Mh Vs. T5
- Thread starter zanski
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viper_930
Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
until they are proven to be a viable option to MH as many many people claim I just see there main advantage over other flourescents is the ability to put more tubes in the same amount of space. For example I'm not going to give up my twin 96 watt pc lights for twin 54 watt T5 with the belief I made an upgrade. On the other hand its very probably 4 T5's will fit in nearly the same space as two pc lights which would be quite an advantage.
Good point. But the way I see it is that, watt for watt, T5 lights are brighter than PC or VHO lights. For example 200 watts of PC and 200 watts of T5. It's true you'd have more bulbs of T5 lights to match the same wattage, but those 200W of T5 are more powerful than the 200W of PC. You're basically just getting more for the same amount on your electricity bill.
until they are proven to be a viable option to MH as many many people claim I just see there main advantage over other flourescents is the ability to put more tubes in the same amount of space. For example I'm not going to give up my twin 96 watt pc lights for twin 54 watt T5 with the belief I made an upgrade. On the other hand its very probably 4 T5's will fit in nearly the same space as two pc lights which would be quite an advantage.
Good point. But the way I see it is that, watt for watt, T5 lights are brighter than PC or VHO lights. For example 200 watts of PC and 200 watts of T5. It's true you'd have more bulbs of T5 lights to match the same wattage, but those 200W of T5 are more powerful than the 200W of PC. You're basically just getting more for the same amount on your electricity bill.
stanlalee
Active Member
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
Good point. But the way I see it is that, watt for watt, T5 lights are brighter than PC or VHO lights. For example 200 watts of PC and 200 watts of T5. It's true you'd have more bulbs of T5 lights to match the same wattage, but those 200W of T5 are more powerful than the 200W of PC. You're basically just getting more for the same amount on your electricity bill.
Oh I agree, the question is how much more brighter. Can I really expect to get the same results from half the wattage using T5 or perhaps the advantage is only 20% in which case I could stick with two 96w pc instead of 2 54w T5s. I have never seen a clear answer to this other than testimonials of keeping this and that.
Good point. But the way I see it is that, watt for watt, T5 lights are brighter than PC or VHO lights. For example 200 watts of PC and 200 watts of T5. It's true you'd have more bulbs of T5 lights to match the same wattage, but those 200W of T5 are more powerful than the 200W of PC. You're basically just getting more for the same amount on your electricity bill.
Oh I agree, the question is how much more brighter. Can I really expect to get the same results from half the wattage using T5 or perhaps the advantage is only 20% in which case I could stick with two 96w pc instead of 2 54w T5s. I have never seen a clear answer to this other than testimonials of keeping this and that.
bang guy
Moderator
That's because it's very difficult to test. You need a PAR meter and a lot of time. You also need to consider ballast & bulb manufacturers. Many comparisons are invalid because the comparison is between a top of the line ballast & T-5 vs the crappiest ballast and a Coralife VHO or PC.
The only comparisons on the web I trust are Sanjay Joshi and Dana Riddle.
Also - there's a huge difference between brightness and amount of usable light produced. Don't be fooled with a bright bulb. That could just means it contains more Yellow light and only appears brighter to humans.
The only comparisons on the web I trust are Sanjay Joshi and Dana Riddle.
Also - there's a huge difference between brightness and amount of usable light produced. Don't be fooled with a bright bulb. That could just means it contains more Yellow light and only appears brighter to humans.
dmitry
Member
One drawback of MHs (besides the heat and the electricity bill) is that they put out the strongest light right under the bulb and then get progressively dimmer the further away from the bulb you travel. It's like a spot-light. T5s, being a fluorescent tube, distribute light evenly across the entire tank, so you're not thinking about which section has more light so you can place your corals accordingly. I've seen a few stunning SPS tanks under T5 lighting, so I don't believe that's an issue. And because you're using more bulbs with T5s you can experiment with temp/color combinations until you find the perfect balance you, and your corals, like. As far as the shimmer effect...I don't really miss it myself.
If you get a T5 set-up make sure you get individual reflectors for each bulb; that increases the amount of light significantly. I've been very happy with my switch to T5s!
If you get a T5 set-up make sure you get individual reflectors for each bulb; that increases the amount of light significantly. I've been very happy with my switch to T5s!
mikeyjer
Active Member
Originally Posted by fanker
u wanna see what t-5s can do? this guy wa abele to grow sps under 24w t-5s but now he has 8x54w of t-5s over a 110 thats 432wats thats about half of what u would need with mhs.
*Link Removed*
Yes I have read all that before, BUT did you read this part: "One of the keys to getting good results with T5 bulbs, I believe, is to keep your SPS no more than 18" from the light source. For intensely colored SPS (i.e. reds, blues, pinks, neon yellows), I keep them less than 10" away. The T5 bulbs are no more than three inches from the water surface."
So if you have a deeper tank, T-5's are not going to cut it. MH's would!!! :happyfish
zanski
Member
Well im def educated now thankyou.... BUT I'm still a little confused would the lighting the LFS told me would be ok, will it?? (4, 39w T-5's) The $$$ is no issue the only thing i care about is i dont want to hang MH's i like the T-5 because i can mount it to my tank... But i dont want to be limited to the corals i have to buy HELP!! Dont want a canopy so that's out. :notsure:
If i were to get T-5's what would everyone buy for a 65 gal. 36x18x24...??
If i were to get MH's for the same tank what would everyone get...??
If i were to get T-5's what would everyone buy for a 65 gal. 36x18x24...??
If i were to get MH's for the same tank what would everyone get...??
mikeyjer
Active Member
Originally Posted by fanker
well u can go with this it will be enough to keep sps even clams, the only bad thing with t-5s is that the hood doesnt come with the lamps, but they have a selection u can choose from
*Link Removed*
IF he keeps clams, that's back to the 18" suggestion!!! His is 20" deep. MH's are still the better way to go. He can get pendants and built some sort of over hang to hang it from. There's no need to hang it from the ceiling. Do some research, you'll see what I mean. :happyfish
well u can go with this it will be enough to keep sps even clams, the only bad thing with t-5s is that the hood doesnt come with the lamps, but they have a selection u can choose from
*Link Removed*
IF he keeps clams, that's back to the 18" suggestion!!! His is 20" deep. MH's are still the better way to go. He can get pendants and built some sort of over hang to hang it from. There's no need to hang it from the ceiling. Do some research, you'll see what I mean. :happyfish
viper_930
Active Member
Originally Posted by fanker
u wanna see what t-5s can do? this guy wa abele to grow sps under 24w t-5s but now he has 8x54w of t-5s over a 110 thats 432wats thats about half of what u would need with mhs.
I don't quite understand. Are you saying T5 lights are twice as powerful as halides?
Originally Posted by Zanski
If i were to get T-5's what would everyone buy for a 65 gal. 36x18x24...??
If i were to get MH's for the same tank what would everyone get...??
I'd go for 8x39W T5s or 2x250 watt DE halides. Personally I would get halides, especially in a deep tank like yours.
JMO
u wanna see what t-5s can do? this guy wa abele to grow sps under 24w t-5s but now he has 8x54w of t-5s over a 110 thats 432wats thats about half of what u would need with mhs.
I don't quite understand. Are you saying T5 lights are twice as powerful as halides?
Originally Posted by Zanski
If i were to get T-5's what would everyone buy for a 65 gal. 36x18x24...??
If i were to get MH's for the same tank what would everyone get...??
I'd go for 8x39W T5s or 2x250 watt DE halides. Personally I would get halides, especially in a deep tank like yours.
JMO
puffer32
Active Member
Why is everyone argueing over which is better? I have used them all, and if my opinion and many others is that T's are a better solution to MH and its working for us even in our deeper tanks, whats it to MH users if we post our opinions same as you do about MH? I like MH, mainly that shimmering effect it gives a tank, but I also like the different effects i get switching on different bulbs on my T's even better. I like not having to invest in a chiller living in TX is almost a have to with MH and lastly, I like my electric bill! If the poster wants MH, let him get them, if he wants another great lighting system, he can go with T5's, can't go wrong with either one in my opinion, as i stated before, I have used them both plus PC, which I would also recommend in a smaller tank with softies only. except for the heat factor, they run hotter then T's, and my electric bill was higher. But they did the job when I had them on my 75 in Pa. No light set up is perfect, they all have downfalls, the poster has to weigh the differences and decide what will work in his tank, all we can do is tell him what works for us individually, but ultimately the decision is his to make according to his tanks needs, we have have different requirements and goals for our tanks, not just in lighting, but in every aspect of our set ups. For instance, I knew my tank was going to be in my family room, and I didn't want the tank noises to interfere with the TV, so I shopped for a quiet setup, didn't want the skimmer, pumps, fans, PH to drown out conversation and my fav TV shows. So I shopped around until I found the quietest, but effeciant system I could find, cause noise level was important to me. So again, its what is important to the poster what will work best for him. And it sounds like hanging MH lighting is not something he really wants to do if T's will work for him, and IMO they will
fanker
Active Member
ive had mh pc and vho since i started and mh were by far the best but they were just to much money, each bulb is dead after about 4-6months and they run to how, but after i got my ts i was way happier than with ant thing else, ( only the mh because of the reasons above) i can get u test results just give me some time. i can prove how good the ts are. and his tank may be 20"deep but he can still keep clams down there. the only reason that guy wasnt able to keep corals that low was because u need 6000k all he had was blues.
fishieness
Active Member
i do believe that for deeper, entirely sps tanks, MH, is the way to go, but if you have a shallow tank like i do (16"), i would love t5s. In fact, i want to upgrade my 150 watt HQI and my 2X65 watt PCs for either 6-8X39 watt t5s, or maybe jsut another HQI. But the thing is with t5s, you get what you pay for. To get the best PAR rating, you dhave to overdrive them with something like an electronic icecap ballast and get some realy good reflectors like the oens ice cap makes.
fishieness
Active Member
here is a pic. a guy in my reef club name Jens is from germany, and his friend claude runs an aquarium company over there. all amazing stuff. Well at our jan meeting, claude came all the way over to talk to us about german reefkeeping techniques and such...... i wont even tell you about some of the picstures he showed us, because you wouldnt believe me..... esspecialy that the tanks were 3-4 months old...... Anyways, he brought over a 4X54 watt t5 unit that his company makes (Fauna Marin). In the back of the room, there was a frag tank brought in by a LFS that was lit up by a 150 watt HQI coralife bulb and fixture. Sure, there are an extra 66 watts on the t5 ficture than the coralife.... but here is a pic. Every inch of the 48" unit of t5s (yes, i know the HQI was a lot higher, but i put my hand under it to try and compare how it dispered, and it still worked) was brighter than the centerpoint of the HQI.
lets see if the pic works
lets see if the pic works
04mach
Member
Originally Posted by fishieness
i do believe that for deeper, entirely sps tanks, MH, is the way to go, but if you have a shallow tank like i do (16"), i would love t5s. In fact, i want to upgrade my 150 watt HQI and my 2X65 watt PCs for either 6-8X39 watt t5s, or maybe jsut another HQI. But the thing is with t5s, you get what you pay for. To get the best PAR rating, you dhave to overdrive them with something like an electronic icecap ballast and get some realy good reflectors like the oens ice cap makes.
I have a 40 breeder,and went from 150 hqi to the 8x39 t-5.
i do believe that for deeper, entirely sps tanks, MH, is the way to go, but if you have a shallow tank like i do (16"), i would love t5s. In fact, i want to upgrade my 150 watt HQI and my 2X65 watt PCs for either 6-8X39 watt t5s, or maybe jsut another HQI. But the thing is with t5s, you get what you pay for. To get the best PAR rating, you dhave to overdrive them with something like an electronic icecap ballast and get some realy good reflectors like the oens ice cap makes.
I have a 40 breeder,and went from 150 hqi to the 8x39 t-5.