Thinking about a change.....

Snowsrfr · 09/10/2006, 07:05 PM

I'm looking into making a change in my current light set up. I have a 65 gallon reef which is 36 inches wide. I currently run a Coralife Aqualight Pro, 24", with a single 150W 14K MH, and 2 65W PC's. I initially was looking to upgrade to something with 2 MH's and possibly some sort of supplemtal lighting, such as PC or T5.

My main reason for upgrading was in hope of having better luck, at growing/maintaining SPS corals. In my search for a 2 MH set up, I've been offered a 5 39W T5 light fixture. Due to all the unknowns about what it takes to make SPS happy and my lack of luck up to this point in keeping them, I was wondering what other peoples take is on the performance of T5's as opposed to MH's if I'm not really looking to keep demanding SPS corals. Mainly LPS, softies and the current BTA's I have in my tank. Obviously the price I save in buying a MH set up vs. T5 is significant as will be the power consumption of the differing set up.

If anybody can give me their input, life experiences within aquarium lighting, etc., I'd really appreciate it.

JmLee · 09/10/2006, 07:12 PM

With T5's i see alot of ppl over driving them and i think the other key with T5s are the type of reflecters you use and making sure you have individual reflecters. To me if you want to save some energy then a T5 set up seems nice. I my self have no experience with T5 lighting. If you want something more along the lines of plug and play... i would go with MH preferably doubled ended HQI's with a nice wide spreading reflector. Cheers.

Snowsrfr · 09/11/2006, 06:09 PM

Any other input?

JmLee · 09/11/2006, 06:50 PM

Well hey your welcome buddy!

. BTW, T5s supposely have a high PAR then MH. Hard for me believe. either way you cannot go wrong...........

wrott · 09/11/2006, 07:09 PM

I would get a PFO 2x400 MH + 2VHO 36"

JmLee · 09/11/2006, 07:51 PM

two 400 watt Halides over a 64 gallon?. your not only gona get a ton of evap. Your electric bill is going to sky rocket. I had two 250watt aquamedics over my 65 gallon and i had to replace about 1 1/2 - 2 gallons of evap daily. And my electric bill sky rocketed.

wrott · 09/11/2006, 08:17 PM

I have a chiller, and electricity comes second to corals.

09/10/2006, 07:05 PM	#1
Snowsrfr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 801 Posts: 412	Thinking about a change..... I'm looking into making a change in my current light set up. I have a 65 gallon reef which is 36 inches wide. I currently run a Coralife Aqualight Pro, 24", with a single 150W 14K MH, and 2 65W PC's. I initially was looking to upgrade to something with 2 MH's and possibly some sort of supplemtal lighting, such as PC or T5. My main reason for upgrading was in hope of having better luck, at growing/maintaining SPS corals. In my search for a 2 MH set up, I've been offered a 5 39W T5 light fixture. Due to all the unknowns about what it takes to make SPS happy and my lack of luck up to this point in keeping them, I was wondering what other peoples take is on the performance of T5's as opposed to MH's if I'm not really looking to keep demanding SPS corals. Mainly LPS, softies and the current BTA's I have in my tank. Obviously the price I save in buying a MH set up vs. T5 is significant as will be the power consumption of the differing set up. If anybody can give me their input, life experiences within aquarium lighting, etc., I'd really appreciate it. __________________ 60 Gallon Cube

09/11/2006, 06:09 PM	#3
Snowsrfr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 801 Posts: 412	Any other input? __________________ 60 Gallon Cube

09/11/2006, 06:50 PM	#4
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	Well hey your welcome buddy! . BTW, T5s supposely have a high PAR then MH. Hard for me believe. either way you cannot go wrong........... Last edited by JmLee; 09/11/2006 at 07:02 PM.

09/11/2006, 07:09 PM	#5
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I would get a PFO 2x400 MH + 2VHO 36" __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

09/11/2006, 08:17 PM	#7
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I have a chiller, and electricity comes second to corals. __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

09/10/2006, 07:12 PM	#2
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	With T5's i see alot of ppl over driving them and i think the other key with T5s are the type of reflecters you use and making sure you have individual reflecters. To me if you want to save some energy then a T5 set up seems nice. I my self have no experience with T5 lighting. If you want something more along the lines of plug and play... i would go with MH preferably doubled ended HQI's with a nice wide spreading reflector. Cheers.

09/11/2006, 07:51 PM	#6
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	two 400 watt Halides over a 64 gallon?. your not only gona get a ton of evap. Your electric bill is going to sky rocket. I had two 250watt aquamedics over my 65 gallon and i had to replace about 1 1/2 - 2 gallons of evap daily. And my electric bill sky rocketed.