What type of lighting do you use?
- Thread starter revhtree
- Start date
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Not yet, but I am sure there will a migration from halides. If you look at all the people that use mh+ something, that is a greater number then T5 alone. Personally I use ONLY T5, and I am very happy with the results, but switching from halide to T5 is expensive, especially if you already have a successful lighting scheme.
I think it has to do with R2R evolving out of club zoa. The SPS forum here really is an afterthought. Metal Halides and VHO's; tried and tested.
oceanparadise1
The Coral Dudes
Ive used both t5ho and Mh and i like the look of Mhs better. The shimmer effect is priceless and you dont get that with t5s. Plus i noticed much better growth under my Mhs then i did with my T5hos
paintballer768
Master of Puppets
I have 1 150 MH 14k. I really would like to try out T5s, but honestly I dont understand all the blue bulbs and what it all means. And how much watts of this is comparable to how many watts of MH.
I miss the shimmer, but I gained efficiency! My T5 setup draws 374W, and is growing as fast, with better color, then my 10K Halides and VHO actinic did. My old halide setup drew 610W!!! So I have a net savings of 236W, which is almost the equivalent of a single halide.
Phil is correct in that it is not the WATTS that determine growth and color, those are measured by PAR (Lumens) and Color (Kelvin). Watts however do a play a significant role, that is COST, how much that light costs you every month to run.
how much that light costs you every month to run.
I love this debate. I do not care what I spend putting into my tank as most of us have made plenty of $100 purchase on small coral fragments; but I do care about efficiency.
I care more about the way my tank makes me feel when I look at it. I missed my VHO's when I switched to T5's as there are certain visual looks that can not be replicated with T5's; and there is no way I will give up my halides.
T5's are more efficient, there is not doubt about that, but at what cost. I used to go see top notch systems running SE bulbs and vhos and internally I knew they were nicer looking. I used to tell myself, "but t5's are more efficient" :lol:
This is the greatest part of our hobby. There is not one correct way to do it, but when there is a debate, we never want to admit that
You are absolutely correct! I switched to T5 from halides due to heat when my chiller crapped out. I was thinking of experimenting with T5 anyway, then the chiller went, so T5 became a life saver. I think it has been about a year now, and I am still playing with bulb combinations. I used to think that T5 actinic lacked VHO too, but the Geismann "true" actinic bulbs are pretty darn close! Initially the T5 actinic bulbs were very BLUE, now they are much better.
There are almost as many options for color with T5 as there are for halides now, and either system will work VERY well.
Now, if only I could find a 1000GPH pressure rated return pump that only draws 60W!!!
There are almost as many options for color with T5 as there are for halides now, and either system will work VERY well.
Now, if only I could find a 1000GPH pressure rated return pump that only draws 60W!!!
oceanparadise1
The Coral Dudes
I do love the fact that theres a lot of different combos with the t5s. The one thing i personally noticed is growth. My 10ks are amazing on my HQIs, and IMO far surpassed growth when i had the t5s. But the one big factor for me was the look of mhs vs t5s. The shimmer effect is wayyyyyy cool and i cant live with out it lol
