T-5 vs MH

2OceanLovers · 01/29/2007, 10:16 AM

This is my first time posting here so be kind to this newbie.
I was wondering which is better in a 100g. I was looking at a MH/PC retro kit from Hamilton:
http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expa...Code=04-2264-1

And also looking at 3 2-bulb T-5 retros from TEK. They are 48in. 54w with separate parabolic reflectors around each bulb. The link wouldn't work when I previewed the post.

Would that T-5 set-up work if I got 6 bulbs? It would only be 324 watts over a 100g. I want to do a mixed reef with sps, lps, and soft corals. Do I need to go with the MH to have sufficient light for the sps? I know that T-5s put out more lumens per watt than MH but I don' if that big of a drop in wattage would still be OK for the sps and possibly a clam.

2OceanLovers · 02/04/2007, 10:27 AM

No one has any kind of opinion here? I can't believe that. No one wants to help a newbie?

wiszmaster · 02/04/2007, 10:35 AM

MH vs. T5 ... you're asking for another civil e-war!

Look up the user grimreefer (sp?) - there are alot of posts about this subject ...

FWIW - i personally would upp the wattage on the T5's a little ... but there is NOTHING wrong with T5's - you can grow SPS/LPS/clams etc.etc..... look into the tek fixtures - a local buddy just got one, and its pretty nice.

Good Luck!

Ti · 02/04/2007, 01:09 PM

Do both

2OceanLovers · 02/04/2007, 01:35 PM

Wiszmaster, thanks for your help. I was looking into the tek retros along with an ice cap ballast and tek reflectors and endcaps.
Ti, it is just a little too expensive to do both at this time. I am in college and married, so money is at a premium and this hobby is not the best for that problem, but I am loving it so much.

sasscuba · 02/04/2007, 01:38 PM

T5.

chris4869 · 02/06/2007, 01:30 PM

I know a guy who has both the T5 and MH. He's planning on converting to all T5.

His brother's tank uses only T5 and he has SPS, LPS, and a Maxima clam at the bottom of the tank!

Henry Bowman · 02/06/2007, 02:32 PM

Go with T5's you should be fine with everything you want to grow. Look at www.reefgeek.com or www.aquariumspecialty.com they both have good products. Stay away from t5 units without individual reflectors. For a 100 gl tank of average dimensions, you can go with 5 or 6 lamp unit. If you opt for a 5 lamp unit, keep the sps in the top half of the tank. With a 6 bulb unit, you will have to keep softies and mushrooms in the bottom of the tank and or under some shaded area in the tank, they have proven to be (t5's) too powerful for some of the lower light loving softies.

In the end with a good T5 unit, you'll utilize less electricity and have good coral health so long as all the other tank parameters are in line.

HTH

Henry Bowman · 02/06/2007, 02:32 PM

Go with T5's you should be fine with everything you want to grow. Look at www.reefgeek.com or www.aquariumspecialty.com they both have good products. Stay away from t5 units without individual reflectors. For a 100 gl tank of average dimensions, you can go with 5 or 6 lamp unit. If you opt for a 5 lamp unit, keep the sps in the top half of the tank. With a 6 bulb unit, you will have to keep softies and mushrooms in the bottom of the tank and or under some shaded area in the tank, they have proven to be (t5's) too powerful for some of the lower light loving softies.

In the end with a good T5 unit, you'll utilize less electricity and have good coral health so long as all the other tank parameters are in line.

HTH

REMF · 02/06/2007, 02:36 PM

T5

Ditch the tek reflectors and use Ice Cap reflectors though.

Ti · 02/06/2007, 05:04 PM

2OceanLovers: What's your budget?

2OceanLovers · 02/06/2007, 05:19 PM

I would only like to spend about $400 or so on lighting. That is all I have budgetted.

2OceanLovers · 02/06/2007, 05:21 PM

I have an ice cap 660 ballast to drive some of the t5 lights if I decide to go that way or that same ballast to drive VHO or PC bulbs should it come to that.

fishfanatic06 · 02/06/2007, 05:36 PM

t5 all the way

The Grim Reefer · 02/06/2007, 05:48 PM

Post the serial number of your ballast in the Ice Cap forum to make sure it is T5 capable.

www.reefgeek.com will sell you an Ice Cap 4 lamp retro kit minus ballast with lamps for just over 200 bux. if you got that an a 2 lamp Tek retro (upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors for 2 bux each) an you will be set. 2 lamp for a blue and actinic lamps and 4 overriven to provie intensity.

The Grim Reefer · 02/06/2007, 05:51 PM

Mystery post

Ti · 02/06/2007, 11:03 PM

with a 400 budget, T5 it

2OceanLovers · 02/07/2007, 10:19 AM

Thanks, I posted in the icecap forum and they said my ballast would work. I have decided to go with t5 lights on my aquarium. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

2OceanLovers · 02/07/2007, 10:21 AM

I have posted my ballast in the ice cap forum and they told me it was t5 compatible, so I have decided to go with t5 light for my aquarium. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

GSMguy · 02/07/2007, 12:00 PM

t5 t5 t5 icecap reflectors ati bulbs

01/29/2007, 10:16 AM	#1
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	T-5 vs MH This is my first time posting here so be kind to this newbie. I was wondering which is better in a 100g. I was looking at a MH/PC retro kit from Hamilton: http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expa...Code=04-2264-1 And also looking at 3 2-bulb T-5 retros from TEK. They are 48in. 54w with separate parabolic reflectors around each bulb. The link wouldn't work when I previewed the post. Would that T-5 set-up work if I got 6 bulbs? It would only be 324 watts over a 100g. I want to do a mixed reef with sps, lps, and soft corals. Do I need to go with the MH to have sufficient light for the sps? I know that T-5s put out more lumens per watt than MH but I don' if that big of a drop in wattage would still be OK for the sps and possibly a clam.

02/04/2007, 01:09 PM	#4
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Do both __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/06/2007, 02:32 PM	#8
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	Go with T5's you should be fine with everything you want to grow. Look at www.reefgeek.com or www.aquariumspecialty.com they both have good products. Stay away from t5 units without individual reflectors. For a 100 gl tank of average dimensions, you can go with 5 or 6 lamp unit. If you opt for a 5 lamp unit, keep the sps in the top half of the tank. With a 6 bulb unit, you will have to keep softies and mushrooms in the bottom of the tank and or under some shaded area in the tank, they have proven to be (t5's) too powerful for some of the lower light loving softies. In the end with a good T5 unit, you'll utilize less electricity and have good coral health so long as all the other tank parameters are in line. HTH __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

02/06/2007, 02:32 PM	#9
Henry Bowman Reefing since '87 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Allegheny Mountains of VA Posts: 2,162	Go with T5's you should be fine with everything you want to grow. Look at www.reefgeek.com or www.aquariumspecialty.com they both have good products. Stay away from t5 units without individual reflectors. For a 100 gl tank of average dimensions, you can go with 5 or 6 lamp unit. If you opt for a 5 lamp unit, keep the sps in the top half of the tank. With a 6 bulb unit, you will have to keep softies and mushrooms in the bottom of the tank and or under some shaded area in the tank, they have proven to be (t5's) too powerful for some of the lower light loving softies. In the end with a good T5 unit, you'll utilize less electricity and have good coral health so long as all the other tank parameters are in line. HTH __________________ Have a good'un Current Tank Info: 90 gl SPS dominant / upgrade in the works

02/06/2007, 02:36 PM	#10
REMF Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 669	T5 Ditch the tek reflectors and use Ice Cap reflectors though. __________________ Really honey, this will be the last thing I need for my reef. Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Reef, T5ho. 46 Gal bow FOWLR, 20 Gal L 250w mh reef.

02/04/2007, 10:27 AM	#2
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	No one has any kind of opinion here? I can't believe that. No one wants to help a newbie?

02/04/2007, 10:35 AM	#3
wiszmaster Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: in a pineapple & under the sea Posts: 1,181	MH vs. T5 ... you're asking for another civil e-war! Look up the user grimreefer (sp?) - there are alot of posts about this subject ... FWIW - i personally would upp the wattage on the T5's a little ... but there is NOTHING wrong with T5's - you can grow SPS/LPS/clams etc.etc..... look into the tek fixtures - a local buddy just got one, and its pretty nice. Good Luck!

02/04/2007, 01:35 PM	#5
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	Wiszmaster, thanks for your help. I was looking into the tek retros along with an ice cap ballast and tek reflectors and endcaps. Ti, it is just a little too expensive to do both at this time. I am in college and married, so money is at a premium and this hobby is not the best for that problem, but I am loving it so much.

02/04/2007, 01:38 PM	#6
sasscuba Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Owasso, Oklahoma Posts: 990	T5.

02/06/2007, 01:30 PM	#7
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	I know a guy who has both the T5 and MH. He's planning on converting to all T5. His brother's tank uses only T5 and he has SPS, LPS, and a Maxima clam at the bottom of the tank!

02/06/2007, 05:04 PM	#11
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	2OceanLovers: What's your budget? __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/06/2007, 05:19 PM	#12
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	I would only like to spend about $400 or so on lighting. That is all I have budgetted.

02/06/2007, 05:21 PM	#13
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	I have an ice cap 660 ballast to drive some of the t5 lights if I decide to go that way or that same ballast to drive VHO or PC bulbs should it come to that.

02/06/2007, 05:36 PM	#14
fishfanatic06 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 944	t5 all the way __________________ What some reading entertainment? CHECK OUT MY BLOG!!!! Current Tank Info: Back at the hobby. 29 gallon mixed reef

02/06/2007, 05:48 PM	#15
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	Post the serial number of your ballast in the Ice Cap forum to make sure it is T5 capable. www.reefgeek.com will sell you an Ice Cap 4 lamp retro kit minus ballast with lamps for just over 200 bux. if you got that an a 2 lamp Tek retro (upgraded to Ice Cap reflectors for 2 bux each) an you will be set. 2 lamp for a blue and actinic lamps and 4 overriven to provie intensity. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

02/06/2007, 05:51 PM	#16
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	Mystery post __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

02/06/2007, 11:03 PM	#17
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	with a 400 budget, T5 it __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/07/2007, 10:19 AM	#18
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	Thanks, I posted in the icecap forum and they said my ballast would work. I have decided to go with t5 lights on my aquarium. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

02/07/2007, 10:21 AM	#19
2OceanLovers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 314	I have posted my ballast in the ice cap forum and they told me it was t5 compatible, so I have decided to go with t5 light for my aquarium. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

02/07/2007, 12:00 PM	#20
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	t5 t5 t5 icecap reflectors ati bulbs __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.