Yeah, yeah. Another t5/VHO vs. Metal Halide Thread...

[brianjfinn]

So, I'll be upgrading my system later this summer (the wife's idea :thumbs and am trying to decide on the type of lighting. The tank will be a 67 gallon (48x18x18 custom built by Fish Scales) and I'll probably go with a canopy and use retro fit kits.

I've done a bunch of research over the years, so I'm aware of the advantages and disadvantages of metal halides, t5s, and VHO lighting. Currently I have two 70w metal halides over my 20 gallon system. I love the intensity, the growth, and the shimmer effect, but I do have to deal with some heat issues on the hotter summer days, not to mention the amount of power required to run these things. I'm thinking about switching to t5s (or VHOs, but not as likely, due to space issues) because I love the color you can get from them, and there's also less power consumption and less of an issue with heat production.

I'd like to hear from those that have used both metal halides and t5 or VHO lighting, and see which you prefer and why.

 

[weaglereefer]

I liked the colors of my corals better with T5's, but like the growth better with halides.

Fixed the color issue with some VHO to go along with the halides.

 

[cr500_af]

Well, I switched from T5 (6x54w) to 2x250w MH over my 90, and I love them. I got decent growth with the T5s but it's better now without a doubt, and the tank looks more natural with the shimmer. I did add a chiller, but truthfully I would have done it with T5s anyway because I keep my house no cooler than 77 in the summer... cheaper to run a chiller than drop the temp on the whole house.

 

[rbredding]

My 90 started, STARTED it's cycle about the end of January...

I've got Coraline growing all across the back wall and overflows...

I'm pretty sure that's MH's FTW!!

Like AU.. I'm also running a couple VHO Actinics...

 

[cr500_af]

I added T5 actinics (2 54w lamps) to mine... they make awesome dusk/dawn lights but they can't cut through the MHs to make an appreciable difference. I will do VHOs on the next one most likely.

 

[brianjfinn]

au01st;498013 wrote: I liked the colors of my corals better with T5's, but like the growth better with halides.

Fixed the color issue with some VHO to go along with the halides.

Yeah, I thought about that, but there's the cost issue again. T5/VHO kits are much cheaper than metal halide kits, and so are the bulbs. Also, the t5s are supposed to last longer (although, the halide bulbs I have over my tank right now are probably two years old, but we won't tell any body...)

cr500_af;498015 wrote: Well, I switched from T5 (6x54w) to 2x250w MH over my 90, and I love them. I got decent growth with the T5s but it's better now without a doubt, and the tank looks more natural with the shimmer. I did add a chiller, but truthfully I would have done it with T5s anyway because I keep my house no cooler than 77 in the summer... cheaper to run a chiller than drop the temp on the whole house.

Were you having heat issues because of your t5s? If so, are you using a canopy and fans?

 

[cr500_af]

brianjfinn;498019 wrote:


Were you having heat issues because of your t5s? If so, are you using a canopy and fans?

Truthfully, with the house at 77-78 I'm gonna have heat issues with any capable lights. I do use a canopy and fans, which seriously reduced the chiller runtime. I might get by without it, but I don't like to let things get too hot so my tank swings from 79.5-80.5 during the day... any warmer and the chiller comes on.

 

[jeffh]

I think 3' and 4' tanks are the sweet spot for T5's. I love the color options of T5 and with the correct reflectors and cooling, T5's are easily able to keep up with almost all MH setups. My diy T5 hood is bright enough Coraline won't grow on the top 5 inches of my tank. I also had great growth of my corals under T5's. Now if you want the skimmer...then there is only one option.

 

[gmpolan]

Im in the same boat brian, i run a sun tek T5 on my 72 (4 x54) and the colors are amazing but its def a slow grow. So im considering going to MH's on the 150 but i def dont have a desire to purchase a chiller so im stuck. As far as heat, my current tank will sometimes get up to 82 during the day if nobody is home (i refuse to leave the ac on when no ones there) but im ok with that as long as it doesnt get any hotter. Im sure il have to make a change once i move to the MH's tho because it def will get hotter than 82 with no AC...:sad:

 

[jeffh]

A huge factor in T5 lighting par is the bulb selection and active cooling. Only the newest Tek's have cooling...without you are losing something like 25% of the par for most Tek fixtures. Bulb selection is also important..."blue" bulbs put out much less par then "white" bulbs.

 

[snowmansnow]

IMO you can't beat a GOOD t5 fixture. I'm not talking about run of the mill fixtures. Get one with overdrive, active cooling and GOOD reflectors. Aquactinics, ATI PM, or Sfigoli (spelling).

I realize my experience is very limited compared to some here, but I've done 250w HQI and 400w.. I'm using 7lamp t5 now and like it for a whole lot of reasons.

My growth is MUCH more rapid with t5s, but I also know a lot more about water chemistry as compared to when I had the MH.

 

[basscyn]

I ran T5's on my 75 gallon for about 2 years. But was drawn to the shimmer of MH...so I built my 175 this fall with 4x250 MH.

I dunno...I still like the overall look of MH better. Looks more natural with the shimmer. But the classic cons of MH are making me scratch my head a bit. My set up is in my basement and it stays pretty cool down there in the summer. Oddly enough in the winter with the heat on in the house, and in the fall and spring when neither the furnace nor the AC is running is when water temp seems to spike and the room heats up. I may eat those words this August.
So to me the heat is the biggest con. Contolling the water temp as well as keeping the room comfortable. I think the size of the tank and power of your MH system is the key. I have a 6' tank lit up by 1000 watts of halide heat and the room is not very big.

So I would say if you can control the water temp and room heat...go with MH. But If I had to do <u>mine</u> all over again...I might go with T5's.

I began moving corals over in December...but have not seen any noticeable increase in growth yet. Everything seemed to grow pretty fast in my 75 with T5's. Time will tell.