MH vs. T5... Why so much push for MH...

[ballardjr2000]

+1 thats the fixture i am buying getting it from saabtech the SUPER BRITE LED project he did but it does have some MH with it. Fish will probly glow after the lights go off at night.

[ErikH]

T5s need the right reflectors and bulb combos. Also those are zeovit tanks. Zeovit works to deplete nutrients and make the water superbly clear. The clear water often burns corals, in fact they tell you to be careful of that.

[Mr Cob]

I have used PC, VHO, MH, LED and T5.

My favorite is a combo of MH, LED and T5. MH for shimmer and main lighting...oh and my favorite part is when the ballast kicks on and the bulbs slowing come up instead of popping on and shocking everything. I like T5 for actinic...great blues and they are small unlike VHO and PC and then LED for moonlight. That's my favorite combo.

I have never used LED for main lighting so I have no experience there.

I have used both T5 and MH as main lighting for several years and I prefer the MH for the shimmer and the bulbs last longer. I found that using T5 I had to switch bulbs out every 6 months when putting them over SPS because they lose intensity much quicker than MH.

Like Ace mentioned...one of the best tanks I have ever seen with HUGE SPS colonies and beautiful color was Bernie's old tank....all lit by T5.

I still prefer MH...personal preference. There are cons and pros for both T5 and MH....but both can give you the same end product.

[Regric25]

Its really just what you prefer. Both are proven light systems. I personally have the MH lights I run 2 250w balasts with XM 20k DE bulbs. I was worried about heating up the tank but I have NOT had ANY problems with temperature. I think that mainly applies to people who use a canopy. With my MHs I am able to run the super blue 20K bulbs to get the actinic POP effect without sacrificing the corals needs. Plus I like the shimmer effect :P

[RayAllen]

Im not running either at the moment, but I did LOVE my MH HQI pendant when I had it. As rob mentioned I really like how the bulbs has a gradual build up to its maximum brightness/wattage. Gives the animals in the tank enough time to adjust. The shimmer a MH creates looks more natural on the sandbed then any other lighting out there.

Although ive not had T5 (yet) what I do like about them is the wide variety of colors spectrum to choose from. What I do not like about them is that they do not come in longer lengths.

I run 3 60" VHOs on my 180 and can not be happier. Run PC on my biocube. Call me old school in that way, im ok with it ;) If it works, looks good to you and you are happy nothing else matters. I apply that thinking to everything I own.

[Europhyllia]

Ray
just wanted to mention that the 60" T5s have covered my 72" tanks pretty well. 72" bulbs would probably be tough to ship

[Mr Cob]

I agree Ray.

Also, I have always had a canopy on evey tank I have owned and with MH I never had a temp problem....but we keep our house at 73-74 and I only run my MH for 7 hours.

It's all preference and what works for you.

[Bill S]

There are lots of great T5 tanks out there. But, if I were doing it over again, I'd go MH. In fact, if I ever get this nano up and running, I'm putting a MH on an 8 gallon nano.

[alton]

For every 100 watts at 10 hours a day for 365 days a year at $.10 a KWH it is $36.50 a year

Has anyone ever done the math for power consumption on MH? I wonder in the long run if it would be cheaper for T5's?

[alton]

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...!_Bulbs_by_ATI

I would love to try this fixture on my 300, any one want to float me a long term loan? And I am still looking at 808 watts, but it would be nice!