24" depth, who runs t5, who runs MH?

[digital-audiophile]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

(oh, and Greg, you need MH too)

LOL!!!! Brad, That still gives me a chuckle, It never gets old


My two cents - I've used both MH and T5, I've read all the threads here and otherwise and everyone good experience and bad in both forms of lighting.

Why do I run T5's?

1.) Variation in colour, it's nice to fine tune the spectrum to find something that is pleasing to the eye
2.) Cost of the unit vs MH
3.) Cost savings in electricity
4.) Heat.. I won't burn myself on T5's like I did with MH


But this is just my own opinion.

I was planning on building a bigger tank but my current one is ****ing me off so much right now that I'm not even sure if I am going to keep doing this hobby..... but that being said if I do go with a larger tank I think I am going to run MH with a little T5 to tune the colour.... I like the way that T5's colour up my coral and fish... but I am just finding that I get very slow growth... then again is that just part and parcel of the lighting I am using or a combination of my other reef keeping practices? Tough to say really.

[lastlight]

I think some users of each style of lighting sometimes come off as preachy. I thought long and hard about leaving the shimmer behind and after seeing enough T5 lit tanks my mind changed regarding it. I sit like 3" from the glass and peer in...watch my tank for hours each night without exaggeration. The shimmer starts to hurt my eyes after a while. Yes it looks more natural tho.

One thing I've noticed (in my empty tank) is that my fixture gets stove-top hot on its top. I'm pretty excited about all that heat that's not entering my tank directly. My experience with mh leads me to believe that T5 has the edge for heat but I did have an enclosed canopy before.

I also think with T5s that having a properly designed fixture/unit is a lot more important than with mh. And the TEK isn't that and everyone uses it as a comparison.

Brad I do like how you said you use what you like. It's my tank and I spend WAY too much time staring into it to use something I don't find ideal.

[Ron99]

So what do the T5 users consider a good benchmark fixture? I was looking at Tek or Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb fixtures.

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by Ron99

So what do the T5 users consider a good benchmark fixture? I was looking at Tek or Nova Extreme Pro 6 bulb fixtures.

If I had to choose between those two I would go with the NEP and swap out the stock lamps immediately.

Based on testing to date I would say the benchmark for T5 fixtures would be the ATI Powermodule. There hasn't been enough testing or time to say how the Sfiligoi Stealth and Fauna Marin Star Fire compare with respect to PAR.

Ultimately, make sure any fixture you get has high quality individual reflectors, active cooling over the lamp cold spot, and a protective shield for the lamps (in that order of importance). Then note that the Tek doesn't have active cooling while the NEP does so go with it if that's what your only two options are. For a more affordable, higher quality option I would suggest the poor-man's Powermodule (the ATI Sunpower) if the maximum number of lamps you need is 6. If you want to be sure that you get the best then go with the Powermodule, Star Fire or Stealth (especially if you need more than 6 lamps).

[Ron99]

Thanks but I think the ATI fixtures are out of my budget. I am looking for something decent at a relatively affordable price to do the job until I can build my LED array. The ATI fixtures are several hundred dollars more than the NEP or Tek.

[Ryan]

For a quick fix I think the Tek would be the way to go overpower them with a IceCap660 Ballast.

[TVR]

My tank is 25 deep too (should be more than from the light to bottom of the tank) - And I am lighting it with T5's Let see how's thing doing in there.
It was a big debate for me when choosing the light but I finally go for T5 after reading some articles about the MH related to over heat and chances of fire
I love MH though but have to stic with T5's for the sake of safety and summer's heat concern.

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by Ron99

Thanks but I think the ATI fixtures are out of my budget. I am looking for something decent at a relatively affordable price to do the job until I can build my LED array. The ATI fixtures are several hundred dollars more than the NEP or Tek.

Then like I said above, go with the NEP over the Tek for sure.

[Ron99]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Then like I said above, go with the NEP over the Tek for sure.

Okay. Thanks.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Brad I do like how you said you use what you like. It's my tank and I spend WAY too much time staring into it to use something I don't find ideal.

Well, ya, that's what it's all about. Even if it's proven beyond any doubt that product X is better than MH, I like mine and I'm happy. I have the colors I want, the shimmer I like, my corals grow, my fish can see, everything is good. It also lights up my room pretty good, so all in all, I'm happy.