T5 vs. Compact flourescent

[antman]

My mom is making me get rid of my 400 watt metal halide light on my 55 gallon because she thinks the pendant hanging from the ceiling is unattractive, it gives off too much heat, and takes up to much electricity. I was looking into either T5 or compact flourescent and I was wondering which one looks the best and is the best for coral and plant growth.

[SABOB]

Depends on what you want in your tank.T5 will give you many more options.Tell us about your tank.What size,what equipment and what livestock do you want to keep?

[Gseclipse02]

im assuming you have a MH for the corals that you have .....

so i would go T5 what size tank??? how deep ? and how wide

[brewercm]

I don't really think it matters what you have T5 just out of pure lighting options that are available. Not to mention you will be able to keep most anything you want under them (dependent on depth and coral location in the tank).

[Agent Jones]

t5 > cf

[BIGBIRD123]

Compacts are a wave log gone. T5s are great and you can keep anything with them. The only thing that MH are for now is the "shimmer effect". I like the shimmer but I like the low electric bill even more.

[rjohn111]

You can still get the shimmer effect with LED's without the heat and expense of the MH.

[Gseclipse02]

You can still get the shimmer effect with LED's without the heat and expense of the MH.


but at the expense of the led's

[BIGBIRD123]

You can still get the shimmer effect with LED's without the heat and expense of the MH.

With the proper LEDs, yes but most people can not afford the cost of them. We did some calculations a year or so ago and it took about 12 yrs to recoup the cost of them. Also, I have helped remove 3 Solaris fixtures because they didn't produce growth. Not trying to start an argument, just stating some facts. I wished they worked better for growth and were affordable. That is why I went from 4 -250w MH to all t5s.

[CoryDude]

Compacts are a wave log gone.

Totally agree. Compacts were great 10 years ago. Never liked how easily the bulbs could break.

[antman]

Thanks for the input. The corals I have in there right now are just some mushrooms and some star polyps and they seem to do well under any lighting. In the future I am planning on getting a couple of more interesting corals such as some LPS. My aquarium is just a standard 55 gallon. Am I alright going for the 54x4 watt nova extreme fixture or should I get the 6x54 nova extreme pro. Right now I am just talking aesthetically.

[rjohn111]

With the proper LEDs, yes but most people can not afford the cost of them. We did some calculations a year or so ago and it took about 12 yrs to recoup the cost of them. Also, I have helped remove 3 Solaris fixtures because they didn't produce growth. Not trying to start an argument, just stating some facts. I wished they worked better for growth and were affordable. That is why I went from 4 -250w MH to all t5s.

It creates the shimmer when I use it in conjunction with my normal lights. It also gives me enough light to feed my fish when i do a "dark" series of days to control algae or whatever. Check them out.

[Rychek]

How long have you had your LED fixture and what have you kept under it in your tank?

[rjohn111]

I bought it 3 months ago and I have zoas, mushrooms, and xenia under it. My xenia seems to like it especially.

[Rychek]

How deep/tall is your tank? These lights sound like a possiblity, but I have some SPS and don't want to risk them. :)

[SABOB]

antman,I would go with the Nova Extreme Pro.6 bulbs with individual reflectors would let you keep most anything in a 55.Post pictures of your tank after you buy it.