Nano lights

[OrangeKoi]

I'm setting up my 30 gallon cube.

Is that considered a Nano?

With the debate between t5 and Mhallide I'm not quite sure what to get.

MHallide, right?
So I can keep whatever I like?

[sir_dudeguy]

this is gonna start up another debate about what is and isnt nano i'm sure :) but in my book, nano is less than 20. Everything else (until big) is just normal.

t5 HO is just as strong as MH but uses much lower wattage. How long and tall is this tank? If its long enough, i'd say go for t5's since they're cheaper to run and give no heat. You just lose the nice shimmer lines is all.

MH...sure you can grow whatever (you can under t5's too if you have enough) but its really hot a lot of tines (usually a fan fixes this tho) and uses up a lot of energy.

The shortest t5 is 24 inches (for the fixture, the bulb itself is 22.5 i believe) so the tank has to be at least that long for t5s

[Sugar Magnolia]

I run a 250W 14K MH over my 30 cube.

[Rosseau]

I'm looking into the MH vs. T5 deal right now aswell..


One bonus to T5's is that bulbs are cheap and easy to swap. Lots of different bulbs exist so you can better customize your colour scheme.

[OrangeKoi]

My tank is 21 inches deep,20 inches across and 18 inches front to back.

I hope there are shorter t5's?

[Rosseau]

you could have the 22.5" (24" with end caps) hang over the side.

or, I have seen a few smaller T5 bulbs. I think HelloLights and Nanotuners.com have a few. Check it out. Selection isn't so great though.

[Rosseau]

T5's will distribute the light more evenly. I'm not sure, but a single MH fixture will have a tough time spreading light across 20". PArtially depends on how high you mount the light though.

[sir_dudeguy]

I hope there are shorter t5's?

no, i dont think there are any shorter as i've never found any (i have looked for them before for a 10g tank which is only 20" and i dont want nothin hangin over the edge.

[OrangeKoi]

So I guess I'm stuck with MH for the depth eh?