T5 or Compact Flourescents?

[xxnonamexx]

I am looking for some input for a 120g sw tank. I plan on fish w/live rock and maybe soft corals. I had MH on my 55gal 300W. but too much heat and pricy to keep up with changing the bulbs etc. I was looking at either Orbit Extreme Compact Fluorescent Lunar Lights or Nova Extreme T-5 Fixtures w/Lunar Lights. The Orbit offers 520watts Nova offers 432watts

 

[deelucky]

i have the nova extreme 24" on my 29 gallon and everything in my tank is doing great.if these are the only choices i'd say nova extreme.if you want any t-5's i'd say tek.

 

[autoponicz]

if your doing FOWLR i think any lighting would be ok...
but if you plan to add corals later on....i would suggest getting a good light now.....or your gonna have to spend more money in the long run...
i would go t-5 HO but only if they have individual reflectors like the sls tek lights or aquatinics
also i hope you already included upgrading to corals in the future with your filtration....or else your gonna need to upgrade that also

 

[tacocat]

T-5 all the way. T-5 lighting provides more light for less energy consumption. T-5 offers more bulb choices as well.

 

[cali_reef]

If you think two 150W Mh bulbs are expensive, wait until you have to change 6 T5 bulbs.

 

[autoponicz]

i would say the prices for 6 t-5 bulbs and 2 150w mh bulbs are almost the same....both will be in the 120$ range

 

[cali_reef]

i would say the prices for 6 t-5 bulbs and 2 150w mh bulbs are almost the same....both will be in the 120$ range

My point exactly!! Not really a saving by switching.

 

[xxnonamexx]

How often do T5 bulbs get replaced compared to MH? What is tek? Autoponicz what do you suggest as for filtration?

 

[MO~IDOL]

How often do T5 bulbs get replaced compared to MH? What is tek? Autoponicz what do you suggest as for filtration?

12- 18 months
TEK is another brand of T5
get a hood if you like so you can have all kinds of lights

 

[crox99]

12- 18 months
TEK is another brand of T5
get a hood if you like so you can have all kinds of lights

Is the 12-18 months for the T5 or the MH?

 

[crox99]

i would say the prices for 6 t-5 bulbs and 2 150w mh bulbs are almost the same....both will be in the 120$ range

Well next time I am changing my MH I am going to get some Radium bulbs and they are around $100 a piece:anger2: :anger2: So it depends on what kind of MH bulbs he's buying but with $120 is in within range.

 

[MO~IDOL]

Is the 12-18 months for the T5 or the MH?

T5s depends how many hours you run daily

 

[crox99]

T5s depends how many hours you run daily

and how often should I replace my mh? I have them on for 10 hours a day.

 

[MO~IDOL]

Metal halide lamps have an average life of 15,000-20,000+ hours

 

[xxnonamexx]

MH I liked the Corallife with seperate ballasts 2 150watt ballasts seperate. For the 120 it says I need 500watts and the ballasts are huge and give tons of heat and very expensive.

 

[MO~IDOL]

I had the nova t5 4 bulds for my 75g great grow for softies & LPS
I've DE 2x250 and it does produce a lot of heat

 

[autoponicz]

im in the process of setting up a 50g and i was really dedicated on getting a mh fixture...but i went to a lfs and placed my hand near the mh they had hanging over some sps....wow....that thing is a heater on its own.....ill leaning towards the t5's now....probrably the aquactinics 5x39w fixture.....

and nonamex......for filtration i would lean towards a drilled tank and a large sump with a fuge and a big skimmer

 

[Wes]

My point exactly!! Not really a saving by switching.

t5 last almost twice as long

 

[cali_reef]

t5 last almost twice as long

Really? They stay lit twice as long or do they provide resonable light without loss at twice as long? Do you have practicle knowledge or is this something you read on the internet?

 

[Wes]

well i have never used MH but I am a T5 user bulbs will last 18-24 months if fan cooled and normally driven.

It is not "practical" experience because I havn't had my tank running for 2 years yet but bulb life has been discussed to death on the evil internet. Manufacturers recommend changing 18-24 months. Some tests were done after 18 months and the bulbs were still pushing out alot of par.

Bulb life is one of T5 HO's biggest selling points.

most people who overdrive them like i do switch them out every 12 months to err on the side of caution..

my "practical" experience is anecdotal compared to the experience of hundreds...

i am not sure how long a $60 MH bulb will last so my "twice as long" is a very rough estimate and i apologize for that.