Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - How should I light my 180? MH? T-5? Both?

Stupes · 03/11/2011, 09:02 AM

Well according the power calulator my 180 system ran me about 50-60 dollars a month. I wasnt running a chiller which saved me some money. I have seen tests showing MH's are more efficient as far as light ouput per watt, but I have also seen tests showing just the opposite. However the reflector choices for MH's are far better than for T5's. Which means you can put more of the light produced where you want it, which increases efficiency. Also it will allow you to bring the lamps further off of the water. Now your not heating your tank up so much, and you wont need to run your chiller so much. Saving you more power and more money.

This is my current system ($53 a month for power usage)
3 250 watt Radium MH
4 39 watt T5 Actinics
30 watts in LEDs
Little Giant 4MDQ as my Return pump
2 Maxi Jet Mods for my Power heads
Mag 9.5 for my skimmer
1 Maxi jet for my Carbon and Phosban Reactor

Now Im building a small aquaculture system using the same parts with the exception of the 250's. Im running 150 HQI Radiums and the calculator says it will cost me $41 a month.

03/11/2011, 09:02 AM	#13
Stupes Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lehigh Acres Posts: 67	Well according the power calulator my 180 system ran me about 50-60 dollars a month. I wasnt running a chiller which saved me some money. I have seen tests showing MH's are more efficient as far as light ouput per watt, but I have also seen tests showing just the opposite. However the reflector choices for MH's are far better than for T5's. Which means you can put more of the light produced where you want it, which increases efficiency. Also it will allow you to bring the lamps further off of the water. Now your not heating your tank up so much, and you wont need to run your chiller so much. Saving you more power and more money. This is my current system ($53 a month for power usage) 3 250 watt Radium MH 4 39 watt T5 Actinics 30 watts in LEDs Little Giant 4MDQ as my Return pump 2 Maxi Jet Mods for my Power heads Mag 9.5 for my skimmer 1 Maxi jet for my Carbon and Phosban Reactor Now Im building a small aquaculture system using the same parts with the exception of the 250's. Im running 150 HQI Radiums and the calculator says it will cost me $41 a month. Last edited by Stupes; 03/11/2011 at 09:15 AM.