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Metal Halide vs T5's

Jan

By Jan,
in New to the Hobby

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Jan

Jan

Pros and cons

Which one is best for LPS and SPS. Why?

Please give me as much information as possible.

Thank you

Jan

Jan

  • Author
Pros and cons

Which one is best for LPS and SPS. Why?

Please give me as much information as possible.

Thank you

 

WOW! So the T5's made the colors pop? Is it less or more expensive than MH? Are the bulbs cheaper to replace? Does one emit more heat than the other? Does one need to be replaced more than the other? Are there other advantages/disadvantages to having one over the other? My stock lighting isn't doing it for me.

El Camaron

El Camaron

1- t5 bulbs are less expensive but you have more to worry about.

2- t5 fixtures emit less heat than a MH light so no need for chillers

3- you have more bulb choyces with t5s for better pigment

4- the fixtures can be more expensive than MH but in most cases they are not.

5- ATI, TEK, Nova Extreme Pro are some of the ones i would reccomend

6- t5 bulbs generaly last longer than MH so ion the long run its cheaper

7- there is no shimmering effect with t5's, this is what turns some people off from them ( not a big deal to me)

Bob

Bob

Hi Jan, Just my $.02! I started with power compacts on my 150 gal tank. While things went well in general, I was not happy with the intensity of lights. I switched over to T-5's and I am fairly happy with the results. If you are starting from scratch and want the very best lighting possible....... and have the ability to vent (because of the heat) and dont mind the possibility of having to get a chiller. Going with metal halides is the "best" lighting in terms of being able to grow almost any corals and not having to upgrade at a later date because you cant grow acros or your wild anemone needs more lighting or etc. etc. etc. If I had it to do all over again and considered lighting fully in the begining, I would most likely have gone with the MH lighting. Good luck whatever your choice.....

 

Bob

st9z

st9z

7- there is no shimmering effect with t5's, this is what turns some people off from them ( not a big deal to me)

You can always run some led's with your T5 to get a little bit of the shimmer. That is what I did with my 90 gallon tank.

FishyTim

FishyTim

+1

 

1- t5 bulbs are less expensive but you have more to worry about.

2- t5 fixtures emit less heat than a MH light so no need for chillers

3- you have more bulb choyces with t5s for better pigment

4- the fixtures can be more expensive than MH but in most cases they are not.

5- ATI, TEK, Nova Extreme Pro are some of the ones i would reccomend

6- t5 bulbs generaly last longer than MH so ion the long run its cheaper

7- there is no shimmering effect with t5's, this is what turns some people off from them ( not a big deal to me)

amay121

amay121

I'd say it depends on your tank. If your tank is more than 24" go with MH. If it's 24" or under, go with T5. Also the length. It'll be a little harder for coverage with T5s on a tank that's 72" or longer (it's possible, but a little more difficult). Most fixtures are mainly 60" or under. The only fixture that I've seen at 72" is the constellation. With the many bulb choices out there, it can get a little expensive when trying to find the right color that you'd like to get.

 

There are pros and cons to each, so you've gotta figure out what you'd like to get. For me, if the tanks 60" or under in length, T5 would be awesome. 72" or longer and > 24" height, I'll go with MH only.

Black Mammoth

Black Mammoth

I had T5s on my 75g and my 90g and I was very happy with them. I also had a MH on my frag tank. I only did that because it was cheap :) I like the T5s so much, I'm going with T5s on my 8' tank. I thought about MHs, but I'm trying to do a low power tank and not have to use a chiller. We'll see how it works out.

 

Sometimes I think MHs with supplements look better than T5s, but I don't think it has anything to do with MH vs T5. I think it has to do with bulb configuration on the T5s. I think very valid points have come up for T5s. +1 for T5s :)

Inspector

Inspector

I just started a 150 and decided to go with T5's. I have 12 3ft. 39 watters with geisemann bulbs. The end caps and ballasts are Ice cap. Three ballasts configured so I can turn different bulbs on at different times. Love the look.

El Camaron

El Camaron

also keep in mind that not all t5 fixtures will work, you have to look into ones that have their own reflectors like the ATI, TEK and the Nova Extreme Pro, maybe others in the market that i dont know about but these are soem of the ones most ommonly used among t5 users that want to keep clams, SPS, whatever.

Jan

Jan

  • Author
also keep in mind that not all t5 fixtures will work, you have to look into ones that have their own reflectors like the ATI, TEK and the Nova Extreme Pro, maybe others in the market that i dont know about but these are soem of the ones most ommonly used among t5 users that want to keep clams, SPS, whatever.

 

Am I on the right track with this one? Nova Extreme HO Light Fixture - 2 x 18W - T5 - 10,000K460nm - 18 in.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YHIB78/ref=as...mp;linkCode=asn

st9z

st9z

The Nova Extreme Pro is a bit different and more expensive but is really nice, i just got my neighbor to buy one for his biocube.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Nova-Extreme-Output-...1591&sr=1-2

I would also go with the Extreme Pro. I use to have the Nova Extreme on my 55 gallon tank, IMO crappy units that eventually you'll replace for a better unit. Ur corals will be more happy with individual reflectors vs contour reflectors.

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