Yet another lighting question

Shellyfish · 02/20/2011, 04:02 PM

I would like to change up my lighting in the next few months so I want to do some research about what would work well for what I want. I currently have a 36" 4 bulb Tek lights (T5HO) on my tank. The tank is 4 feet so the next light I get will also be 4 feet. I'm debating switching to a 4 foot 6 bulb T5 fixture or maybe metal halide. The tank is only 18" deep and I plan on keeping softies and lps - do I really need metal halides?

LoyalConvict · 02/20/2011, 04:44 PM

No, you do not need metal halides, T-5s offer great par.

The question is what would you rather have? T-5s offer great coverage and wide range of color temp as you can mix and match to your exact preference, but with MHs you get great coverage with the shimmering effect on your rocks/corals, and the double ended bulbs come with a good selection of color temp also.

You could also look at the long term cost. In theory you would have to change 2 bulbs every 6 months at ~$60 a bulb and then you have ~500 watts of power showing up on your electric bill every month. As opposed to T-5s where you only need to change every 12 months or so at ~$20 a bulb, with only ~322 watts showing up on your electric bill every month, or ~35% less per month. (That is if both MHs and T-5's are all on for the same amount of time in a given month)

But back to metal halides, usually people only run them for ~6 hours a day and the "supplemental" run for the rest of photo period. Also you usually only run all your T-5s for 6-8 hours a day the rest of the photo period you would have 2 or 4 on not all 6.

A few things to think about, though I am sure you considered all of that. Sorry for the long rant, I got carried away and I apologize.... HTH

LoyalConvict · 02/20/2011, 04:50 PM

double post sorry

Shellyfish · 02/20/2011, 05:28 PM

Don't apologize! It's easier to make an informed decision if you have more info! Another problem I just noticed with my system is the space I have. Since I have a HOB skimmer it takes up some space and if I went with a 6 bulb fixture (16") one of the bulbs would be hanging over and lighting the floor! I may only be able to do a 4 bulb fixture. So now I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

b16drag · 02/20/2011, 05:36 PM

You'll be fine with 4 T5's. Just make sure that the fixture has high quality individual reflectors.

Shellyfish · 02/20/2011, 05:57 PM

Thanks!

02/20/2011, 04:02 PM	#1
Shellyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 469	Yet another lighting question I would like to change up my lighting in the next few months so I want to do some research about what would work well for what I want. I currently have a 36" 4 bulb Tek lights (T5HO) on my tank. The tank is 4 feet so the next light I get will also be 4 feet. I'm debating switching to a 4 foot 6 bulb T5 fixture or maybe metal halide. The tank is only 18" deep and I plan on keeping softies and lps - do I really need metal halides?

02/20/2011, 04:44 PM	#2
LoyalConvict Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 468	No, you do not need metal halides, T-5s offer great par. The question is what would you rather have? T-5s offer great coverage and wide range of color temp as you can mix and match to your exact preference, but with MHs you get great coverage with the shimmering effect on your rocks/corals, and the double ended bulbs come with a good selection of color temp also. You could also look at the long term cost. In theory you would have to change 2 bulbs every 6 months at ~$60 a bulb and then you have ~500 watts of power showing up on your electric bill every month. As opposed to T-5s where you only need to change every 12 months or so at ~$20 a bulb, with only ~322 watts showing up on your electric bill every month, or ~35% less per month. (That is if both MHs and T-5's are all on for the same amount of time in a given month) But back to metal halides, usually people only run them for ~6 hours a day and the "supplemental" run for the rest of photo period. Also you usually only run all your T-5s for 6-8 hours a day the rest of the photo period you would have 2 or 4 on not all 6. A few things to think about, though I am sure you considered all of that. Sorry for the long rant, I got carried away and I apologize.... HTH __________________ Contemplating sushifried I Have - Ichthyophobia, Hydrophobia, Hyalophobia, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Current Tank Info: 90 Reef, 55 fuge - 75 FOWLR 30 fuge

02/20/2011, 04:50 PM	#3
LoyalConvict Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 468	double post sorry __________________ Contemplating sushifried I Have - Ichthyophobia, Hydrophobia, Hyalophobia, and Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia Current Tank Info: 90 Reef, 55 fuge - 75 FOWLR 30 fuge Last edited by LoyalConvict; 02/20/2011 at 04:55 PM. Reason: DP

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02/20/2011, 05:28 PM	#4
Shellyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 469	Don't apologize! It's easier to make an informed decision if you have more info! Another problem I just noticed with my system is the space I have. Since I have a HOB skimmer it takes up some space and if I went with a 6 bulb fixture (16") one of the bulbs would be hanging over and lighting the floor! I may only be able to do a 4 bulb fixture. So now I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

02/20/2011, 05:36 PM	#5
b16drag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: California Posts: 903	You'll be fine with 4 T5's. Just make sure that the fixture has high quality individual reflectors.

02/20/2011, 05:57 PM	#6
Shellyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 469	Thanks!