Just purchased a MH/T5 Combo

[Saltine]

Just purchased a MH/T5 combo, currently has a 150w Radion 20k bulb used lightly for 6 months (2 hours a day or so), the T5's are all different brands, so I'm planning on changing those out. Not sure what to put in that will compliment the 20k MH. Any ideas?

Side note, going to reefapalooza, would they sell bulbs there?

Thanks,
Salt

 

[BoneXriffic]

How big of a tank?

 

[zoomonster]

Doubtful on the bulbs at reefapalooza. I didn't go last year but the first year it was pretty much all frags, manufacturer displays and one vendor selling what looked like a garage sale of misc closeout stuff. I was still building my tank and didn't come away with a single piece of hardware. Looking at the map this year looks no different. You can get them a number of online places like BRS but saltysupply is local and you can pickup assuming your in Orlando and want them quickly.

 

[Saltine]

How big of a tank?

Reefer 250

 

[Saltine]

Doubtful on the bulbs at reefapalooza. I didn't go last year but the first year it was pretty much all frags, manufacturer displays and one vendor selling what looked like a garage sale of misc closeout stuff. I was still building my tank and didn't come away with a single piece of hardware. Looking at the map this year looks no different. You can get them a number of online places like BRS but saltysupply is local and you can pickup assuming your in Orlando and want them quickly.

Thanks ya I'm in Orlando, BRS probably the cheapest, LFS usually have jacked up prices and none are local to me so I don't really feel the need to support them.

salt

 

[BoneXriffic]

No kidding, i just replaced my 250mh 14k bulb, 50bucks on marine depot 94 bucks at lfs. Not their fault though they cant compete with companies of this size.

The 20k is incredibly blue as it is...i dont supplement the 14k im not a huge fan of super blue tanks persinally but if you have t5 supplements you could back off to like a 10k or 14k bulb and use t5s to adjust color

 

[Saltine]

No kidding, i just replaced my 250mh 14k bulb, 50bucks on marine depot 94 bucks at lfs. Not their fault though they cant compete with companies of this size.

The 20k is incredibly blue as it is...i dont supplement the 14k im not a huge fan of super blue tanks persinally but if you have t5 supplements you could back off to like a 10k or 14k bulb and use t5s to adjust color

Awesome. I'm on the north west side of Orlando so no one is really near me. I've gotten great pricing from reefers direct in St. Cloud though. Just a trip. Found some lightly used bulbs from a fellow reefer going to go that route for now.

Now just need to erect a shelf and get the hanging kit for this thing.

Salt

 

[BoneXriffic]

Remember with used halide bulbs have a life of 10 to 12 months and t5s can be a bit less. And the more they fade the more liggt acclimation you need to do especially when replacing the halide

 

[hybridazn]

If the radium was only run for 2 hours a day then that thing is barely broke in lol. As far as replacement t5 I would look at ati bulbs and decide what color you want out of them

 

[bobman]

There is quite a few LFS in Orlando and a few in north west Orlando. I have not been to them all being from Jacksonville but there is even Ocala aquariums depending how north west you are. Ocean direct is pretty good. Then world wide corals is nice to visit but they are pricey and on the other side of Orlando from you

 

[MikeyB]

I'm running a mh/t5 combo myself. I currently run 2 Blue plus, 2 Coral plus ati bulbs and love the color i get from them.

 

[Saltine]

Thanks all! Ya to transition from my less I'm going to run these old t5s at first and swap a bulb once a week. Any suggestions on times to run the LED moon lights, t5s and mh?

 

[zoomonster]

Thanks ya I'm in Orlando, BRS probably the cheapest, LFS usually have jacked up prices and none are local to me so I don't really feel the need to support them.

salt

Oh yeah plenty of LFS but saltysupply is not one of them. They are internet only like BRS but you can pickup. Sales tax but I use them when I'm in a hurry and can get next day with ground shipping. Like a lot of places the selection of bulbs is dwindling. Think all they have left is MH Radium but they have most T5.

As for times that's mostly a matter of preference. I used to run T5 from 9-9 starting with 1 bank and second bank on 2 hours later and MH 12-6. Moonlight was controlled by Apex and matched lunar cycles.

 

[Saltine]

Oh yeah plenty of LFS but saltysupply is not one of them. They are internet only like BRS but you can pickup. Sales tax but I use them when I'm in a hurry and can get next day with ground shipping. Like a lot of places the selection of bulbs is dwindling. Think all they have left is MH Radium but they have most T5.

As for times that's mostly a matter of preference. I used to run T5 from 9-9 starting with 1 bank and second bank on 2 hours later and MH 12-6. Moonlight was controlled by Apex and matched lunar cycles.

Thanks! Didn't realize MH should run that long, I'll probably start at 2 hours and up it an hour once a week or two. Don't want to bleach my corals! Excited to have a BRIGHT tank, LED's have always lit my tank but never like a MH.

Salt

 

[MikeyB]

Time is definitely a preference thing. I run my t5's from 11:30 to 9:30 and my MH kicks on for 4 hours right in the middle of the day

 

[BoneXriffic]

Oh yeah plenty of LFS but saltysupply is not one of them. They are internet only like BRS but you can pickup. Sales tax but I use them when I'm in a hurry and can get next day with ground shipping. Like a lot of places the selection of bulbs is dwindling. Think all they have left is MH Radium but they have most T5.

As for times that's mostly a matter of preference. I used to run T5 from 9-9 starting with 1 bank and second bank on 2 hours later and MH 12-6. Moonlight was controlled by Apex and matched lunar cycles.

Theres still several quality brands for mh bulbs out there. I got the hamilton and its doing well. Mid priced bulb.

T5 bulbs i find at decent prices at lfs, oddly enough.