250w MH vs 24" ATI Sunpower 6-bulb?

Just wondering what others thought of how much difference this would be for a 30x18x18 cube:

250w Radium 20K in Lumenmax 2 Pendant driven by a Galaxy e-ballast

vs

24" ATI SunPower 6-bulb (144w all ATI bulbs)

Would the SunPower output greatly overpower the single 250w MH? I have some dark areas on my cube and wondering if a 24" Sunpower would evenly light the entire 30" width I have?

Thanks for any input!

 

as a 6 lamp T5 user MoJoe

I would be really tempted to try out the MH lamp to be honest
T5s can support the corals, can help coloration, I have proved that to myself over the last couple of years

but I am seriously considering a change over to MH, because I feel, I might get better growth and better coloration


Steve

 

Thanks for your input Steve. I wish there was a "rent a fixture" center where we could experiment with MH, T5, & LED's. It's so hard to tell what would work best without making the investment. I'm always wondering though.

 

As a 6-bulb tek light user whom has never used MH, I do not plan on ever using MH. I love the options that you have for color and spectrum as compared to MH bulbs. I have excellent growth from my SPS and clams.

Heat is another factor for me, I don't want to have to cool a tank in the summer time. I already have a fan hooked up to my tank just in case the temp gets over 82F.

Also, I feel that you get more usuable radiation for the wattage used from T5HO than MH.

As for dark spot, I have a 75G tank with a 36" fixture hanging over it. Leaving 6" on both sides not directly under the fixture. I have no dark spots and no issues with growing clams or sps on those ends either.

 

i used to have a 250 over my tank, and just switched to the ATI powermodule 6x39 over a 40 breeder...i like the t5s, lots of color choices, less evap, and also unless you hang your halide a good bit above the tank then you dont get good coverage..my halide over my 29 would barely cover the sides, i couldnt stand it... the t5s cover the whole tank, doesnt matter where my frag rack is, or where i place anything, so i gave up the shimmer, but i added moonlights and get it back there, not that big of a deal to me,,i like that i can run every color spectrum needed for different corals..plus my room isnt as hot and muggy... ill always like halides but you have to hang them higher to cover the tank and not have dim spots in the top corners...

 

I love MH but you will have a ton of wasted light if you choose MH. The Lumenmax 2 had a wide dispersion and can easily light a 30" x 30" area. For an 18" tank it might be very reasonable to just go LED.

 

The T5HO would be better due to less heat, better light spread, the ability to customize your light spectrum and it has greater penetrating power than the 250 although you do not need it in your tank.

 

Thanks for the input everyone, hmmmmm, I would miss the shimmer of my MH but I'm still debating. LED's is another option but I'm still not knowledgeable on them to make a good decision. Hmmmmmm

 

I agree on the LED. I am just looking for long term usage information. I know the new LED units are good up to 48" deep. T5HO are good up to 30" and 250W MH to 24". In your tank lighting penetration is not a huge issue.

 

Thanks for the #'s, I'm still not sure what to do. Nothing is doing badly in my tank with the single 250w but I'm always wondering. I was pondering going 8-bulb Sunpower over 6-bulb Powermodule too but still not sure, decisions, decisions!