If you had the choice? MH or T5's in this setup

[Tom Toro]

I have the choice of either:
T5's 2x 48"fixtures (4 bulbs each, all 10k aquasun) or
MH 3x 175w Hamilton ballasts, Iwasaki 14k bulbs

My setup is a 8ftx2'x2' tank, acrylic with mostly softies, anemones and a couple of lps.


Forgot to mention I have 165w x 2 of superactinic vho for color already.
Thanks,
Tom

[jojo22]

MH all the way. Not only will you get a nice shimmer effect, but you will also leave your self the option of adding any coral you want, without a lighting worry.

[ReeferRob]

I prefer T5 for cooler running temp and cheeper electric bills. But of the two the MH has a better bulb color. MH is over kill for softies and anemones, but like Jojo said you can add anything you want. Then again with T5's you can keep anything you want too!


Flip a coin!

[Mike]

My preference is MH as well.

[jojo22]

I think the MH gives for a more realistic look. The shimmer and coral colors are just more real to me, not just dumping a ton of blue light on a tank to make the corals pop. If I wanted that look in my house a black light and some colored paint would do the trick. I prefer to see what I think it would look like if I was on a scuba trip.

[schminksbro]

I would also go with MH but 175s lack the "punch" to penetrate 24".

[Mike]

What Andy said :)

Go with 250's instead of the 175's

[Tom Toro]

But that's the deal I have. I have 3 extra 175's laying around and T5's laying around. Sounds like from the responses, I need to try the Halides. I'm hoping it has enough punch for the softies and lps. Right now they're growing (although slowly) on 7 (1 yr old +) T5's.

Thanks for the replies, Folks. Halides it is.

[jojo22]

So if you have the stuff laying around why not go 10K halides (they make the coral grow better than a 14K) and use the t-5's for acintics?? That would be the perfect set up. and if it's too blue you can swap a blue bulb for a 10-14k to get the look you want.

If I had the stuff laying around that is exactly the route I would go.

[Tom Toro]

So if you have the stuff laying around why not go 10K halides (they make the coral grow better than a 14K) and use the t-5's for acintics?? That would be the perfect set up. and if it's too blue you can swap a blue bulb for a 10-14k to get the look you want.

If I had the stuff laying around that is exactly the route I would go.

Sounds good. Now to polish up the reflectors. Thanks.

[Sir Patrick]

Your 3x175's will have plenty of punch for LPS and softies on a 24" tank- no worries. Even at the 14k you should be good.

Cant remember what you have running on the sps tank, but maybe the t5's would do some good over there? Run the softie/lps tank MH/VHO- 10k mh and vho actinics! Unless you run straight t5s, its the way to go, IMO, on any tank not full of sps.

[jojo22]

Hey no problem Tom, that's the way I would do it. I however disagree with Patric on the 14K, while it would work the 10K will provide more light in the spectrum your corals can use, so they will be just a bit happier and grow a little quicker.

It's kind of like buying a car with an 8 track when you can afford the cd player. the 8 track works, the cd player just works a little better.

[Sir Patrick]

Just as my last post- 14k will work, but I would advise going with the 10k on the MH.

I agree with jojo.

[Steven Pro]

So if you have the stuff laying around why not go 10K halides (they make the coral grow better than a 14K) and use the t-5's for acintics?? That would be the perfect set up. and if it's too blue you can swap a blue bulb for a 10-14k to get the look you want.

If I had the stuff laying around that is exactly the route I would go.

Me too! If you have the equipment, you might as well put it to work. It is a lot cheaper than buying something else. The 175 MH's with good lamps and good reflectors will provide plenty of light for growth while the T5's can help make the colors pop.

[Werdlone]

I'm not sure some of the other posters are aware that the Iwasaki 175 watt 15k bulb has a higher par value than any other 175 watt 10K bulb. In fact, it is in line with the par values of a 250 watt 14k bulb. I say, continue with the iwasaki 15k bulb and the vho actinics. Should be plenty.

check for yourself on sanjay's lighting page
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

[Sir Patrick]

I think I would have loved my iwasaki bulb, if I had the vho actinics at that time...

[igot2gats]

Tom - I'd go with the T5s. They provide better color, IMO. And the use less energy compared to Halides.