Metal Halide Questions VS. T5

[rastaangel]

I think it depends on were you plan to put the corals... if you wanted to do a full top to bottom SPS stock like I did on my 90g I would do 2x250 w/ T5 supplemental to get good light to the bottom. But then again thats around 10 watts/g which is fairly high... If you did 2x150 w/ T5 and kept the SPS to the top and zoos and others on the lower half you would be able to manage that

[Lethbridge]

I like the fact with t5 you get the colour variation but I am still keeping my options open as too t5, I would have liked to go with led but I just bought a new tv and I'll have to put off the led project till then. The plan is to eventually upgrade to led so this light will be temperary for now. If I was to choice MH I would like to use the 14k phoenix bulb(s), if that makes a difference. Also there will be 4 t5 two on each side of the MH. What would be the big disadvantage of one 250w over 36" length? If I decided with 2-150w halides would that not be able to grow sps anywhere in the tank?

[lastlight]

I think the 2x150w would be fine.

A single 250 is ok but you'll find the stuff right under it will do far better than the rest (sps) and then the stuff on the edges is going to get less and less light. That's what I found with one light (and what I'm finding looking at my tank front-to-back as the stuff up top grows bigger.

[kien]

As fishy said, the 8bulb T5 on an 18" high tank will be more than enough to grow pretty much anything. The halide option is OK too if you can look past the heat issue. Another thing to consider is the fact that the halides will shimmer your tank, where as the T5s will not. To get shimmer while using T5's you'd have to supplement with LEDs.

I personally prefer a combination of T5s with Halides. Halides to grow corals and for the shimmer effect, and t5s for supplementation and colour adjustment.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by kien

As fishy said, the 8bulb T5 on an 18" high tank will be more than enough to grow pretty much anything. The halide option is OK too if you can look past the heat issue. Another thing to consider is the fact that the halides will shimmer your tank, where as the T5s will not. To get shimmer while using T5's you'd have to supplement with LEDs.

I personally prefer a combination of T5s with Halides. Halides to grow corals and for the shimmer effect, and t5s for supplementation and colour adjustment.

T5s will also light the sides of the coral a bit better.

[kien]

Originally Posted by lastlight

T5s will also light the sides of the coral a bit better.

very true. T5s are a much more enveloping light where Halides is more directional much like the sun.

[lorenz0]

^^^

willing to do a test, put the same frag in each tank at the same depth/ distance from the light in each of your tanks?