T-5s or Metal halide

snowrider84

snowrider84

Member
i have a 120 gallon 48x24x24 that i just up graded to from a 46 bowfront. on my 46 i had a 250w 14k mh, the light is great but now that i have the 120 i need more light. i have my corals all bunched up so they get light. Please have said to me that t5s will not get light to the bottom and i sould just add another 250 mh. any advise would be great
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
The right T5 unit will do what most 250 watt halides will. 6 lamp ATI Powermodule or the Aquactinics Solar Flar or Constellation fixtures will meet or beat all but the really good halides.
But they ain't cheap. Adding that second halide would be less money.
 
reefiness

reefiness

Active Member
there have been so many t-5 vs halide threads you might want to look one up. But IMO MH is closer to sunlight although they run hot, they give that glimmering in the tank that no other light system has.
 
andy51632

andy51632

Member
if the new tank has a canopy i would get a t5 system. If you are going to hang the lights I would just get another 250watt halide 14000K.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
After sitting in at a presentation yesterday by Tullio Dell Aquila who is an expert in any type of lighting, I'd go with an additional MH. Like a previous poster said, it will give you the flickering lighting which imitates sunlight and unless you have a T5 fixture with individual reflectors, you will not get the same penetration that MH will give you.
 
afboundguy

afboundguy

Member
For what it's worth the shimmering of MH's is purely esthetic. I've read in numerous magazines/online articles that it provides no benefits... I do love the shimmering effect though
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Actually the shimmering effect is not an *artificial* effect, it's the way MH works, in waves. I can't remember what Tullio said about how effective or beneficial the flickering effect is, but it is similar to what the ocean waves creates.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
this is mine with t5 6x54w with individual reflectors. the sps and derasa clams r a good 20-24 inches away from my t5.
 
notsonoob

notsonoob

Member
MH would be good if you want to create dark spots and very intense light spots. This is good if you want deep sea corals along with ones needing brighter lights. Depending upon how far away you ahve your light fixtures from the water surface. Since fruther distances dispense the light over more area.
Long T5s will dispense the light along the bulb, so you can get equal lighting across the whole tank.
The glimmer effect is because the light is pinpoint on a MH, so you have very intense area of light from say a 2" section of the bulb, VS 4 feet of a T5.
Just understand what the lighting needs of your tank is going to be. Each coral needs different amounts of light. Too intense and they will just sit and cook. Not enough then they will wither and die.
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
look up on the other big forum there is a nice long thread about t5s and many people having issues with the same types of colors not being as intense with there t5s as the metal halides they came from. i have t5s and like them but have some of the same issues with certain colors and with my upgrade i am working on gonna try a 250 de halide with 4 or six t5s to see what happens
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
Originally Posted by chilwil84
http:///forum/post/2522194
look up on the other big forum there is a nice long thread about t5s and many people having issues with the same types of colors not being as intense with there t5s as the metal halides they came from. i have t5s and like them but have some of the same issues with certain colors and with my upgrade i am working on gonna try a 250 de halide with 4 or six t5s to see what happens
I've noticed that some colors have a harder time under T5, while others look better. Some of the best colored birdsnests I've seen ever were under T5. They were fluorescent pink, and no zeovit or anything were being used.
It seemed like a lot of the threads with that problem were solved with a shorter photoperiod and fixing nutrients.
Don't forget that SPS often take a little while to adjust to new lighting.
-Justin
 
chilwil84

chilwil84

Active Member
ur not kidden about birdsnest being phenominal under t5s, tenius also look sweet under t5s the limegreen purple growth contrast is beautiful
 
ibew

ibew

Active Member
in MHO t5s can be way more superior to halides if used properlly meaning any 6 lamp or more t5 setup with individual reflectors on tanks no more tan 28 inches deep can be way more effective for the simple fact that you can use which I do 3000 k and 6500 k lighting instead of halides were most people use 12k 14k and if using 10k have to be supplemented severly with actnics were in T5s in one of my 6 lamp fixtures I have a 3000k and a 6500k also have pro colors and the rest are actnics the growth rate is alot faster using this setup also there is very minimal if none rasing temp in tank from a distance of 5 inches off the tank and also is by far alot cheaper on cost of electricity and lamp replacement for MHs lamps need replaced 8 to 9 months t5s are 18months if not over driven
 
ibew

ibew

Active Member
but if you already have one 14k 250 I would just get another you will save alot of money would only be a couple hundred bucks new plus your tank is only 4ft so 2 250 MH would look really good with little to no dead spots
 
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