace but can fine tune color spectrum

LED, higher start up cost, lower electric and replacement cost.
I don't feel 100% there yet overall. Many have succesful SPS tanks with LED's tho.
DIY is the way to go!

All 3 can and will work, all have pros and cons, just have to figure out what makes sense for your setup. Some mixing of the technologies works great to.

 

[d2mini]

I've always preferred a nice MH/T5 combo unit.
Great par, great color and shimmer.

 

[Allmost]

JMO ... but if low nutritions, T5.

if higher nutritions, then MH.

higher the nutritions, the more intense and longer lighting, will compensate for corals browning and will make them look more colorfull / less brown.

other way, Very low nutritions, and too intense light will bleach the already pale corals. so less lighting for shorter period can lead to better results.

for T5 only set up though Id go half white bulbs at least to get the par and growth ... for my 10 bulb set up I use 5 white, 1 purple and 4 actinic.

so just my opinion.

 

[Dexters Reef]

My setup is working pretty well, best of both worlds. 2x250 Phoenix 14k MH, and 4 T5HO (from back to front is 2 ATI Blue+, ATI Purple +, ATI Blue +)

The MH is there to provide growth and the majority of the light, and I was able to fine tune the spectrum by choosing my own 4 bulb T5 combination

Also have a Ecoxotic Stunner LED Strip, I believe it is 440NM. This is slightly noticable when all the other lights are on, but when the MH goes off it is more noticeable and helps the colors pop. I love looking at the tank around 9PM when this LED strip is the only lighting, it looks awesome, but is impossible to photograph accurately

 

[stevedola]

MH is great for growth and with supplementation can get great color.
T5 will give good growth (not as good as MH) but the color combos are amazing
LED- not a fan.

 

[stevedola]

MH is great for growth and with supplementation can get great color.
T5 will give good growth (not as good as MH) but the color combos are amazing
LED- not a fan.

 

[a.browning]

I am really happy with color and growth from my ATI Sunpower. Not that it can't be done, but I'm personally not that impressed with LEDs. I'm sticking with T5s for now.

 

[karsseboom]

Now are we comparing t5s in genral or the ati fixture?

I would have to say ati fixtures are the best fixture for sps growth and colors.

Mh is used more and probably the best lighting source for sps but the fixtures are all over the place and I can't say for sure one is better then the other. MH do really well in lumen bright pendents and have some serous par and spread. Then you get into which bulbs to buy and so but its pretty consistant that both are going to give you great results and the other puzzle is on your ability.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I am going to say

 

[trueblackpercula]

A combination of metal halides and LED will be the next wave of lighting. Until the LED lightfixtures advance and they will, I am going to say they probably will be the best single source in less then 2 years. But for now I have a 400 20k radium with vho lighting and love it.

 

[jpacker1508]

Recently upgraded from a single 250w 20K with 2x65w pc actinic. To a Current OuterOrbit 2X250 20K, 4X39 T5 Actinic. Has been a slow transition but corals are doing nicely and have had very few that haven't LOVED the new light after acclimation. I may go LED someday probably a DIY project, but until then I don't think you can beat MH if you can handle the heat they give off.

 

[luk81a]

Awesome replies guys thanks for the advise. Now next topic... what MH are good? cant get radium or pheonix bulbs here in Australia but have the XM bulbs. Arnt they chinese? supposed to have good wraps too. however I might just have to buy online from Marine Depot maybe. So 20K radiums (if I can find them) or Pheonix 14k I like the blue appearence

 

[luk81a]

I want to grow sps at depth of 1.5 feet down in a 2 foot deep tank. Is this possible using 2x 150w halide plus 2x 54w actinic?

 

[luk81a]

I want to grow sps at depth of 1.5 feet down in a 2 foot deep tank. Is this possible using 2x 150w HQI halide plus 2x 54w actinic?

 

[sirreal63]

I want to grow sps at depth of 1.5 feet down in a 2 foot deep tank. Is this possible using 2x 150w HQI halide plus 2x 54w actinic?

Yes but to get good par that low you will need to use 10k bulbs and use the T5's to help make the appearance more to your liking.

 

[this is me]

I have the best luck with MH and T5 combo. Specifically, 250W DE Phoenix 14K and 4 24W UVL super actinic.
I would go with 250DE and not have to worry about if I have enough light for sps at the bottom of the tank.

 

[biggles]

Radium Australia are 10 mins drive from my home in Melbourne. I rang them and they gave me the closest home lighting store that they deal with - 5 mins away and i now buy my Radiums from a home lighting store. Ring them on 03 94013777 and i'm sure they can hook you up with a retail outlet in Sydney if you want to run Radium bulbs.

 

[trueblackpercula]

There is always @bay.com

 

[Laddy]

I know it's sort of "old fashion" these days, but a good Metal Halide 10k or 14k with 2, 3, or 4 VHO 420nm give a great color and contrast. Best of luck.