What will have more par for SPS - 2x175 Iwasaki 15k or 6x54 Tek-5??
 

Currently run the 6x54w Tek light with 3xAquaBlue Plus and 3xSuper Actinic (UVL). I am considering changing to 2 of the Iwasaki 15k lights in Lumenmax pendants. Will I be improving anything by doing this or taking a step back?

This is all on a 75g tank. May upgrade to a 120 at some point.

Thanks
Ray

I can't help with T5 -> MH comparison but I have a couple of the 15,000K Iwasaki's and they are some bright bulbs with a good color. I moved from XM10,000K's and those are no slouch either but it was like jumping up to a couple 250's. Actually if you look on sanjay's page, the 175 Iwasaki's will beat 250 coralvue 10,000k's and many others. I'll be running mine soon with a couple T5HO actinics instead of the 4X55 pc's and I guess I'll then get a little bit of intensity comparison to judge.

I would say that the 175W Iwasaki would be brighter as refering to Sanjay's site. Besides T5s just look to fake compared to MHs.

The two set ups will be very similar in output, the T-5's might even be a bit ahead. But, I gotta still vote for the MH set-up. The look is better IMO.