150 watt hqi vs t-5 frag tank

droberts · 04/13/2010, 07:48 AM

will a 150 watt hqi give me good results on my 40 gal bredder frag tank? or should 1 buy a t-5 set up?

Johnny C · 04/13/2010, 07:55 AM

Personally, I would do T5's as one 150w HQI won't be enough for the 36x18 footprint. A 36'' 4-Bulb Tek would work great.

nanojg · 04/13/2010, 08:07 AM

I would do either two 175 or 150 watt halides or 6 t5's

clevebill · 04/13/2010, 08:15 AM

the key is individal reflectors on t-5 otherwise they are no better than regular flouresent lighting.i have 4 retro on my 40 breeder regular ballast no icecap 660 and its plenty light.i run 2 ati b+ 2 aquablue specials and call it a day.when ya start mixing uv bulbs and ati bulbs it will drive ya nuts trying to get the right looking combo.i used to have 150 watt phonex and t-5.it was bright in the 2x2 ft area but dark on the edges not gooD coverage.i would go t-5 just make sure INDIVIDAL REFLECTORS.
ati is ranked the best but has no legs to rest on tank boooo
aquatinics tx5 exspensive
tek is a good middrange fixture better than the nova extreme pro

stanlalee · 04/13/2010, 09:34 AM

unless you can commit to two 150w halides this isn't even worth comparison. either 150wx2 halides or a decent 4 bulb T5 would be sufficient especially if you use good reflectors for the halides like a pair of lumenmax 3 pendants. likewise a 4 bulb ATI would be heads and heels over a more modest T5 fixture.

droberts · 04/13/2010, 02:11 PM

i was looking at a 4 bulb t-5 unit on eBay and a local guy has a 150 watt hqi Hamilton pendent for around the same price. the coral that i will be fraging will come from my 125 with 4 vho bulbs

cablebox2003 · 04/13/2010, 02:39 PM

I was thinking about going T-5s over HQIs. The heat issue and the energy consumption of Metal Halides make me want to use T-5s. T-5s still get the job done and are cheaper unless you are talking about bulb replacement for good bulbs.

sjfishguy · 04/14/2010, 08:57 AM

Because the halide is a single, pinpoint light source, you will get a lot of shading if you only use one bulb. I had a single halide at one point and will never do it again. I would go with the T5s, esp for that long of a tank

04/13/2010, 07:48 AM	#1
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	150 watt hqi vs t-5 frag tank will a 150 watt hqi give me good results on my 40 gal bredder frag tank? or should 1 buy a t-5 set up?

04/13/2010, 07:55 AM	#2
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	Personally, I would do T5's as one 150w HQI won't be enough for the 36x18 footprint. A 36'' 4-Bulb Tek would work great. __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

04/14/2010, 08:57 AM	#8
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	Because the halide is a single, pinpoint light source, you will get a lot of shading if you only use one bulb. I had a single halide at one point and will never do it again. I would go with the T5s, esp for that long of a tank __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

04/13/2010, 08:07 AM	#3
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I would do either two 175 or 150 watt halides or 6 t5's

04/13/2010, 08:15 AM	#4
clevebill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: parma ohio Posts: 810	the key is individal reflectors on t-5 otherwise they are no better than regular flouresent lighting.i have 4 retro on my 40 breeder regular ballast no icecap 660 and its plenty light.i run 2 ati b+ 2 aquablue specials and call it a day.when ya start mixing uv bulbs and ati bulbs it will drive ya nuts trying to get the right looking combo.i used to have 150 watt phonex and t-5.it was bright in the 2x2 ft area but dark on the edges not gooD coverage.i would go t-5 just make sure INDIVIDAL REFLECTORS. ati is ranked the best but has no legs to rest on tank boooo aquatinics tx5 exspensive tek is a good middrange fixture better than the nova extreme pro

04/13/2010, 09:34 AM	#5
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	unless you can commit to two 150w halides this isn't even worth comparison. either 150wx2 halides or a decent 4 bulb T5 would be sufficient especially if you use good reflectors for the halides like a pair of lumenmax 3 pendants. likewise a 4 bulb ATI would be heads and heels over a more modest T5 fixture.

04/13/2010, 02:11 PM	#6
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	i was looking at a 4 bulb t-5 unit on eBay and a local guy has a 150 watt hqi Hamilton pendent for around the same price. the coral that i will be fraging will come from my 125 with 4 vho bulbs

04/13/2010, 02:39 PM	#7
cablebox2003 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Antioch , TN Posts: 67	I was thinking about going T-5s over HQIs. The heat issue and the energy consumption of Metal Halides make me want to use T-5s. T-5s still get the job done and are cheaper unless you are talking about bulb replacement for good bulbs.