Considering switching to MH

sphelps · #1 02-04-2010, 06:38 PM

I'd look into a combination of 1 & 2. Save up and get yourself a nice MH&T5 combo fixture and you'll get the best of both worlds. The good fixtures are made from aluminum and don't use fans which is nice because they control heat nicely and do not make any noise. You can also hang the fixture a little higher than T5 alone fixtures which will also help with heat. As a last resort you can always add a fan to blow air over the water and under the fixture which in my experience works really well on those hot days. My tank is easily kept below 80 in the summer with too small computer fans.

I'd stay clear from LEDs, although the technology is pretty cool you won't be happy with them. The intensity is too low and the color spectrum is too narrow, you will not get great coral color from such a light fixture. Well at least I've never seen a tank lit by LED show decent color in corals.

JDigital · #2 02-04-2010, 07:49 PM

Laurier, I don't think you would have any heat issues to worry about if you had a fan on your cabinet next to the tank blowing underneath the lights. If anything we could probably use a fan up there in the summer anyways.

kien · #3 02-04-2010, 07:50 PM

just be prepared for the evap! It will be huge :-)

JDigital · #4 02-04-2010, 08:01 PM

He's running a Tunze ATO, evap should be easily controlled...

kien · #5 02-04-2010, 08:08 PM

This will also cause humidity in the house to sky rocket. Be prepared for that too.

banditpowdercoat · #6 02-04-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kien

This will also cause humidity in the house to sky rocket. Be prepared for that too.

Oh sure NOW ya tell me LOL

kien · #7 02-04-2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Oh sure NOW ya tell me LOL

Trust me, i feel your pain! My wife and hardwood floors love the humidity, but my windows do not. I haven't yet invested in a dehumidifier (although I should).. but what I find helps is leaving the furnace fan on 24/7. It helps to circulate the humid air through out instead of it being concentrated no the main floor in the living room. In the summer the humidity is no big deal but in the winter it is brutal.

banditpowdercoat · #8 02-04-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

Laurier, I don't think you would have any heat issues to worry about if you had a fan on your cabinet next to the tank blowing underneath the lights. If anything we could probably use a fan up there in the summer anyways.

That's what I do and all is good. About 1-1.5g/d evap I'd guess. I had 2 tanks running off 1 ATO reservoir so can't be 100%

wayner · #9 02-04-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

I'd look into a combination of 1 & 2. Save up and get yourself a nice MH&T5 combo fixture and you'll get the best of both worlds. The good fixtures are made from aluminum and don't use fans which is nice because they control heat nicely and do not make any noise. You can also hang the fixture a little higher than T5 alone fixtures which will also help with heat. As a last resort you can always add a fan to blow air over the water and under the fixture which in my experience works really well on those hot days. My tank is easily kept below 80 in the summer with too small computer fans.

I agree!