[Funky_Fish14]

Yeah but steve....the MH will give a much lower PAR rating off to the side of the tank than it would directly below the bulb. Take a reading to a side of your MH and not pointing at it...

Also, you said that the T5 Is just more heat in a smaller bulb but they emit LESS heat, thats what they were designed to do, emit more light and less heat than a startard T12. Also, that coloration you are talking about isnt necessarily all actinic. Who says everyone has 4 actinic and 2 daylight bulbs? I dont know if you read my post, but like I said, some people on RC switched to T5 lights from MH on 24" deep tanks and some of the corals that used to be at bottom were getting too much light and did better shaded under the T5s.

Also, these guys went to lower wattages of T5 compared to what they had in MH.

Yeah the T5 wont give the shimmer.

Also, T5 NO's from what I have heard and seen from everyone are crap...plain and simple. And T5 are useless(well not uselesss, but much more light is directed into the tank) without SLR(Single Lamp Reflectors).

Chris