going back to mH
 

I'm thinking of selling my T5 fixture and going back to mH. I have a 5 ft (120-130 g) tank and found some units on ebay that look ok.

I was thinking of either going with a 2x250w config with t5 actinics or a 2x150w config with t5 actinics. I only have softies now so that's why I am considering the 150w x 2 for energy saving purposes. However, I would also like better growth for my corals so would the 250 x2 be better?

In addition, I am debating between 10000k and 14000k. What do most of you use? I don't like the yellow at all and prefer white with a slight blue tinge. Is 14000k a happy medium or will 10000ks and t5 actinics do the trick? Any pictures that show the difference out there? My corals don't have a lot of color to them (everything looks pinkish) so would like lighting that brings out good color.

In the used 250 W MH set-up I got a set of 10000K Ushio bulbs and 10000K Aqua-line bulbs. I hoped two 54W actinics would off-set the yellow. Not even close for either bulb. I bought 14000K Phoenix's the next day. Whether it is 10000K or 14000K IME the actinics are totally overpowered by the MH's and do not accent the corals at all when the MH are on. My actinics only come on when the MH's go out for a dusk to dawn effect.

On the topic of 150W vs 250W. How deep it your tank? 24 inches? Go with 250W and save a future upgrade down the road if you catch sps fever.

FYI: 14000 K Phoenix bulbs are one of the most popular DE MH bulbs on the market. Some people find them "too blue." I will buy them again.

why do you not like the T5's?

You have to know your MH bulbs in order to create a good combination of MH/T5. Ushio 250W 10KK peak at 420 nm. If you used actinic T5's that also peak at 420 nm, you didn't get any benefit from the T5's in terms of color. Try to get T5 bulbs that peak at 450 nm/460 nm.
Sajay's lighting DB is a good site to look up your MH bulb spectrum.

I was using SE Ushio 14k 400w on HQI ballasts and loved them. Very crisp white, no yellow even without T5's.

I have 3 250W on my 5' tank. 150g and love it. I had 2 but not enough spread. You could see the hole left in the middle and it faded off fast at the ends of the tank. 3 150w may be ok. I am running 2 DE 14k Phoenix and LOVE the color. the 3rd is a SE 15K Plusrite, it's Far more red than the Phoenix fro sure.. more like a 9K maybe?

I don't mind the T5s, they are working great but I went to a fellow members home to purchase some corals and noticed his corals were growing out of control. He had mushrooms spreading like ivy across his tank. He had mH lights. I have an 8 bulb T5 that is doing the job just fine but my coral growth is somewhat limited. i guess the seed has been planted in my head that mH lights will provide better coral growth-soft or hard.

pterfloth- I was planning on buying your system but it is a bit long (6 ft) and wayyy too much wattage for me. You must have a black belt in the art of saltwater aquariums. I'm just a relative newby.

The Ushio 14Ks are very white... no yellow, but they really do need a bit of extra blue IMO.

My previous bulbs were 400W Ushios and I found them just a tad too white. The 400s were so powerful supplemental light had no effect.

Since switching to 250W Ushios I've supplemented them with 1 Actinic+ and 1 Fiji Purple T5 and I've been reasonably happy with the color. I'm thinking of switch out the Actinic+ for a pure actinic, just to get a tiny bit more blue.

If you want to show off and enhance your pinks... Fiji Purple!

I will definitely take that as a complement. :) Actually, 2-400w Mh would look darn good over your tank. That's what I used to run on my 120. Personally, I don't think we can ever provide too much light for SPS, nor could we ever come close giving them as much light as they see in nature. I just switched to 1468w over my 6 ft 200 and it is definitely not too much light. I guess I am to lights what asmodeus is to skimmers. :)

BTW, if you are interested in 2x400w, have I got a deal for you!

How big is the 2x400 unit?

Also, this is the unit I was looking at on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/60-Metal-Halide-250-T5-HO-Aquarium-Light-Lunars-NEW_W0QQitemZ170441064647QQihZ007QQcategoryZ46314Q QcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3D LVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D4%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7711 656521745857106[/url]

Anyone know anything about this? Is it worth it? Seems pretty cheap