If not MH lights then?
- Thread starter shep77
- Start date
robchuck
Active Member
MH are not very expensive at all, and in fact, can be cheaper retrofit into a DIY hood than by purchasing a PC or T5 hood. A 2x175W or 2x250W retrofit kit can be had for anywhere between $200 and $300, and can be mounted in a DIY canopy that can be constructed for less than $30. The electrical consumption would be equivalent to a PC or T5 hood, so the operating costs would be about the same.
But if that still sounds like too much, either a good PC hood or a T5 hood will serve you well.
But if that still sounds like too much, either a good PC hood or a T5 hood will serve you well.
bseth90
Member
It seems to me that no one talks about them here, but I like my vho lights. Got the ballast at home depot for cheap ($69.00) and the end caps at the lfs for $4.69 a pair. Set up 5 48" 110 watt bulbs...just outfitted my current hood with them. The hood has slats....no need for a fan...water temp stays low...they don't run too hot. MH you will more than likely need a fan or some chiller. Not sure about pc or T5....vho bulbs will last minimun 9 months (I've had some for a year now)...I'm keeping just about everything you could want...next to an anemome.
obarrera
Member
T5's are the second best lights you can get.But they aren't so cheap, Almost the same as MH.
Then VHO's and after that, PC's.
Out of MH,T5's,PC's,and VHO's I would get the T5's, they run much cooler then MH and are very bright.
You can go with the 48" Tek Light: 8-54W T5 HO Fluorescents, which are $419.00 at reefgeek.
The 6-54 watt fixture would probably work good too, depending on you tank dimensions.
Then VHO's and after that, PC's.
Out of MH,T5's,PC's,and VHO's I would get the T5's, they run much cooler then MH and are very bright.
You can go with the 48" Tek Light: 8-54W T5 HO Fluorescents, which are $419.00 at reefgeek.
The 6-54 watt fixture would probably work good too, depending on you tank dimensions.
cveverly
Member
I found a way to do metal halides for less than $250. The famous auction site has a person selling a rebuilt ballast with a new reflector, new socket, new wiring and new bulb for $90. All assembled and ready to plug in. Build a canopy for about $40 and you have a kick-butt light system. I added some DIY moon lights in the canopy and 2 actinic lamps for the glow some corals give off.
reefnut
Active Member
IMO it's pointless to spend the money on T5s when you can get MHs for the same price. T5s are just glorified fluorescents... that do not compare to MHs... particularly in tanks over 18" deep.
If not MHs I would go with VHOs. But as said above, with a little work you can have MHs for about the same price as VHOs or PCs.
If not MHs I would go with VHOs. But as said above, with a little work you can have MHs for about the same price as VHOs or PCs.
fishieness
Active Member
sorry to hijack.....
i have an eclipse tank, and do any of you know if i could set up VHOs in that hood? I would assume i would because so many people have said you could do it to a normal hood, but im not sure.
i found an offer online to get 130 watts of PC for 130 . Its a kit for an eclipse. But would i have to do anything extra for it?
i have an eclipse tank, and do any of you know if i could set up VHOs in that hood? I would assume i would because so many people have said you could do it to a normal hood, but im not sure.
i found an offer online to get 130 watts of PC for 130 . Its a kit for an eclipse. But would i have to do anything extra for it?
jobob
Member
QUOTE]i found an offer online to get 130 watts of PC for 130 . Its a kit for an eclipse. But would i have to do anything extra for it?
i got this kit on an auction site for like $70, it was made for eclipse but i used it on a reg hood. i did hook a retro kit in my friends lately and it work out good. i dont think it effected the temp. so look before u buy.
i got this kit on an auction site for like $70, it was made for eclipse but i used it on a reg hood. i did hook a retro kit in my friends lately and it work out good. i dont think it effected the temp. so look before u buy.
reefraff
Active Member
Originally posted by ReefNut
IMO it's pointless to spend the money on T5s when you can get MHs for the same price. T5s are just glorified fluorescents... that do not compare to MHs... particularly in tanks over 18" deep.
I have a 23 1/2" tall tank, A T5 lighting system and a metal halide system and a PAR meter that says you are wrong. T5 provide more light at the sandbed 18.5 below the surface, and heat the tank up a little less than the 150 watt halides running with 168 watts of PC actinics.
T5's are not the exact same technology as other fluorescent either.
reefraff
Active Member
What kind of picture would you like? You think I am lying your welcome to come on up to Montana and take the readings for yourself, I still have the T5 system here. You can even get in some good fishing
6 80 watt t5's, 1 6500K lamp, 3 20K Blue lamps and 2 60/40 actinic/day combo lamps vs. 3 10K 150 watt HQI lamps with 168 watts of PC actinics. Halide reading taken directly below a lamp 92 UMOL's, T5 reading taken in the same basic area 145 UMOL's. The halide lamps were a couple days old. The T5's, one lamp was a few weeks old, two were 4 months old and the other three about 15 months.
6 80 watt t5's, 1 6500K lamp, 3 20K Blue lamps and 2 60/40 actinic/day combo lamps vs. 3 10K 150 watt HQI lamps with 168 watts of PC actinics. Halide reading taken directly below a lamp 92 UMOL's, T5 reading taken in the same basic area 145 UMOL's. The halide lamps were a couple days old. The T5's, one lamp was a few weeks old, two were 4 months old and the other three about 15 months.
bseth90
Member
Fishieness...If you can drill a hole in your hood you can add vho lights. The wiring is about as simple as you can get. Depending on the size you have to power inches per bulb...I'm guessing your is not that big...you could find a ballast for under $25.00 at a Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I got one here that would power 2 48" 110 watt bulbs that I bought for $29.99. I'm telling you its very easy to do.
jedi
Member
opinions.. we got em here..lol
I have recently upgraded my lighting. I did TONS ad I mean tons of research on lighting, etc...
Of course MH is the "best". we all agree on that.
But, if you have a canopy, or dont want to "see" the lighting set up, then Mh is probably not an option for you. that was the case with me.
T-5's, well i feel the jury is still out on them. And they are working on upgrading the actinic's ..
I chose to go with VHO lighting. I have 660 watts of VHO on my 90 gallon. I can keep pretty much anything I want in the tank. ( just have to place some things higher.)
I run my vHO on a schedule which turns on 2 blue actinics , then 1.5 hours later rthe rest of the lights come on, they run for 8 hours, then they turn off and the 2 blue actinics run for 1.5 hours more.
I never have a temp fluctuation more tan 2 degrees.(79.6 in the Am, and 82.3 in the evening)
Vho are cheaper to replace, and only need to be replaced annualy.
Just another opinion to add to your decision...
Jedi
I have recently upgraded my lighting. I did TONS ad I mean tons of research on lighting, etc...
Of course MH is the "best". we all agree on that.
But, if you have a canopy, or dont want to "see" the lighting set up, then Mh is probably not an option for you. that was the case with me.
T-5's, well i feel the jury is still out on them. And they are working on upgrading the actinic's ..
I chose to go with VHO lighting. I have 660 watts of VHO on my 90 gallon. I can keep pretty much anything I want in the tank. ( just have to place some things higher.)
I run my vHO on a schedule which turns on 2 blue actinics , then 1.5 hours later rthe rest of the lights come on, they run for 8 hours, then they turn off and the 2 blue actinics run for 1.5 hours more.
I never have a temp fluctuation more tan 2 degrees.(79.6 in the Am, and 82.3 in the evening)
Vho are cheaper to replace, and only need to be replaced annualy.
Just another opinion to add to your decision...
Jedi