T5 vs Metal Halide, HQI

[khisamiddin]

I was wondering if there is any significant difference between t5 and HQI, Metal Halide lighting for corals such as acropora, seriatopora, and mantipora species and for clams.
Basically, given all else equal, can these corals and clams live under T5?
Thanks in advance!

 

[suv]

Why not just go with MH and save your self the cost and agravation of having to upgrade like me. I you MH's you can have what ever you want to in your tank.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Khisamiddin
http:///forum/post/2756779
I was wondering if there is any significant difference between t5 and HQI, Metal Halide lighting for corals such as acropora, seriatopora, and mantipora species and for clams.
Basically, given all else equal, can these corals and clams live under T5?
Thanks in advance!
What size tank is it?

 

[khisamiddin]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2756814
What size tank is it?
Its 30 gallons, which I had for over two years, but I am going to upgrade to 100+ tank once I settle in about a year.
I read that Metal Halides heat the water too much, is that going to be a problem? Also, the original question about the corals.
Thanks

 

[wangotango]

T5 vs halide. Depends on what setup you've got. If you spend the money on a nice T5ho fixture like a TEK, Aquactinics, ATI, etc, then you can have PAR easily comparable to halides (there's numbers on --).
Depends on what your preference is. Halides will give you a nice shimmer, whereas the T5 will light the tank evenly. T5 will last about 12-18 months (I change them a little sooner) halides last about 10. With a T5 fixture you can mix different bulbs to get different looks, but with halides you're stuck with the color of that bulb unless you have some form of supplimentation.
Heat depends. T5 run hot, halides run hot. The difference is that the T5 will distribute the heat over a larger area, but the halides tend to focus it. People have run 250w halide bulbs over 30gal tanks without temperature problems; you just have to be able to deal with the heat.
For a 30gal 4-6 individually reflected T5ho, or one 250w halide (you might be able to squeeze by with a 175w) would let you keep whatever you wanted where you wanted in the tank. LPS, SPS, clams, anemones all fine.
HTH
-Justin

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by Khisamiddin
http:///forum/post/2756779
I was wondering if there is any significant difference between t5 and HQI, Metal Halide lighting for corals such as acropora, seriatopora, and mantipora species and for clams.
Basically, given all else equal, can these corals and clams live under T5?
Thanks in advance!
Ok then, let me give you the rundown on T-5s and Metal Halides. Metal Halides are known for the "shimmering" and more natural look apposed to T-5s. They are good for deep tanks because they are powerful enough to penetrate the bottom of the tank. They are very hot but are usually managable with fans or a chiller. Also the bulbs have to be replaced every 6 months apposed to T-5s that have to be replaced every 12-14 months. T-5s run cooler than halides but does look as natural as halides. Really it all comes down to preference. I have 2x175w metal halides on my 55 gal and I LOVE them. I would go with metal halides if you plan on upgrading to a large tank.

 

[reefman1223]

I have T5 HO's and am going to go with halides as well. I have a 38 gal and I like the T5 HO's but the growth rate on certain corals is better under the metal halides.

 

[khisamiddin]

Originally Posted by reefman1223
http:///forum/post/2756908
I have T5 HO's and am going to go with halides as well. I have a 38 gal and I like the T5 HO's but the growth rate on certain corals is better under the metal halides.
Thanks everyone,
It seems like I am going with the T5s with 156Ws which gives me about 5.3 watts per gallon. Plus, I have some problems with heat during summers so Metal Halides will probably fry my reef. The simmer effect is absolutely awesome but will have to wait until I upgrade to a 100+ gallon tank.
PS: reefman1223, I actually want my corals to grow slower due to limited space.

 

[reefraff]

Careful about generalizing folks. A buddy just recently took PAR readings on a guys tanks.
He has a 30 gallon hex with a 250 watt Phoenix halide with a lamp about 3 months old and a 180 with 6 80 watt T5 lamps. One had a PAR reading of 30 on the sandbed. The other had 330. Now there is obviously something wrong with this guys halide that he is only getting 30 but another guy on the thread mentioned he checked the PAR of a 250 Phoenix lamp over a 10 gallon tank and he was getting from 400 to 600 on the sandbed. Thats more like it but how tall is a 10 gallon tank as opposed to a 180? Ain't no way that particular halide setup (He didn't mention what reflector he was using) would best what the T5's were doing over the 180.