Which Lighting?????
- Thread starter Don Lino
- Start date
SoundsFishy2me2
New member
Wow what a battle over heat output between T5's ande MH's!
I have had great results with florescents alone but when you add the clear shimmer of MHs I think it's "the look" to have. besides, if you have a mix of the two you can control color and reduce cost (maybe even heat) so I gotta say the combo is my pick for best. Mike just helped me last month with a new canopy for mixed lighting in one of my tanks (Thanks again pmMike!).
My vote: Combo
I have had great results with florescents alone but when you add the clear shimmer of MHs I think it's "the look" to have. besides, if you have a mix of the two you can control color and reduce cost (maybe even heat) so I gotta say the combo is my pick for best. Mike just helped me last month with a new canopy for mixed lighting in one of my tanks (Thanks again pmMike!).
My vote: Combo
SoundsFishy2me2
New member
Ah ok! 
hexedagain
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9582488#post9582488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pmike25
Hey Mike, can I get a little bit of that popcorn from ya?
GreyHawk1968
New member
I learned something to day.
If you mix MH and the T-5's together the T-5's tend to burn out faster. They don't like the added heat of the MH bulbs.
One question tho. I have seen SPS tanks with T-5's and they look good. But why is it that every big beautiful awesome display I see has MH over it?Makes you wonder. Maybe those engineer guys out there know what they are doing. Just my two cents.
If you mix MH and the T-5's together the T-5's tend to burn out faster. They don't like the added heat of the MH bulbs.
One question tho. I have seen SPS tanks with T-5's and they look good. But why is it that every big beautiful awesome display I see has MH over it?Makes you wonder. Maybe those engineer guys out there know what they are doing. Just my two cents.
plyle02
Active member
Joey,
I have used both, now using Tek t5 HO 6x54 watt w/ Geis bulbs. You are welcome to stop by and see proof of how effective they are. I have plenty of shimmer btw, blue background, and lots of top water movement provide a nice shimmering effect. It's all about personal preference, I do like being able to mix bulbs, and do not have a need for a fan or chiller. As far as heat goes, they do emit heat, but IMO, they do not seem as hot as MH's. Both are good, I really think it depends on your strategy and style of reef you are looking for. Good luck with this one bro, this thread has the potential to get ugly....LOL...
Perry
I have used both, now using Tek t5 HO 6x54 watt w/ Geis bulbs. You are welcome to stop by and see proof of how effective they are. I have plenty of shimmer btw, blue background, and lots of top water movement provide a nice shimmering effect. It's all about personal preference, I do like being able to mix bulbs, and do not have a need for a fan or chiller. As far as heat goes, they do emit heat, but IMO, they do not seem as hot as MH's. Both are good, I really think it depends on your strategy and style of reef you are looking for. Good luck with this one bro, this thread has the potential to get ugly....LOL...
Perry
WarDaddy
New member
Watt electrical (abbreviation: We) is a term that refers to power produced as electricity. SI prefixes can be used, for example megawatt electrical (MWe) and gigawatt electrical (GWe). Watt thermal (abbreviation: Wt or Wth) refers to thermal power produced; again SI prefixes can be used, for example megawatt thermal (MWt) and gigawatt thermal (GWt). These terms are used to disambiguate the electric output of a thermal power station versus the (larger) thermal output. For example, the Embalse nuclear power plant in Argentina uses a fission reactor to generate 2109 MWt of heat, which creates steam to drive a turbine, which generates 648 MWe of electricity.
mattliu
Member
mh.
it takes more t5 bulbs to generate the same light intensity, so you cannot attain as intense light and as dark as colors on sps coral. this will also limit the type of corals and clams u can keep lower in the tank.
t5 lights need great reflectors but don't have any spread so mutiple lamps are required for a homogenous look. t5 actinic stink major. they only last 6 months for sps corals, and require fans to get the most out of them. the set up aren't exactly cheap. you have to keep then very close to the water. they will get dirty faster and will transfer a ton of heat if not blown over with fans.
in terms of sps care, considering the amount of bulbs need, the changing of bulbs at 6 months, and initial set up costs, they are marginally cheaper than halides.
it takes more t5 bulbs to generate the same light intensity, so you cannot attain as intense light and as dark as colors on sps coral. this will also limit the type of corals and clams u can keep lower in the tank.
t5 lights need great reflectors but don't have any spread so mutiple lamps are required for a homogenous look. t5 actinic stink major. they only last 6 months for sps corals, and require fans to get the most out of them. the set up aren't exactly cheap. you have to keep then very close to the water. they will get dirty faster and will transfer a ton of heat if not blown over with fans.
in terms of sps care, considering the amount of bulbs need, the changing of bulbs at 6 months, and initial set up costs, they are marginally cheaper than halides.
markandkristen
Active member
the only heat thing i have come up with is vho's to me use less heat. than t5s
dobly_1999
Member
I didn't want to get involved, but...
I didn't want to get involved, but...
This is correct.
I didn't want to get involved, but...
This is correct.
GreyHawk1968
New member
Well I would rather not have an elephant step on my foot at all.
And if one does maybe a test for sight,sound and hearing might be in order. They are kinda big ya know. LOL
And if one does maybe a test for sight,sound and hearing might be in order. They are kinda big ya know. LOL
Tampa Aquarium Service
Premium Member
I have close to 100 clients with every light configuration under the sun. From original equipment low output T-12 or T-8, to T-5's. Halides in single end or double end. VHO's, and PC's. The systems I see that are most appealing color-wise and successful in growth are either MH alone or MH with VHO supplements.
You need about 5-8 watts per gallon for light-dependent soft corals and LPS corals (or 200 to 240 watts for my 36†wide 40-gallon display).
I used 4 normal output fluorescents, which are normally 30-watts paeice, but they are overdriven to about 45-watts. This provides about 180-watts, acceptable for low-light corals. The bulbs are cheap, about $6 and last several years.
I used 4 normal output fluorescents, which are normally 30-watts paeice, but they are overdriven to about 45-watts. This provides about 180-watts, acceptable for low-light corals. The bulbs are cheap, about $6 and last several years.
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