Metal Halides or T5 Setup

[bustayanky]

I was wondering would i save a lot more money on my electric bill if i switched over to a T5 setup. I'm running a 150watt 20K MH on a 40 gallon tank now and was wondering if I switched to 4 x 36" T5 bulbs, if it would make a difference in my bill and if it will effect my corals and fish?

[bustayanky]

Another quick question how many watts per gallons should you have with MH and how many watts should you have with T5?

[The Grim Reefer]

You would use about the same amount of power with either, you would just have a lot more intensity with the T5's.

[bustayanky]

o cool so the only difference is heat and intensity?

[The Grim Reefer]

yes

[bustayanky]

thanks grim

[UCanDoIt]

I am having so much trouble trying to decide between MH/T5 combo and 100% T5. Since I only want to use a lighthood w/o canopy, I purchased both the Maristar 2x150W MH with 2x54W T5 combo lighthood as well as the Teklight 4x54W. Both tanks acclimated using the window screen method. I've tested each for 3 weeks now after all screens have been removed. Maristar on 48"Lx18"Wx20"H and 10" above waterline with MH on 6hours daily and T5s on 8hours (Blue+ & AquaBlue). Teklight on 48"Lx16"Wx18"H and 5" above waterline with GE & AquaBlue on 8hrs daily and Blue+ on 10hrs daily. Obviously, the MH/T5 combo uses about 2x electricity and produces more heat, but my corals seem to behave very well. On my 100% T5 tank, one hammer coral bleached out white, so I put him lower in the tank and color is returning now. Several mushrooms just melted and disappeared before I was able to move them all into shady area. It seems that even moving them lower in the tank doesn't do it. All my other LPS in the 100% T5 tank looks good. Any comments and experience would be helpful.

[jimbo045]

MHs, I feel T5s are out.. JD

[Ti]

Do both

[UCanDoIt]

I am breaking down the smaller tank soon, so will only need just one lighthood. Trying to decide which one to keep for my 75g reef, currently has the MH/T5 combo on it.

jimbo045 - what do you mean that T5s are out, they're a pretty new hottest item, aren't they?

[mg426]

I like the MH look

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7691651#post7691651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
Do both

I am going to on my 90g.

some of the best tanks i have seen are mh/t5ho

[UCanDoIt]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, I hope that you were finished with your questions earlier.

So both of you are recommending that I keep the Maristar instead of the Teklight???
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7691651#post7691651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
Do both <a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7692356#post7692356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
I am going to on my 90g.
some of the best tanks i have seen are mh/t5ho

[horkn]

yep, keep the MH/t5 light

[bustayanky]

I truly want to change over to a T5 setup just for the heat and the intesity factor because i don't have a chiller and it heats up my tank like crazy.

[UCanDoIt]

Check this out. I have seen many members use these clip-on fans to take the edge off the heat so a chiller doesn't have to be used. Only works if your tank is right on the edge between getting a chiller or not. You can put one of these clip-ons blowing across the surface if you have an open top and if you don't, one across the top of the tank is still helpful as it directs some of the heated air away from the tank. Also, one of these blowing across the sump surface water. I talked to my aquarium technician about this and he says probably one blowing across the MH ballast if the ballast is inside the tank stand would help as well. Check this thread out, these fans uses hardly any electricity at all.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=873689

[Ti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7692386#post7692386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UCanDoIt
Sorry for hijacking the thread, I hope that you were finished with your questions earlier.

So both of you are recommending that I keep the Maristar instead of the Teklight???
Actually I recommend retrofit if possible, but the maristar is a good fixture.