Lighting Poll

[BCOrchidGuy]

To get an accurate comparison you'd need to measure output from the lights at different depths in different shaped tanks and on and on and on. You'd also need to compare lights at the same power consumption and MEASURE the power usage and give results in a par/watt ratio I think you'd also need to find out how much power it takes to get the same par value from each fixture because increases in light is not linear (IE a 350watt MH will not give you twice as much light as a 175). You'd also need to use comparable quality and how the heck do you measure quality? A 400 watt Home depot MH yard light will not compare with a 400watt MH top of the line German set up and of couse a 25 watt T5 from Home depot will not comare with any of the better T5 set ups. Companies pay people big money to interpret test results to validate or support their opinions and product. Just look at the bit salt war over the years s-15 I believe. I think it's an interesting thread, being old and stubborn I still like MH but remember MH doesn't need to be on all day, a MH lamp will supply the needed light for most corals in a few hours (4-6). If I'm not mistaken (again) MH is supposed to simulate noon day sun, IE sun overhead not dawn till dusk. When I do my next tank I think I'll do the 250HQI MH for 6 hours and have PC 50/50 for 14 hours a day.

Doug