mh or t5

mj23forever · 03/14/2011, 12:52 PM

i have both right now just wanting to know what do others think should use. i have rite now huge leather,pulsing zenia,kenya trees,zooanthaids,green star polyps. like the color of halides want the same color in t5. any suggestion would help.

snulma1 · 03/14/2011, 12:58 PM

If you don't need to use the MH then why use extra watts of power and add the additional heat? Might as well save energy and money

mj23forever · 03/14/2011, 01:07 PM

what would be a good combo of bulbs to use.i have two 36inch t5 fixture with 4 bulbs each.

arentspowell · 03/14/2011, 01:12 PM

What is the color of the MH setup you have now? What bulbs are you using and what Ballasts? Once we get that we can make a better suggestion. A 10K MH bulb looks a lot different than a 20K bulb. Also what wattage and are the bulbs SE or DE?

JustinM · 03/14/2011, 01:19 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5#post15702595

keifer_unit · 03/14/2011, 01:19 PM

I would definitely use the t5 over the mh.

davidtsx · 03/14/2011, 01:40 PM

I have 2 250 mh and 4 48" T5's.

karsseboom · 03/14/2011, 01:46 PM

all the people thats say to use t5 have t5 and most have never used mh. Mh will be the best lighting option if you want to keep anything in the tank. Now if you have a pretty deep tank and want to put a clam on the bottom you might have trouble with the t5. The reason mh is so nice is you will never have to question your self about if you have enough light. LED and mh is the best way to light a good reef tank.

mj23forever · 03/14/2011, 02:02 PM

i have a single end 250 watt.rite now have 20k but tomorrow my 14k should be here. the ballasts are a do it yourself bought them both for 100 bucks from a friend.

JustinM · 03/14/2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karsseboom

all the people thats say to use t5 have t5 and most have never used mh. Mh will be the best lighting option if you want to keep anything in the tank. Now if you have a pretty deep tank and want to put a clam on the bottom you might have trouble with the t5. The reason mh is so nice is you will never have to question your self about if you have enough light. LED and mh is the best way to light a good reef tank.

I agree with you, but how many people have tanks that are deeper than 24"? A decent T5HO fixture will still have a decent amount of par at 24". Anything deeper than 24" I would choose MH, anything less I would choose T5. And whether you have a DE bulb or a mogul bulb makes a world of difference to when it comes to depth. Just my .02.

chimmike · 03/14/2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karsseboom

all the people thats say to use t5 have t5 and most have never used mh. Mh will be the best lighting option if you want to keep anything in the tank. Now if you have a pretty deep tank and want to put a clam on the bottom you might have trouble with the t5. The reason mh is so nice is you will never have to question your self about if you have enough light. LED and mh is the best way to light a good reef tank.

I disagree with you. I have had both, have t5's now, and have no problem keeping anything.

MH v. T5 is strictly subjective. Look at the Euro reef tanks. Many of them have T5's and look better than most of our tanks do with t5's, halides, or LED's.

meowzer · 03/14/2011, 02:23 PM

I have both MH and T5's on my big tank....T5's on a smaller tank

I like them both...LOL....As far as T5's though....IMO it all depends on the bulb combinations you use...

mj23forever · 03/14/2011, 02:23 PM

with t5 what bulb colors should i go with.an mh whats the nicest bulb

arentspowell · 03/14/2011, 02:34 PM

If going with the T-5's I would get 2 BLue+ 1 purple+ and one aquablue special. I used to have that over my 75 and it looked great, not to blue but gave plenty of pop. I now am using two 250W DE Phoenix 14K bulbs. I couldn't be happier. My T-5's were a retrofit, and not I am using a Current Sunpod and it lets me do an open top which I like better.

JustinM · 03/14/2011, 02:42 PM

Here is another link with just about every T5 question answered and pics of bulb combos, check it out

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=178954

chimmike · 03/14/2011, 06:27 PM

+1.

Oh, and fwiw, there IS a difference in quality in T5 fixtures. Better fixtures have better par and are more efficient.

grigsy · 03/14/2011, 08:32 PM

I have used both and personally prefer metal halides over T5s.

In addition, I prefer both Metal Halides and T5s both over LEDs.

03/14/2011, 12:52 PM	#1
mj23forever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 15	mh or t5 i have both right now just wanting to know what do others think should use. i have rite now huge leather,pulsing zenia,kenya trees,zooanthaids,green star polyps. like the color of halides want the same color in t5. any suggestion would help.

03/14/2011, 01:12 PM	#4
arentspowell Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 296	What is the color of the MH setup you have now? What bulbs are you using and what Ballasts? Once we get that we can make a better suggestion. A 10K MH bulb looks a lot different than a 20K bulb. Also what wattage and are the bulbs SE or DE? __________________ Innovative Marine Nuvo 10g AIO Mixed Reef AI Prime Black with Hanging Kit // Vortech MP10QD // InTank Media Basket // Innovative Marine Ghost Skimmer // Tunze 1073.008 Return Pump // AutoAqua ATO

03/14/2011, 01:40 PM	#7
davidtsx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 272	I have 2 250 mh and 4 48" T5's. __________________ Let's go Diving. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon Mix reef, SPS and LPS, MRC MR-2 skimmer, BK 250 on my Qt tank, GEO Cal reactor, Apex controller, 2 mp40's, Tunze ATO, and litermeter III for auto water changes.

03/14/2011, 02:34 PM	#14
arentspowell Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 296	If going with the T-5's I would get 2 BLue+ 1 purple+ and one aquablue special. I used to have that over my 75 and it looked great, not to blue but gave plenty of pop. I now am using two 250W DE Phoenix 14K bulbs. I couldn't be happier. My T-5's were a retrofit, and not I am using a Current Sunpod and it lets me do an open top which I like better. __________________ Innovative Marine Nuvo 10g AIO Mixed Reef AI Prime Black with Hanging Kit // Vortech MP10QD // InTank Media Basket // Innovative Marine Ghost Skimmer // Tunze 1073.008 Return Pump // AutoAqua ATO

03/14/2011, 06:27 PM	#16
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	+1. Oh, and fwiw, there IS a difference in quality in T5 fixtures. Better fixtures have better par and are more efficient. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

03/14/2011, 12:58 PM	#2
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	If you don't need to use the MH then why use extra watts of power and add the additional heat? Might as well save energy and money

03/14/2011, 01:07 PM	#3
mj23forever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 15	what would be a good combo of bulbs to use.i have two 36inch t5 fixture with 4 bulbs each.

03/14/2011, 01:19 PM	#5
JustinM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,215	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5#post15702595

03/14/2011, 01:19 PM	#6
keifer_unit Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 37	I would definitely use the t5 over the mh.

03/14/2011, 01:46 PM	#8
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	all the people thats say to use t5 have t5 and most have never used mh. Mh will be the best lighting option if you want to keep anything in the tank. Now if you have a pretty deep tank and want to put a clam on the bottom you might have trouble with the t5. The reason mh is so nice is you will never have to question your self about if you have enough light. LED and mh is the best way to light a good reef tank.

03/14/2011, 02:02 PM	#9
mj23forever Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 15	i have a single end 250 watt.rite now have 20k but tomorrow my 14k should be here. the ballasts are a do it yourself bought them both for 100 bucks from a friend.

03/14/2011, 02:23 PM	#12
meowzer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: oklahoma Posts: 21	I have both MH and T5's on my big tank....T5's on a smaller tank I like them both...LOL....As far as T5's though....IMO it all depends on the bulb combinations you use...

03/14/2011, 02:42 PM	#15
JustinM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,215	Here is another link with just about every T5 question answered and pics of bulb combos, check it out http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...owtopic=178954

03/14/2011, 08:32 PM	#17
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	I have used both and personally prefer metal halides over T5s. In addition, I prefer both Metal Halides and T5s both over LEDs.

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