Looking for some old-timers who left and came back in to the hobby

[Canadian]

Steve,

I wasn't commenting so much on the PAR differences between T5 and MH in my previous post. I was commenting on the statements you made: "MH is best" which is a pretty vague and subjective statement, and T5s produce "50% more output than a PC". The relatively low values with only 144W of 24W lamps in my tank show that you can readily get values throughout the tank that will happily keep SPS. There's no need to have PAR in excess of 700 μmol m-2 s-1 based on most of the recent publications on PAR and SPS. And with the ability to readily change out a lamp to change viewing color with T5s I'd have to say "T5 is best"

When you're talking about getting 600 and 720 μmol m-2 s-1 you aren't comparing a 250W MH to 144W of 24W T5s are you? That's not a very reasonable comparison.

The light spread with T5s is pretty uniform throughout the tank. This has its pros and cons. Most of the good reflectors for MH are now doing nothing to increase the intensity but are trying to improve spread. I believe Sanjay's PAR values are measured "hot spots" 18" directly under the lamp so, while the absence of a reflector will impact the numbers, it's probably not near the presumed significance. And I don't even look at Sanjay's reported PAR values. I prefer to look at real world measurements in a typical application including reflectors in someone's tank. So I wouldn't say I'm one of the "T5 people" to whom you're referring.

As I said above, my measured values are on the low end of the spectrum based on the fact that I'm using 24W lamps and only 6 of them. So I'd like to see some tank measured PAR values with PC lit tanks that support the contention that T5s produce 50% more output than PC on fairly compared tanks. From what I've seen about 18" away from two 36W PCs produces somewhere in the neighbourhood of 30 μmol m-2 s-1. Obviously, T5s benefit from the design improvement whereby they can be easily fitted into a high quality single light reflector and I'm not comparing equal wattages.

how are you liking your new meter and which one did you end up getting?

I didn't end up buying one because Progressive Reef brought in a few Apogee Quantum MQ-200 meters and decided to use one as a "rental" unit. They also have a Hanna phosphate photometer so now I don't have to buy one

And congrats on the new puppy. It's a cutie!

[Canadian]

This is the last time I take this thread off topic but it does address prop's original question about current hobby trends.

Here are PAR measurements on a T5 lit tank with 234W of 39W T5 lighting (a reasonably fair comparison to a typical 250W Halide):

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...0#post16117620

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Canadian

This is the last time I take this thread off topic but it does address prop's original question about current hobby trends.

Here are PAR measurements on a T5 lit tank with 234W of 39W T5 lighting (a reasonably fair comparison to a typical 250W Halide):

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...0#post16117620

quite hijacking his thread for your own T5 propaganda

seriously though thoes numbers are not much different than your own. still way less than a deicent MH setup.

now so you don't spend a day trying to find some more stuff, I will say as I have said befor, T5's are good, they give a even light (although no shimmer) they are good enough to grow SPS as you could grow them with VHO and PC, why not T5 when it is a higher out put, and the assortment of buld is great.. allowing you to custom blend colors for a nice look. but I don't agree on a lot of the claims which you have just re-enforced my point a couple times now and if you are getting rid of 250 watts of MH and going to 250 watts of T5s you will not save in energy anything apreacable, and heat output will be the same, although it will be better disapated in the T5 unit so won't affect the tank as much.

I actualy had a pig post ready to go last night but I hit the wrong button and lost it all and didn't want to re-type it. basicly the jist was by adding more T5 bulbs you are not increasing the intensity only the spread and evenness, by going to bigger bulbs on a bigger tank it is the same idea, while you will get a larger coverage area from going to bulbs that are twice as many watts the increase in PAR at the bottom will be minimal and will be the result of more complet coverage not an increase in intensity.

this is why I feel the perfect combo would be MH and T5's you can get a nice 10K MH with a tone of PAR and then use a bunch of T5's to blend the color and smooth out the coverage a bit.

Steve

[Canadian]

Steve,

I agree. If I could have a MH over my small tank without having to use a chiller I would. I previously had a MH/T5 Giesemann fixture over my tank and loved the shimmer and color. Unfortunately on such a small tank I was always fighting the added heat.

I just feel compelled to defend T5 lighting from time to time because there is so much misinformation being batted about on the internet despite the obvious and numerous successes.

What I have planned for the new year is to buy one of these new LED spot lights to supplement my T5s and get the shimmer effect as well as spot light whatever corals with whatever color I choose. Instead of using T5 as a supplement as is generally done with MH, I'll use the LED to supplement the T5. I just have to wait for some of the lights to become more readily available. Unfortunately my impatience usually gets the best of me and I end up just ordering something from the US instead of waiting for someone in Canada to finally decide to carry a new product.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Canadian

Steve,

I agree. If I could have a MH over my small tank without having to use a chiller I would. I previously had a MH/T5 Giesemann fixture over my tank and loved the shimmer and color. Unfortunately on such a small tank I was always fighting the added heat.

well we will see how the heat issue is with my new tank, I am planning on putting two 150watt MH and up to 4 T5s on it. it will be a 33 gal tank with a 33 gal sump so I am hopeing it will be able to disapate the heat. an added bonus is it will be in the basment and I have central air which keeps the basement kinda chilly in the summer.

Steve

[Griffin]

Welcome Back Jesse - I had the same problem start 4 weeks ago - thinking about my old tanks and how relaxing it was tinkering on them, its a hard one to let go of. Checking Canreef for pics, stuff for sale, information on new equipment, seeing if my old login worked lol. I am aswell going to get back into it but on a smaller bases. Looking forward to it and Anthony was on my ass saying i told you so within an hour of me putting up a post As always though he has offered his help in anyway to get things going for me again - Anthony you are a dedicated unselfish reefer and we all appreciate your help when we need it.
Cheers
Rich

[Aquattro]

Hey Rich, how the hell are ya? All these old faces popping up