no_other_way
New Member
i have a 55 gal. and have a coralife 2x 10000k, 2x 65w actinic,and 4 led moonlights.Hood is 40 in. or so. Need to upgrade. more wattage. any reccomendations? dont mind to spend the money but want a good deal.
what lights to get?
- Thread starter no_other_way
- Start date
wangotango
Active Member
Welcome to the boards
.
What are you keeping? Honestly I'd ditch the PC and invest in either a good T5 or metal halide setup. If you wanted to go T5 then 4-5 individually reflected bulbs would let you keep whatever you wanted. The TEK and Aquactinics are two of the better fully assembled T5 fixtures that are more available. If you wanted to go halide then two 175w bulbs would be plenty.
If you have a canopy then a retrofit might be a better option. Icecap makes the best T5 retros.
Hope that helps.
-Justin
What are you keeping? Honestly I'd ditch the PC and invest in either a good T5 or metal halide setup. If you wanted to go T5 then 4-5 individually reflected bulbs would let you keep whatever you wanted. The TEK and Aquactinics are two of the better fully assembled T5 fixtures that are more available. If you wanted to go halide then two 175w bulbs would be plenty.
If you have a canopy then a retrofit might be a better option. Icecap makes the best T5 retros.
Hope that helps.
-Justin
brandan
Member
Originally Posted by Limpit
http:///forum/post/2693103
I'd go T5 over MH.
Less heat, less electricity, colors can be tweaked with different bulbs and better overall coverage.
I agree, my next tank IS going to have T5s. I am ditching my MH. To much heat, and they do not have the coverage I am looking for.
http:///forum/post/2693103
I'd go T5 over MH.
Less heat, less electricity, colors can be tweaked with different bulbs and better overall coverage.
I agree, my next tank IS going to have T5s. I am ditching my MH. To much heat, and they do not have the coverage I am looking for.
flricordia
Active Member
But with T5 over MH you will never get the best color from the corals and the display will still never look as natural as the shimmer effect you get from MH. T5s are better on energy and heat though, but a properly setup MH run off of electronic ballasts can also be energy and heat efficiant.
T5/MH combo is the ideal set-up.
T5/MH combo is the ideal set-up.
stanlalee
Active Member
Originally Posted by Flricordia
http:///forum/post/2693774
But with T5 over MH you will never get the best color from the corals and the display will still never look as natural as the shimmer effect you get from MH. T5s are better on energy and heat though, but a properly setup MH run off of electronic ballasts can also be energy and heat efficiant.
T5/MH combo is the ideal set-up.
Yeah I dont see ever going to T5. Once LEDs become affordable, reliable and actually deliver good PAR I'll probably go that route if heat and efficiency ever become an issue for me. T5 (or any flourescents) just dont do what MH and LEDs do for looks. MH coverage is a matter or how good the reflectors are and how many used. If you arent getting coverage, you need more MH or better reflectors, simple. I added up the wattage of other lights in the house (about 900 watts including 13 of which are only 13w each) and considered how much they are on between my wife, 5yr old and myself (not even including the TVs, 3 of 5 ceiling fans that run continously ect) and think its downright silly to consider the energy savings of 300w (MH) vs the 156w or 234w I'd be using with T5 on my 3ft tank and probably running longer. I haven't had a significant heat problem with MH yet (by that I mean I've never needed anything more than the fans the fixture came with or a few fans in the canopy when I used SE retro kit MH) though I'll conceed T5 has the advantage in most regards (its just the two it doesn't is looks and overall performance which can be better or worse depending on set up of either)
http:///forum/post/2693774
But with T5 over MH you will never get the best color from the corals and the display will still never look as natural as the shimmer effect you get from MH. T5s are better on energy and heat though, but a properly setup MH run off of electronic ballasts can also be energy and heat efficiant.
T5/MH combo is the ideal set-up.
Yeah I dont see ever going to T5. Once LEDs become affordable, reliable and actually deliver good PAR I'll probably go that route if heat and efficiency ever become an issue for me. T5 (or any flourescents) just dont do what MH and LEDs do for looks. MH coverage is a matter or how good the reflectors are and how many used. If you arent getting coverage, you need more MH or better reflectors, simple. I added up the wattage of other lights in the house (about 900 watts including 13 of which are only 13w each) and considered how much they are on between my wife, 5yr old and myself (not even including the TVs, 3 of 5 ceiling fans that run continously ect) and think its downright silly to consider the energy savings of 300w (MH) vs the 156w or 234w I'd be using with T5 on my 3ft tank and probably running longer. I haven't had a significant heat problem with MH yet (by that I mean I've never needed anything more than the fans the fixture came with or a few fans in the canopy when I used SE retro kit MH) though I'll conceed T5 has the advantage in most regards (its just the two it doesn't is looks and overall performance which can be better or worse depending on set up of either)