lighting decision help

[kirtdog]

I am upgrading this:

to a 75g reef ready. I have built the sump, got the skimmer, and return pump. All that is left is deciding on lighting. I have an icecap 660 with 4 VHO's.

I would have to build a canopy to put them in.

Now the question is what would be better. Should I:

1) Use what I have
2) Get 2 MH retrofits and use two of the VHO's I have
3) use this light http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/242487/product.web

I currently have the 36" version of the light in #3. It is a great light and is very convenient with the built in digital timers.

I plan on doing a mixed reef just like I have now.

Please give me your input or opinions.

 

[ian anderson]

dont do metal halides go with t5s not is hot cheaper no fans no chiller blubs last way longer i will never go back to metal halides like at it this way radium 250watt bulb 20000k runs 89.95 last about 6 months to a year max t-5 giesman 25-35 dollars 84 watt they say every 18 months i do mine about every 15 months so you can run a six bulbs sytem and save fitfy dollars every time you buy bulbs and that doesnt include the power bill it just my 2 cents take it or leave it

 

[MechaSamurai]

This is a touchy subject and many people will tell you a "definitive" answer one way or the other based on personal experience, do your research and decide what is best for YOU.

I got a setup with PC lighting and recently upgraded to a better PC light fixture. It works great for me and everything in my tank is happy. My entire fixture is about the same wattage as one MH bulb (4x65=260w) and there is a nice even distribution of light all the way across my 48in tank. If you decide to go with a canopy, regardless of MH, PC, or T5 make sure you get good reflectors.

 

[Rortreefer]

dont do metal halides go with t5s not is hot cheaper no fans no chiller blubs last way longer i will never go back to metal halides like at it this way radium 250watt bulb 20000k runs 89.95 last about 6 months to a year max t-5 giesman 25-35 dollars 84 watt they say every 18 months i do mine about every 15 months so you can run a six bulbs sytem and save fitfy dollars every time you buy bulbs and that doesnt include the power bill it just my 2 cents take it or leave it

I am running T5's right now and LOVE them but I don't believe that the above is completely true. You DO need fans to be blowing at the connection to the bulbs and best to have another blowing across the bulbs. Helps the bulbs stay cool and produce better par.

Yes the T5's individually cost much lest than Metal Halides but when you add it up... My 8 bulb fixture cost me $400, plus 8 bulbs x Average of $20 = $160

So $560 for a complete light set up for my tank is somewhat pricey and comparable to a MH set up. In the same sense, most MH bulbs will run you about $50-75 and are replaced a little less than twice a year.

From experience it does run cooler and CAN be cheaper but it all depends. I love the shimmer that MH gives and am planing on doing a switch to 2 MH with 4 T5's.

I hope this helps and doesn't make the decision harder! lol

GL

 

[coral diver]

Since you have the ballast just get the retro fit mount and bulb with a canopy and fans it will save you $, and you can add the save $ for a chiller, what would be the length of the tank? my $0.02

 

[shapermike]

I am running T5's right now and LOVE them but I don't believe that the above is completely true. You DO need fans to be blowing at the connection to the bulbs and best to have another blowing across the bulbs. Helps the bulbs stay cool and produce better par.

Yes the T5's individually cost much lest than Metal Halides but when you add it up... My 8 bulb fixture cost me $400, plus 8 bulbs x Average of $20 = $160

So $560 for a complete light set up for my tank is somewhat pricey and comparable to a MH set up. In the same sense, most MH bulbs will run you about $50-75 and are replaced a little less than twice a year.

From experience it does run cooler and CAN be cheaper but it all depends. I love the shimmer that MH gives and am planing on doing a switch to 2 MH with 4 T5's.

I hope this helps and doesn't make the decision harder! lol

GL

+1 ON ALL ABOVE.

I have used all of them and found that all the different lighting is good. you have a icecap 660 and the wiring all you have to do is change the end caps and you can run power compacts or t-5 or keep you VHO's. I have the same set up on one of my frag tanks using 4 4' t-5's and it work great. With the icecap you can run up to 16 feet of bulbs using both channels. The T-5s you can have the bulbs closer together.

I grow SPS, LPS and Soft corals under T-5. I miss the shimmer of the MH but I can replicate it using either leds or a 75 w MH in the middle. It is up to you and your pocket book
good luck

 

[AJDuran]

I run a 250w mh over my 30g and the heat hasn't been an issue added a fan and the chiller hasn't kicked on since I went with the mh cuz the way I saw it I'd rather replace one bulb every 6-8 months rather then a 4 or 6 bulbs but never used t-5 just my .02