T-5's Vs 250 MH

[quote author=Reef Guy link=board=lighting;num=1112070162;start=0#9 date=03/29/05 at 22:26:48]Well as far as cost T-5 is always on top for Equipment,bulbs and energy cost. [/quote]

I'd like to see the numbers just to know. What would a complete setup cost for a 75 gallon tank. Is it really 10 x times cooler? Is that hood to hood? Hood to pendant? Bulb to bulb? I suppose I could go look this up, but it would be useful in this thread.

To take a crack at your question, from what I've seen, T-5s would be fine for color and growth.

 

10x cooler?  So if my MH runs at, lets say, 200 degrees, a T5 will run at 20 degrees?  Something doesn't smell right in Denmark  I'll blast my MH's tomorrow with my temp gun and see what they put out

T5's will drop off far quicker then a 250mh.  The 250 will have a centrilzed spot, while the T5's will be disappated over the entire tank.   Definitly not compariable IMO.

from Reef Geeks website:

8 bulb T5 fixture ( http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104190.html ) = $420 + shipping

Bulbs run:

actinic = $32
rest = $27
8 bulbs = $236

Full set-up = $656 + shipping

250w HQI MH Pendant set-up w/ ballast & bulb ( http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104518.html ) = $350 + shipping

Bulb replacement (my bulb of choice = http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104656.html ) = $70

If you get an extra bulb with the 250w set-up above, it's still $236 cheaper initial set-up for the same bulb life (2x mh running at 8 months each).  For the same amount of initial set-up, you can get 4 extra 250w HQI bulbs ( http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104656.html ).  So either you get:

8 Bulb t5 set-up for $656 (18 months of bulb life)
or
250w HQI set-up with 4 extra bulbs (5 total) with approx. 40 months of bulb life.

You make the call (I just resold myslef on it )

I guess I respectfully disagree on all points

 

Woops, I just caught the part about 48" being needed, but, it costs the same basicly.

 

You could also do a:

2x 150w HQI set-up ( http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104664.html ) = $549
with Pheonix 14k bulbs ( http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104653.html ) = $60

It would cost $729 + shipping for this MH set-up to equal the same bulb life of the T5 set-up ($656) which is $73 cheaper.  Replacement bulbs cost would be $240 (4x $60) for the MH, as compared to $236 for the 8 bulb T5 replacement which is $4 cheaper.

Don't get me started on mogul costs, I'm sure it would come in even cheaper

 

I'm a SPS frak though, for your softies, the T5 set-up would be suffice IMO. Some would grow quicker under the MH's, but others wouldn't like the higher light (but you could put them off to the side )

 

Hey nice comparison Gresham,
We currently have T-5 hoods on 2 softie tanks. 1) 4 bulb Tek light hood on a 60 gal 48x15x20. 1) 6 bulb Tek light hood on a 40 breeder 36x18x14. Both tanks are doing great under these lights. Sorry no pics, camera died. I have my 20 gal sps tank under 175 mh and retro t-5 and pc actinic. I think you could retro a mh setup cheaper initally. If you are buying hoods then the prices even out IMO. Say a 48"PfO hood with 2 mougle socket and 2- 110 VHO & fan.......$500 plus ballast & bulbs.
Personally I like MH and think you can use it for softies either buy placement or possibly shading part of the tank with screen or something. For a prop tank i would like something that is easily removed or worked around for working in the tank. I think hanging a hood, either T-5 or MH is the way to go.
My greatest issue with Mh is heat. With the T-5 we only have to add a small clip fan to the sump for cooling in summer. With the MH I use fans in the sump year round and have to add fans to display in summer. I guess a chiller should be a consideration.
FWIW.........Scott

 

Cool someone on this forum with T-5s.. good to know. I'll be hunting you down on the next T-5 thread Scott.

 

Well the 10x thing was just an exaggeration of course, as far as the T-5 Vs. mh I always thought they would be around the same price initially So i was going for MH+ VHO's but then I stumbled upon this site http://www.aquatraders.com/ they are selling 108 W T-5's HO 48'' for $50 so i figured I would buy 2 since I could fit 2 on my tank, I mean 216W T5 HO for about $120 I think that is a deal I cant pass.... any opinions??

 

I say go for it, sounds like you want T5s.
And the prices on that sire are NUTS!
Wow.. suddenly I need to shop. Thanks for the link.

 

Yes, i bought a skimmer from them in the past, it seems the reason that its so cheap is everything is imported directly from china. Well thats 1 all I need are 2 more pos opinions and 2 t5 units it is