Lighting Poll

[TRIX]

What does everyone feel the all round best lighting system is. Please take everything into account, Initial cost, Maitnence cost, Quality, ECT.

[Fish]

I think T5ho, at least that's what I've decided on this time around. My past experience has been with T8no, T12vho, PC, and halide - I still love the shimmer of halide, and URI Vho for actinic, but I think that T5 has the best looks overall. Plus the fixture itself looks the nicest, and it will be nice to save a bit on my power bill.

- Chad

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I agree with "Fish"....T5 looks brilliant, is more economic than MH, and in my opinion, looks better. More options, too.

Having said that, I'm working with PC lighting now. On a budget

[Ruth]

Personally I like the T5/MH combo. I just don't think you can beat the MH for look or performance. I have found that in order to have a really intense light from the T5 (I don't have a par meter) you have to change the bulbs about every 6 months - they are also quite expensive and delicate to ship.

[danny zubot]

MH for me.

Cost wise is can be cheeper if you are a DYI'er. My 400 watt setup cost me less than $200. It may not be the most energy efficient buy 9 out of 10 corals prefer it.

[marcingo]

Hey guys you seem to know what your all talking about. Any idea how much power a month metal hallides would most likely use (any estimate is good)

I recently bought 2 150watt double ended HQI pendents that are on the way and am wondering what you guys think these will use up in power. I hope its not like 80 dollars a month or something.

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

[danny zubot]

If you use this link to RC you can figure out the entire power consumption for you tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/tank_elec_calc.php

[marcingo]

thanks

[littlesilvermax]

I really like my 250 watt halides ( I personally think you can get 2years per bulb). I also really like my VHO actinics (best color IMO) and I get 2+ years per bulb with them. I also get 2 years oper bulb on my T5s.

All depends on what you want for color and intensity. Good and bad stuff exist in all lighting catagories.

[mark]

Comes back to the question "what do you want to keep" and "how big do you want to keep it in"?

Had a 75g FOWLR lit by 2-40W NO fluorescents, perfectly fine. Now I'm starting a reef, bigger tank, got a hi light clam, don't think I have any choice other than MH.

Current tank has only been up since spring but working for me is 2-40W NO fluorescents for dusk/dawn effect and evening viewing, 2-250W MHs, thinking now supplementing with either T5 or PC actinics would make things ideal.