Metal Halide vs VHO T5 w/ LED

AmberL · 02/20/2011, 09:07 AM

I was worried about the metal halide's heat production. I purchased 4 strips of VHO T5s and 1 strip of blue and white LED. The LFS owner said the LED will give me the shimmer mh give without the heat. He showed me on one of the tanks, and it the shimmer was great. He said the set up will be just fine for growing corals. Anyone with experience out the using T5s with corals? I've read on here to only go with mh. Not sure which is right.

Thisseemsfishy · 02/20/2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmberL

I was worried about the metal halide's heat production. I purchased 4 strips of VHO T5s and 1 strip of blue and white LED. The LFS owner said the LED will give me the shimmer mh give without the heat. He showed me on one of the tanks, and it the shimmer was great. He said the set up will be just fine for growing corals. Anyone with experience out the using T5s with corals? I've read on here to only go with mh. Not sure which is right.

Ive actually had luck growing coral with 4x65w PC's, but I am switching to T5VHO. In the reading I've done, unless you are going to go very heavy with SPS T5's will be fine.

nanojg · 02/20/2011, 10:09 AM

T5s are great, not sure why some people said only mhs???

You should have some fans blowing around the ends of the t5 bulbs to help with bulb life and output (specially with the vho t5s on icecap ballasts)

Do the t5 bulbs have individual reflectors?

nanojg · 02/20/2011, 10:10 AM

Btw you probably won't get shimmer with t5s gowing next to your LEDs unless they are quality high output leds

Thisseemsfishy · 02/20/2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanojg

T5s are great, not sure why some people said only mhs???

You should have some fans blowing around the ends of the t5 bulbs to help with bulb life and output (specially with the vho t5s on icecap ballasts)

Do the t5 bulbs have individual reflectors?

I agree, Ive never read anything really bad about VHO's. Actually its been mostly good. MH serve their purpose if your setup is right, but for something smaller than 125g, IMO VHO's will do fine.

125G Reefer · 02/20/2011, 11:18 AM

VHO T-5's, yup your pretty much in good shape.

hk855 · 02/20/2011, 12:39 PM

I will probably never run a mh again. They are just too expensive here in CA add in the heat issues too and it's no fun. I'm going 4 54w t5's run by ice cap on my 60 and love it. I'll probably switch to two and LEDs in the near future.

02/20/2011, 09:07 AM	#1
AmberL Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 205	Metal Halide vs VHO T5 w/ LED I was worried about the metal halide's heat production. I purchased 4 strips of VHO T5s and 1 strip of blue and white LED. The LFS owner said the LED will give me the shimmer mh give without the heat. He showed me on one of the tanks, and it the shimmer was great. He said the set up will be just fine for growing corals. Anyone with experience out the using T5s with corals? I've read on here to only go with mh. Not sure which is right.

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02/20/2011, 10:09 AM	#3
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	T5s are great, not sure why some people said only mhs??? You should have some fans blowing around the ends of the t5 bulbs to help with bulb life and output (specially with the vho t5s on icecap ballasts) Do the t5 bulbs have individual reflectors?

02/20/2011, 10:10 AM	#4
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	Btw you probably won't get shimmer with t5s gowing next to your LEDs unless they are quality high output leds

02/20/2011, 11:18 AM	#6
125G Reefer Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale,AZ Posts: 913	VHO T-5's, yup your pretty much in good shape.

02/20/2011, 12:39 PM	#7
hk855 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 297	I will probably never run a mh again. They are just too expensive here in CA add in the heat issues too and it's no fun. I'm going 4 54w t5's run by ice cap on my 60 and love it. I'll probably switch to two and LEDs in the near future.