Are MH's really the way to go

[Snappy]

I would recommend starting with M/H as most reefs tend to evolve over time. It has been my experience that few hobbiests stay only with the exact types of corals that they started with. As both your tank and experience in the hobby grows, your tastes will likely change somewhat. If you decide later that a tank with just softies no longer 'floats your boat' and you want to give sps, clams or other light demanding items a try, you will be ready for whatever you want to keep in your reef without having to spend extra loot upgrading. (been there, done that)

[bnhreef]

Hey Cam,

Did you use my Advise and buy those MH's in Calgary?

Brad

[Bravoman]

Cam,

Its my experience that bnhreef knows what he's talking about.

I'd do what he says and stick to the Metal Halides if you want to have as beautiful and sucessfull a reef as bnhreef has.

Good luck. (Although..... with bnhreef showing you the way, you won't need it!)

Bravo

[Buccaneer]

I have 400W MH on my tank and I do like the shimmer effect of MH bulbs ... however to say MH are a necessity is inaccurate

check out this SPS/LPS tank run on T5's

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Buk_A_neer

I have 400W MH on my tank and I do like the shimmer effect of MH bulbs ... however to say MH are a necessity is inaccurate

check out this SPS/LPS tank run on T5's

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

I don't think it has much to do with his lighting but rather all the other junk he doses daily, weekly, monthly... I never did find the part where he said how old the tank is.. might have just missed it. I think with more light he could dose less as he was saying that he can adjust the color from brown (from dosing to much ) to vivid from dosing the right amount.. also reading the picture files a little photo shop doesn't hurt either, in fact there is so much hue shift and saturation in one he has a green and lime sailfin tang, and a teal powder blue tang.

Steve

[Buccaneer]

What he doses the tank with has little to do with what corals need in terms of light intensity IMO ... Like I said I have MH but they are not a necessity

He has reduced excess nutrients to allow the colours to be more vivid but just uses T5's for light

Therefore MH are NOT required for SPS

[Ruth]

I didn't read the whole thread either although I have read a lot of it before. If I am not mistaken all of his T5 are on individual reflectors and are HO and changed out every 6-8 months. He also has a whole whack of them on that tank.
I think at the end of the day you will probably spend more on his system than you will on a good MH system and even with increased electrical consumption the cost of replacement bulbs alone will balance that out.