T5 or MH for my tank?

[smellslikefish]

I have a 72gal 48'' bowfront and I'm looking to upgrade my lighting. I want to do either T5 or MH but I don't know what I need to buy for either fixtures. I would like to keep anything but I dont want to spend over $300. Is this possible? What T5 lighting and what MH would work with my ideal tank? Thanks.

 

[smellslikefish]

Nova Extreme HO Aquarium Lighting Fixture - 4 x 54W & 4 Lunar - 48 in. How about this lighting??

 

[bessycerka]

one step at a time is an option, a MH HQI pendant is about $325 shipped, and you can add T5 later, or the other way around

 

[al mc]

Given the budget and size of the tank I would go for T5s..Reason....You can get a good set with individual reflectors that increases the light output that should be able to span(and give light coverage) for the entire 48" tank.
MHs are great lights but a single pendent will not give good light penetration over the entire tank. With t5s you can also do part 10000K and part actinics. MH only can do one spectrum.
Many people feel you can keep anything under T5s as long as you put high light demanding organisms....clams, sps up high in the tank nearer the light source.

 

[smellslikefish]

Thanks for your thoughts. Would that specific T5 light fixture work? The Nova Extreme HO Aquarium Lighting Fixture - 4 x 54W & 4 Lunar - 48 in??

 

[bessycerka]

al Mc is right, the halide won't give "perfect coverage" for the width of your tank, and that is why the T5 in addition would've be cool (I thought). The nova's look pretty good, in fact we are going to get some of those fixtures also here due to their economic cost. Good luck

 

[reefraff]

If you want to keep "Anything" in a 72 which I believe is 24" tall don't go with less than the Aquactinics TX5 unit. The Nova will be OK if you limit the high light corals to being in the upper half of the tank.

 

[marka1620]

I actually run both on my 47 gallon tall. I have a Nova Extreme @ 96 watts and a Sunpod 250w MH. I originally started with the N.E. and then added the MH in order to piece deeper into the tank.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by reefraff
If you want to keep "Anything" in a 72 which I believe is 24" tall don't go with less than the Aquactinics TX5 unit. The Nova will be OK if you limit the high light corals to being in the upper half of the tank.

I agree the Nova's while good only offer one parabolic refelctor over all the bulbs. Whereas Tek's and Aquatinics, (there are more) offer individual parabolic reflectors over each individual bulb. If you dont want SPS then the nova's are fine IMO.

 

[nycbob]

current is now offering a t5 called nova extreme pro w individual reflectors. check out their website.

 

[harris28]

I listened to reefraff and had him help me with my lights and he was on the money! I purchased the Aquatinics Tx5 and all I can say is WOW!! The fixture is very nice and produces excelent light. I once wanted MH but i am just fine with the T-5's. I got the fixture with 5 bulbs shipped for $480 and IMO it was 100% worth it and will be for many years.

 

[nycbob]

cant really go wrong w t5! i went back to t5 after having mh for 2 months.

 

[smellslikefish]

So just the four T5 bulbs would work for my tank?

 

[harris28]

The 5 bulb(Tx5) would let you keep anything you want.

 

[reefraff]

Originally Posted by Smellslikefish
So just the four T5 bulbs would work for my tank?
To keep anything with 4 lamps go with at minimum the Tek light, the doctors sell a little clamp on fan array that you can mount on the rear of the tank so it blows across the fixture to add some cooling, it's good for a nice boost in PAR. Add that and run good lamps and you should be good.
While current make a good quality fixture for the price you still cant get a BMW for the price of a Yugo. The material the reflectors are made of is just as important as the design. Ice Cap, Tek, ATI, Aquactinics all use speculal aluminum for their reflectors. Until someone does a PAR reading on the new Novas I wouldn't assume they are using anything but polished aluminum which makes a huge difference in the performance. I would assume they would advertise using the more expensive reflector material.

 

[jeffalight]

hi everyone,
My PCs have started giving me problems so I purchased the following without doing as much research as I probably should have.
TEK LIGHT T-5, 48" Light Fixture 8 x 54W lamps.
I was trying to upgrade but I did not want to have to get a chiller that the MHs would have required. Does anyone have/had this fixture? Any reivews? I am planning on putting it around 7'' above the water in the tank. Is this about right?
Thanks for your help.

 

[shinobi9119]

i almost went wich TEK but then i did NOVA 4 bulb. I have a 75 gallon 48" too. Both light fixtures r great lights. I have 4 bulb so i imagine 8 bulb would be even better. Im not to sure about how high u shud put it. Try adjusting it until you get it right. My nova's are about 2 inches off tank if that helps at all.