Lighting Question T5's or MH

[Noober]

Hello again! I was looking at pics of lt1z28's TOTM and I noticed that he switched to all T5's. I was thinking of getting a lighting system for a new tank and was wondering of a T5's capabilities when growing SPS and LPS corals and clams. What would you guys reccomend when supporting a large tank. Mabe one of the combo units with the HQI MH and T5 + Lunar LEDs? All info is appricated. Thanks!

[mathias]

LOVE MH... but they can cause a heat issue.... T5's are a little cheaper in the start but replacing so many bulbs is not fun....


but this thread could go back and forth many pages....

my personal prefrence is MH

[mathias]

ps with VHO....

[Iplantz]

T-5s can be hit and miss, mh are dead on every time.

[lt1z28]

T5's are capable of growing any high light critter. If you decide to go all T5's on a 24 to 30 inch deep tank be sure to use IceCap ballasts to overdrive the bulbs. Overdriving the bulbs will provide enough light at the bottom of the tank to keep sps and clams happy.

[dustint21]

Icecaps and good individual reflectors!! I bought LT1Z28's MH's! and got rid of my T5's! You will never get the growth out of T5s like you can a 250w 10K MH! I do however like the color options the T5s give you!!

[lt1z28]

Ditto on the reflectors. Overdriven T5's can grow sps just as well as 250watt 10k halides. 400 watt metal halides with good reflectors will put out more par than the overdriven T5's.

[dustint21]

Ok but you still dont have the MH shimmer!!! :p LMAO!

[Troutmasters02]

I have both. Two T5 actinic bulbs and two 250w MH lights on my 65 gallon. Maybe a little over kill but everything looks great!

Good luck!

[Noober]

thanks a lot guys, I think I will go with some combo lighting... Would something like 10K MH's coupled with what spectrum T5's be best? I have a 20K xm MH bulb that is 250 watt and it shines this really awsome blueish color, but I dont know if that blue will grow everything like a 10K bulb, wich i dont like the yellowish color that they produce as much. So would I be better off getting the 10k and making the tank more blue with t5's or using the 20k or 15k and adding some 10k spectrum with the t5's?
Thanks a bunch

[lt1z28]

Ok but you still dont have the MH shimmer!!! :p LMAO!

LOL! I miss the shimmer but I am very happy with my T5's.

[lt1z28]

Noober... If you go with both MH and T5's I would use 12k Reeflux with UVL Super Actinics or 14k Ushio DE with ATI blue Plus and UVL Super Actinics. The second combination will give you better growth. Arrange the bulbs like this
Front
UVL Super Actinic T5
ATI Blue Plus T5
Ushio 14k DE MH
ATI Blue Plus T5
UVL Super Actinic T5
Back

or
Front
UVL Super Actinic T5
Reeflux 12k DE or SE
UVL Super Actinic T5
Back

[wesheltonj]

You can also look at LED, no heat issues, you get the shimmer of MH, 50,000 hour bulb life and at least on my tank they are growing SPS.

[mdavis735]

i really like the look of my 12,000k reeflux mh's and t5's for more daylight and also actinic.not sure how growth will be as this is a new light combination on a new tank.

[ErikH]

I have MH and T5s. I only use my T5s for color right now, no reflectors, and no icecaps. I will say that on my cube, the zoas on the sand seem to be just fine.

[ErikH]

I have MH and T5s. I only use my T5s for color right now, no reflectors, and no icecaps. I will say that on my cube, the zoas on the sand seem to be just fine. Oh yeah, the cube has a Current Sundial...