What would you use and why?

[c42480]

I just got an oceanic 178gallon 5 foot tank. Its 60"l x 24"w x 29"d. Now i have a 90bow thats 27"d. For the 90 im using 4 t5 bulbs with reflectors and i have been using them for 6 months and all my corals are growing like crazy. SO the question is on the new tank would you use 500w t5 with reflectors or 500w halide lights. I will have a 3" sand bed so the deepest light would have to go is 26"
Thanks Chuck

 

[djevack]

I really like t-5 lighting but MH are better for deeper tanks. I dont think the t-5 lighting will work as well for the deeper tank. I would get some more advise from people who have a 24"+ deep tank, i've never owned a tank that deep. But I would think MH is the way to go for the 27" depth

 

[c42480]

no one else has an idea?

 

[camanuch]

your 90 bow is deeper then the 178. that alone should answer that question. i have read that anything over 30" you need halides. but have been told t5ho is good up to 36" max. plus i prefer t5 becuase:
1. cheaper to replace bulbs
2. runs a hell of a lot cooler
3. many broad spectrums
4. can do many different combo's of lights
5. bulbs last alomst double the time.

 

[tangwhispr]

do MH, much better for a tank that size....and cheaper in the long run

 

[c42480]

TangWhispr How would the MH be cheaper? If they are i may do them i like the shimmer that they produce.

 

[almostclueless]

The bulbs dont need to be replaced as often, and there are generally fewer bulbs than a t5 fixture/

 

[tangwhispr]

Originally Posted by c42480
http:///forum/post/2548483
TangWhispr How would the MH be cheaper? If they are i may do them i like the shimmer that they produce.
You are only replacing 3 bulbs...so you may have 200 bucks in bulb changes.

 

[camanuch]

mh bulbs need to be changed every 6-9 months.
t5 bulbs ever 12-15 months.
MH bulbs cost like:
250-watt 12 000K ReefLux Mogul Base MH bulb $61.99
150-watt 10 000K ReefLux HQI DOUBLE ... $61.99
1000-watt 14 000 K MH bulb Coral Vue $83.99
t5 bulbs cost like:
Hagen Glo T5 HO 24W Marine-Glo Bulb, 48" $28.38
Hagen Glo T5 HO 24W Marine-Glo Bulb, 36" $23.85
Hagen Glo T5 HO 24W Marine-Glo Bulb, 24" $20.45
also t5ho has a much better selection. and your not even over 30 inches high.

 

[camanuch]

these of course are just examples.
better bulbs more $,
bigger bulbs more $.
if timing of change is right then t5ho is cheaper in long run.

 

[tangwhispr]

his tank is 60"