The quest for perfection continues. Should I switch from t5 to radium?

austin93 · 09/29/2009, 08:33 PM

I have 6 t5 bulbs with ind reflectors on my 75. I guess I need someone to talk me down from another radical change in my system. I am thinking strongly about selling off the t5's and putting in a couple 250w radiums on a blue wave ballast. Has anyone done this kind of thing before and was it a good decision? I have always had t5's and the switch from 324w to 500+ would cost about 6$ a month more in electricity. The bulb cost would be very similar. Heat isn't an issue due to basement sump. Would coloration improve? Growth? Get worse? Just need some advice. Thanks.

Goodwood · 09/29/2009, 09:04 PM

You should give the Radiums a go and see for yourself. The 250 radium looks awesome on M80 ballast but, I have never seen it on electronic. Most likely you will get better growth with MH but, as far as colors go T-5 and MH just look different. I have gotten fantastic colors from MH in the past and have recently swithed to T-5s. Why not, right?

James77 · 09/30/2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin93

I have 6 t5 bulbs with ind reflectors on my 75. I guess I need someone to talk me down from another radical change in my system. I am thinking strongly about selling off the t5's and putting in a couple 250w radiums on a blue wave ballast. Has anyone done this kind of thing before and was it a good decision? I have always had t5's and the switch from 324w to 500+ would cost about 6$ a month more in electricity. The bulb cost would be very similar. Heat isn't an issue due to basement sump. Would coloration improve? Growth? Get worse? Just need some advice. Thanks.

The electric used by the Radiums(2x250) on M80 ballasts is more around 650 watts. I went from a Powermodule to Radiums, and I like the look alot more, although it is not quite blue enough form me. I found T5s to be flat and somewhat dim looking, where my halides have shimmer and crispness. If the heat from extra watts and the trivial extra in electric cost isn't an issue, I would try it. Use excellent reflectors, I use Lumenmax.

Coloration and growth will not get worse, but they will probably look different than what you have now- you may like it more or less than what you have now, I personally like it better than T5s

austin93 · 09/30/2009, 08:43 AM

Thanks for the input. What colors would I give up with a radium? Meaning, which colors wouldn't be highlighted with that spectrum. With t5 I can change bulbs to bring out certain colors, I added a fiji purple to get better colors out of my birdsnest, etc.

woody283 · 09/30/2009, 10:08 AM

If you have the room you could always add some t5 for supplemental colors.

luvreefs23 · 09/30/2009, 10:39 AM

i had a tek 8 bulb over my 90 and changed over to a maristar metal halide/t5 combo...i didnt play with enuf bulb combos on the t5 unit so i went back to t5s and played with bulbs more, now my 250 has a 10 bulb 60" ati powermodule on it and im still playing with bulbs but im getting where i wanna be as far as color and output.

Dennis

luvreefs23 · 09/30/2009, 10:41 AM

I think the only way id go back to metal halide is if i were to buy sfligoi unit with dimmable ballast along with t5's

austin93 · 09/30/2009, 11:06 AM

I figure I could get great color with t5 as supplemental lighting, but that would add another 108w to the deal making it even more expensive to run. Maybe I should sell some frags!

tufacody · 09/30/2009, 12:02 PM

i agree with the flatness of T5. They just seem too sterile too me.

09/29/2009, 08:33 PM	#1
austin93 Don't Panic! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Trenton, MO Posts: 757	The quest for perfection continues. Should I switch from t5 to radium? I have 6 t5 bulbs with ind reflectors on my 75. I guess I need someone to talk me down from another radical change in my system. I am thinking strongly about selling off the t5's and putting in a couple 250w radiums on a blue wave ballast. Has anyone done this kind of thing before and was it a good decision? I have always had t5's and the switch from 324w to 500+ would cost about 6$ a month more in electricity. The bulb cost would be very similar. Heat isn't an issue due to basement sump. Would coloration improve? Growth? Get worse? Just need some advice. Thanks. __________________ DON'T PANIC! Current Tank Info: 30 Rimless

09/30/2009, 08:43 AM	#4
austin93 Don't Panic! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Trenton, MO Posts: 757	Thanks for the input. What colors would I give up with a radium? Meaning, which colors wouldn't be highlighted with that spectrum. With t5 I can change bulbs to bring out certain colors, I added a fiji purple to get better colors out of my birdsnest, etc. __________________ DON'T PANIC! Current Tank Info: 30 Rimless

09/30/2009, 10:08 AM	#5
woody283 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hustisford WI Posts: 132	If you have the room you could always add some t5 for supplemental colors. __________________ If all else fails, use a bigger hammer. Current Tank Info: 30 gallon cube SPS, 65g sps in the works (slowly but surely)

09/30/2009, 11:06 AM	#8
austin93 Don't Panic! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Trenton, MO Posts: 757	I figure I could get great color with t5 as supplemental lighting, but that would add another 108w to the deal making it even more expensive to run. Maybe I should sell some frags! __________________ DON'T PANIC! Current Tank Info: 30 Rimless

09/29/2009, 09:04 PM	#2
Goodwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Destin, Florida Posts: 700	You should give the Radiums a go and see for yourself. The 250 radium looks awesome on M80 ballast but, I have never seen it on electronic. Most likely you will get better growth with MH but, as far as colors go T-5 and MH just look different. I have gotten fantastic colors from MH in the past and have recently swithed to T-5s. Why not, right?

09/30/2009, 10:39 AM	#6
luvreefs23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 758	i had a tek 8 bulb over my 90 and changed over to a maristar metal halide/t5 combo...i didnt play with enuf bulb combos on the t5 unit so i went back to t5s and played with bulbs more, now my 250 has a 10 bulb 60" ati powermodule on it and im still playing with bulbs but im getting where i wanna be as far as color and output. Dennis

09/30/2009, 10:41 AM	#7
luvreefs23 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 758	I think the only way id go back to metal halide is if i were to buy sfligoi unit with dimmable ballast along with t5's

09/30/2009, 12:02 PM	#9
tufacody Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,890	i agree with the flatness of T5. They just seem too sterile too me.