[ckwatson]

i have a 45 gallon tank 36"w by 12"d by 24" tall and some one told me i could use the lunar light 36" which has 2 96 watt lights and 3 moonlights. will this be good for softies and sps? I think these are PC lights

kyle

[Tonz of fun]

Yes they are PC lights. In my opinion I hate them to death. I would recomend the T5s if you have the money... 36 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 4x39W T5HO with 3 Lunar Lights (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Lighting ) sounds like this light would work for what you want. Lower electric bill as well.

[ckwatson]

i have seen a lot of people talk about the T5 light but i really dont know what makes them better. Is there a thread or article i could read that would talk about the difference between the PC T5 and the other one MH? I am not looking to do any LPS right now it seems like the light needed for that are way out of my price range.

[sanjaypawar]

You can go on vividaquariums.com and check out their lighting section. They have info available about the kind of lighting you should have in your tank, read from two or three other sources and you will know what you want. Also keep in mind heat issues.

[ckwatson]

that site had a lot of useful info, but i still dont know what makes one better than the other it just said that the MH light where best. Is it a different wave length or just that it is brighter? I want to do mostly softies and a few SPS or at least a brain. Will the T5 lights that tonz recommended work for both of them. also tonz why do you dislike the PCs so much, are they the ones that can cause a heat problem.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

metal halide lights have a lot of issues.there useful bulb life is short,6 months,the bulbs may burn for a year or two but the phosphers that make there color tamp is gone or near useless at 6 months.They generate lots of heat and use lots of expensive energy.Power compacts have a longer useful bulb life and less heat but lack the efficiency of t5.T5's with single lamp reflectors are able redirect the light emmtted from the back of the bulb into the tank.This is easily done because the bulb is very thin.Manufacturedd t5 units are somewhat less efficient because they have one reflector for all the bulbs.Currently there are only two ways to get a unit with single lamp reflectors.You can build it yourself see this linkhttp://www.diyreef.com/shop/index.php?cPath=55_89 or you can buy a complete unit with single lamp reflectors see this linkhttps://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/index.php?cPath=55_90

[glampka]

T-5s also allow you to use lower wattage than with PC lights.
If you are leaning towards PC - check out Compact Fluorescent Lighting Kits. Their reflector is very good at returning the light given off to the tank. Very reasonable as well for the DIY.

[ckwatson]

I think i am leaning towards the T5s, I found a good price on them at LFS and the bulb price/life seems to be better. So that is one less thing I have to decide on and one step closer to getting every thing set up.

[glampka]

Just be sure you have the individual reflectors for the bulbs rather than 1 huge reflector. It makes a world of difference.

[sanjaypawar]

For softies and SPS I think MH are in fact too much light and they don't like it. I have MHs. The advantage of MH is that with T5s they give the tank a great look and also provide a good spectrum of light. As far as I can tell..........

[Tonz of fun]

Whatever light you found at the LFS research it online and compair the prices. There is such a huge mark up at LFS. About two thirds. Online stores are about one third. Many stores online offer free shipping and better warranties.

[ckwatson]

I found the one you posted a link to in this thread for $175 I am working with my LFS and trading some photography work for discounts and "free" equipment.

[FINDING_NEMO]

u need MH for sps, they require a lot of light and will be hard to keep under 156 watts of t-5

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I have to agree with Nemo,156 watts is a bit thin for sps.But i dont think you need mh either.You can build your own 240 watt t 5 set up for 369$'s including bulbs.And the operating costs will be 1/3 of metal halide. Look here at the Ice cap 4 bulb 36 inch unit.It is vho if you use the UVL bulbs.

[Tonz of fun]

Originally Posted by FINDING_NEMO

u need MH for sps, they require a lot of light and will be hard to keep under 156 watts of t-5

hmmm dont know about that. Check out this tank that is lit by T5s only... YouTube - Premier Fish and Reef 180 Gallon display aquarium No spses but amazing. Its not about the kind of fixture its about light output and water penitration. T5s will out perform MHs after 6- months of use. And just so everyone know Im not just being bias I have both T5s and MHs.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

When you look at tanks like that it isnt hard to predict the end of metal halide.They slide right into the "why bother " catagory.

[Tonz of fun]

Isnt that tank Jaw dropping. I was trying to find the SPS dominate tank from europe that someone posted in reef discussions like a month ago do you have it Native?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I remember it but didnt keep it.

[ncdiablo]

I am biased of course, but to put my 2 cents in I will say definately t-5's. There is an Aquatinics Constellation 36" model and each bulb has it's own reflector.

The Reflectors they use are the best reflectors made hands down.

[401jas]

I would agree with the single reflector T-5's. I would like to get 4 actinic t-5's and another 14K MH...that would be great!

I have a 175W 14K m/h now that i spent $65 bucks on...DIY! After three weeks the bulb is "burnt in" to an amaizing whitish purple color. I have a 12K/Actinic PC with the mh now and it's alright. I will never buy pc's again...they don't seem as intense as t-5 or VHO.

I have great motipora cap growth as well as great zoo and GSP growth under the PC/MH. The MH is only on for 2-3 hrs a day now...soon to be 5-6 hrs a day.

The MH bulbs are available on ebay for $18 shipped. Now do they seem cost effective? I'm getting another one and selling the PC setup and going with actinic t-5's with two 14k MH.....as soon as i get off my lazy butt and build the hood.

[CyberJester]

I have a question?
How wide are the reflectors on the single reflector T-5 models.
I was thinking about doing a retro from DIYReef but not sure if I can get away with 8 of them under my canopy or wheather I should go with 6 instead.

got 18" of width to work with.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

the slr's are 2.5 inch's

[NATIVEVAMAN]

6 of those Ice cap t 5's would give you 360 watts.you could cut that back to 4 on your tank if you use vho.

[CyberJester]

VAMAN could you give me a kinda of a analysis of the difference between HO and VHO other then power requirements.

Size of bulb (diameter).
Bulb selections available.
Water penitration.
Loss of light.
ect....

[fishman51]

Is anybody familiar with the Current T5 Nova extreme system, does it have individual reflectors?