Help with an age old debate - MH or T5?

[Chibils]

It's certainly a consideration. I don't think heat is as big of a problem as it once was (since a lot of equipment has gotten a lot more efficient, and people are more mindful of temp in general with controllers). Something like a Tunze Aquawind can often handle the heat, but that varies by situation.

 

[JCOLE]

You may need to factor in the cost of a chiller if you go with the MH. 20 years ago, I used a combination of 2 MH + 4 VHO bulbs over a 75. It is nice to have a light source that you just turn on and off without getting into all of the adjustments and expensive fixtures.

Shhh.. don't tell my wife. Lol. I just added a chiller 2 months ago because my system is plumbed into my garage and my temps were getting up to around 83. The fans were no longer cutting it. My wife called me last week and said "WHY IS OUR ELECTRICAL BILL $475"?! I said "huh...must be the A/C or something".

 

[Fin]

Shhh.. don't tell my wife. Lol. I just added a chiller 2 months ago because my system is plumbed into my garage and my temps were getting up to around 83. The fans were no longer cutting it. My wife called me last week and said "WHY IS OUR ELECTRICAL BILL $475"?! I said "huh...must be the A/C or something".

Well, one other thing that I meant to add about using MH is you might see a little increase in your electric bill. So, you may need to start a list of excuses if you go that route.

 

[greekspec2]

Changed up mine when I got this fixture in a build I recently purchased:

Infiniti DE 250w 72" Metal Halide T5 Fixture

6 Foot Giesemann Infiniti 3x 250w Double Ended 4x80w Metal Halide T5 Fixture Metal halide ballast sold separately. BRS suggests the Luxcore Electronic 250w or 400w Ballast. Giesemann has been known for making high-quality light fixtures that use the highest quality parts available, with a...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Although discontinued, doesn't mean light doesn't work

That Hamilton looks like it will put out some light.

FYI...... these are still in production along with the Spectra

 

[mitch91175]

FYI...... these are still in production along with the Spectra

Makes sense. Wonder why they chose to put them as discontinued on BRS?

 

[Chibils]

I was also under the impression they were discontinued because of that. I suppose BRS stopped carrying them. They have narrowed their selection on things that don't move much, like MH bulbs. Just Radium, Hamilton, Ushio basically at this point, the big 3 of the remaining brands.

 

[mitch91175]

I was also under the impression they were discontinued because of that. I suppose BRS stopped carrying them. They have narrowed their selection on things that don't move much, like MH bulbs. Just Radium, Hamilton, Ushio basically at this point, the big 3 of the remaining brands.

I'm gonna stick with MH for the foreseeable future. Liking how my tank is reacting to the change from LED based. Also miss that MH shimmer from back in the day.

 

[greekspec2]

Makes sense. Wonder why they chose to put them as discontinued on BRS?

thats there way of saying there no longer selling them and I'm not sure where Coralvue is at with them, worse case order direct from Giesemann which offer better options anyways

 

[mitch91175]

thats there way of saying there no longer selling them and I'm not sure where Coralvue is at with them, worse case order direct from Giesemann which offer better options anyways

I'm sure soon enough people will begin switching back again lol.

 

[alton]

And now to t5/radion hybrid

Yes I missed that change somewhere. He only had T5's when I went bye last year to pick up coral.

 

[alton]

Well, one other thing that I meant to add about using MH is you might see a little increase in your electric bill. So, you may need to start a list of excuses if you go that route.

In 2016 when I downsized from my #300DD to a 180 and dropped from 3 x 250w MH to only LED in June I waited for that less expensive electric bill and it didn't happen. Last month my electric bill was $480+. If LEDS save so much electricity, I have never seen it. My AC, clothes dryer, range and oven, water heater, and pool pump use a lot more than my tank!

 

[mitch91175]

In 2016 when I downsized from my #300DD to a 180 and dropped from 3 x 250w MH to only LED in June I waited for that less expensive electric bill and it didn't happen. Last month my electric bill was $480+. If LEDS save so much electricity, I have never seen it. My AC, clothes dryer, range and oven, water heater, and pool pump use a lot more than my tank!

I do not feel that I have to run my MH all day long. Few hours a days and the remaining part of the day I run T5/LED. I think I'll get up to max 4-5 hours then stop there.

 

[t5Nitro]

Last month my electric bill was $480+. If LEDS save so much electricity, I have never seen it. My AC, clothes dryer, range and oven, water heater, and pool pump use a lot more than my tank!

Debating switching from my orphek to an ATI 6x39w T5 fixture. Whether it's running 240 watts of T5s or 240 watts of LEDs I'd imagine the bill to be the same. How do you feel about the MH --> LED change? Would you go back?

 

[alton]

I do not feel that I have to run my MH all day long. Few hours a days and the remaining part of the day I run T5/LED. I think I'll get up to max 4-5 hours then stop there.

In the summer I ran the MH 3 to 4 hours a day when I got home and ran the bml leds 8 hours. Coral never slowed down on growth

 

[alton]

Debating switching from my orphek to an ATI 6x39w T5 fixture. Whether it's running 240 watts of T5s or 240 watts of LEDs I'd imagine the bill to be the same. How do you feel about the MH --> LED change? Would you go back?

My biggest issue/ wife’s biggest issue was the lumen bright mini pendants and the fact they where so big sitting 8” over my tank. As compared to leds making for a much cleaner look.

 

[t5Nitro]

I'm going to test my par this weekend on my orphek settings. I only have peak intensity for about 5 hours a day. Maybe I should increase to 8 if par is alright.

 

[mitch91175]

My biggest issue/ wife’s biggest issue was the lumen bright mini pendants and the fact they where so big sitting 8” over my tank. As compared to leds making for a much cleaner look.

Yeah I don’t have the huge pendants. I went from the AquaticLife to the Geiesemann. I had a V1 AquaticLife which performed well. The Geisemann beats it aesthetically and sure the MH will do justice. Just added a 2nd ReefBrite XHO LED strip. Think I’m set for the long haul.

Geisemann also 11” longer so now getting light in corners. Hooked up the LED bars on Varspd to dim.

 

[Bpb]

I recently went the other direction and went from MH to LED. Going from 20,000k Hamilton’s to reef breeders, using a par meter, and following the BRS recommended settings and par levels, I can say my growth has slowed a touch. It’s only been a month so there’s still some acclimation happening I think, but I have had to tune down my calcium reactor a tad bit. Perhaps growth will speed back up eventually but not yet by testing results.

 

[alton]

Here was my 300 back in the day

 

[mitch91175]

Here was my 300 back in the day

Yeah those are huge! Think I had the same ones like 20 years ago.