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06-08-2007, 02:36 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 46
Karma: 1
 |  Lighting brands -- preferences
Time for some further upgrading on my re-vamped 55Gal tank. I've got some lights that make for a pleasant display on there now, but its time to get something with a bit more power.
Obviously, as with anything else, there is a ton of options out there. I'm looking at T-5 HO or MH lighting this time around...what types of setups give the best bang for the buck? I'm not opposed to the idea dropping cash right now (though I'm sure my girlfriend is  )
Also, anyone had success with a DIY approach? Important lessons learned, that kind of thing?
Anything and everything that you guys can provide I'd very much appriciate!
_________
55-Gal : FOWLR, now with sand! Coralife SS 125, Emperor BioWheel 400, PhosBan Reactor
Guests: 2 Ocellaris Clownfish
Next: Cleaner Shrimp, inverts, anemone? | 
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06-08-2007, 03:08 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
  
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Well...I am a big T-5HO buff...who needs MH psh...hah. Check out ReefGeek > Aquarium Supplies for Marine, Reef, and Saltwater Aquariums They are awsome people and really helpful. Great selection too. All sorts of lighting and goodies. You have the same size tank as i do. I have a 4 bulb 216w T-5HO. SPS are doing great. kept their color as when they were under MH. _________ Tank Specs:
55 Gallon Mixed Reef
48" Tek Light: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents
Bulbs:
1 x 54w Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w Super Actinic Blue T5 HO Flourescent
1 x 54w 14000K AquaBlue 75/25 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w 10000k AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Hard Stuff:
100+ lb. Fiji Live Rock
65+ lb. Live sand
http://www.teslamotors.com/images/ba...la_banner6.jpg | |
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06-08-2007, 03:23 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 287
Karma: 71
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well, i have the Current USA Nova Extreme T5-HO, and am very pleased with it! I guess preferably, i would have taken the Tek-Light setup. but since they were about the same price as MH, i decided on the nova's at around 200 bucks... i didn't want MH because for one, i wasn't planning on any SPS corals, and the only other thing i would have liked is one of the big pretty clams. and i knew i wasn't ready for one right out the gates (when i first started my saltwater aquarium), so i figured i didn't need it anyway... another reason i don't like MH is because of the heat transfer... and as for the "shimmer effect" that a lot of people choose MH for, i get the same thing when my lights shine through the ripples on top of the water...there may be another shimmer effect that i am missing though... if and when i upgrade, i'll still stick with t5's... probably a 6 or 8 bulb configuration, depending on the width of the light assembly... oh yeah, i have a 55-gallon too | |
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06-08-2007, 03:29 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twan013  well, i have the Current USA Nova Extreme T5-HO, and am very pleased with it! I guess preferably, i would have taken the Tek-Light setup. but since they were about the same price as MH, i decided on the nova's at around 200 bucks... i didn't want MH because for one, i wasn't planning on any SPS corals, and the only other thing i would have liked is one of the big pretty clams. and i knew i wasn't ready for one right out the gates (when i first started my saltwater aquarium), so i figured i didn't need it anyway... another reason i don't like MH is because of the heat transfer... and as for the "shimmer effect" that a lot of people choose MH for, i get the same thing when my lights shine through the ripples on top of the water...there may be another shimmer effect that i am missing though... if and when i upgrade, i'll still stick with t5's... probably a 6 or 8 bulb configuration, depending on the width of the light assembly... oh yeah, i have a 55-gallon too | Ya I agree...I get a shimmer...but not "the shimmer" ha. In my opinion I saved plenty because I didnt have to get a chiller. | |
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06-08-2007, 03:52 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Skunk Shrimp
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 287
Karma: 71
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bruce, how would you describe "THE shimmer"? i've never seen MH in action so as far as i know, my lights are just as good as MH | |
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06-08-2007, 07:44 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Paul/Woodbury, Minnesota Age: 50
Posts: 1,181
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If you go for T-5's, go for the 8 bulb Nova extreme. Its well made and you have more options with different bulb configurations to get a desired look to your tank. And you will have plenty of light for even the most demanding corals and clams.
I've seen the TEK lights and they are very nice but I dont think they were worth the money over the Nova extreme. The TEK lighting has individual reflectors that may help some. But I would take 8 bulbs with a single big reflector over 4 or 6 bulbs with individual reflectors any day of the week. The extra bulbs are especially important if you want to keep clams under HO T-5's because you will need 3-4 10K bulbs with this type of lighting for the clams to really thrive well. Then you would have 4 more bulbs for actinics and any other temperature bulbs you want.
But if heat and money are not a problem then go with MH's, you'll never be sorry with them!
Twan, to answer your question about the MH shimmer, all you need to do is look at the light shimmering in a pool or in the shallows of a clear blue ocean like the carribean. Its the exact same effect. I miss it since I've switched over to T-5 lighting. You should get the same sort of effect with the LED moonlights on your Nova although its more pronounced with the brighter MH's.
I've thought about adding one of those 70watt MH clip on lights to get that shimmering effect. _________ 75g reef with Nova Extreme 8 bulb HO T-5 lighting, refuge, Remora skimmer, DSB, Seio powerheads, Acro's, LPS corals, assorted zoo's & mushrooms, Yellow Tang, Maroon Clown, Blue Cleaner Goby , Cleaner, Fire and Sexy Shrimp, Coco Worm, T.Crocea Clam, Derasa Clam
120g FOWLR, 260w Orbit power compact lights, Remora Pro skimmer, 30g DIY Sump/Refuge, DSB,Seio Power heads, Powder Blue Tang, Purple Tang, Flag Fin Angel, False Eye Puffer, Copperbanded Butterfly and a Moorish Idol 
Last edited by RAVEN; 06-08-2007 at 07:56 PM.
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06-08-2007, 07:52 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Bikers are a dying breed!
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 40
Posts: 4,024
  
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Once you see a shimmer on the bottom of a 30+ inch tank you will know why people choose MH's...  If your tank is 18" minus your sand bed T5 will probably do you good, any deeper and you might as well throw your money away if your choosing T5's. Just my opinion!
But then again it depends on what you are keeping in your tank too....SPS...LPS ??? _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula)
3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1 O3 Generator, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO4 Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 Parameters My 265 Gal. Tank Thread   | |
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06-08-2007, 08:15 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 4,026
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It is funny how many pet shops use metal halides as oppossed to T5's! I prefer metal halides over all other lighting! The complimentation of T5's or power compacts with the metal halides is great, but I feel halides are so much more beneficial and aestetically pleasing! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Cerianthid Stars Hermits snails Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria Kenyon Tree Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa)
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb
associated content.com
aka parrothead | |
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06-08-2007, 08:17 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Paul/Woodbury, Minnesota Age: 50
Posts: 1,181
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Ditto! I need to move my reef tank out of my loft and into my basement some day so I wont have to deal with the heat prolem. | |
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06-08-2007, 08:17 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Astrea Snail
Join Date: May 2007 Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 49
Karma: 63
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I bought my MH off of ebay for around $150
You have to wait a week or so to get it in the mail sometimes, but its a much better price than what the LFS has.
_________ 40 gal acrylic tank, 20 gal wet/dry sump, 3.7 gal HOB CPR fuge, CPR bak-pak skimmer, Eheim canister filter, 192w Coralife CF, 150w 10k MH, 200w heater 40lbs of live sand, 50 lbs of live rock 8 blue leg hermit crabs, 2 Turbo snails, Tiger brittle star, sand star, 3 feather dusters 1 T.Crocea, 1 Pajama Cardinalfish, 1 mandarin dragonet, 1 purple firefish, 1 hi-fin banded shrimp goby ast mushrooms, xenia, zoa's and glove polyps [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Malama na Honu | |
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