Metal Halide VS. T5?

MikeD88 · Sep 26, 2009

I'm buying my lighting system for my new 75 gallon tank and I was wondering which is better... T5 or metal Halide? I really love the shimmering effect of Halides... can T5's imitate this at all? Do you guys have any specific recommendations for lighting? Let me know, Thanks!

oceanparadise1 · Sep 26, 2009

this is an endless debate, if you went t5s in order to get the shimmer you need teh power birght leds and IMO its just not same.

you will have 10 tell you mh and 10 tell you t5s

IMO halides is the way to go,proven results over the years and the shimmer effect is priceless

xrayrider · Sep 26, 2009

I like halides with 20k Radiums, supplimented with VHO super actenics, although T5 actenic suplimentation would also work. Why limit yourself to one type of lighting? Look at a lot of tanks. When you see one you like, check out what they are doing. It is a lot cheaper than experimenting to find out what you like.

ZoaFan08 · Sep 26, 2009

I use to have T5s and with the new tank I went MH. If you calculate the cost of running each they are about the same so that is not a issue. I use to miss the color I got with my T5s but I just switched to a 20k Ushio bulb and it looks awesome. I don't think I'll ever go back to T5s.

Cully · Sep 27, 2009

Put me down for MH with T5 supplementation. Again, all comes down to personal preference. I've heard of people getting the "shimmer" with T5's and LED's, but personally, I've never seen anything as aesthetically pleasing as MH. Again, JMO.

aerius007 · Sep 27, 2009

Ive had both, if you buy T5s just make sure they have individual reflectors and are fan cooled. If you buy quality you will be fine either way, able to keep clams and sps. So it really just comes down to personal taste. I did have less heat issue with t5.

EliteReefs · Sep 27, 2009

its all about what you want. dont let they it's cheap to run thing fool you. there is very little difference in the two. heat is the only real difference and even that is not to big of a difference. MH IMO is much easier to deal with. it is proven and if you ask around enough you will find ALOT more people that have switched BACK to MH from T5 then the other way around

subielover · Sep 27, 2009

Maybe I am alone on this but I switched from metal halide to t5's on my new tank and couldn't be happier with how my corals have responded. Much more color, at least in my tank, with the t5's.

MikeD88 · Sep 27, 2009

It seems like MH is the consensus... Is 450 a good price on a hamilton MH 500 watt with T5's?

ahayes13 · Sep 27, 2009

i would also say mh. i had t5's originally but didnt like the colors as much in my corals or didnt like that i didnt get the shimmer either. i am now using 20k radiums and love it!
do you have a canopy or do you need a full fixture?

MikeD88 · Sep 27, 2009

ahayes13 said:
i would also say mh. i had t5's originally but didnt like the colors as much in my corals or didnt like that i didnt get the shimmer either. i am now using 20k radiums and love it!
do you have a canopy or do you need a full fixture?

I need a full fixture

aerius007 · Sep 27, 2009

Outer Orbit HQI/T5 HO 48" 2x250W 10K HQI Model # 1077B - eBay (item 280401043586 end time Sep-30-09 09:21:20 PDT)

addicted4life · Sep 27, 2009

I opted for T5's. My choice was based more for the electrical savings of T5's. Not to mention needing a chiller with MHs, where with T5 I save the cost of the chiller and the electricity it uses each month. My chiller is an 8" fan that kicks on to blow across the top of my sump. I also get a wall to wall lighting effect over my entire tank. Not 2 or 3 spotlights. My lights are on 12hrs each day. 6 with midday T5's.

I am not trying to say T5's are better, MH's can grow corals faster in my opinion. I just pinch every penny I can to afford that next coral, and chillers are expensive for a 300G system !

BrunstuckyJoe · Sep 27, 2009

aerius007 said:
Outer Orbit HQI/T5 HO 48" 2x250W 10K HQI Model # 1077B - eBay (item 280401043586 end time Sep-30-09 09:21:20 PDT)

What Zach said...I have this fixture and couldn't be happier...you get the best of both worlds.

MikeD88 · Sep 27, 2009

How about this fixture... I have someone local selling a 3 month old one fore 550, I can probably get him down to 500

48" Deluxe 2 x Metal Halide & 2 x 54W T5 Fixture by Hamilton Technology - AquaCave

twinspots_goby · Sep 27, 2009

I also vote for T5s. I no longer need a chiller and I like the color of my corals under T5s.

MikeD88 · Sep 28, 2009

Anyone have an opinion on the Hamilton light that I am considering? I believe it is 2 x 250 MH with 2 x 96 T5 for $550

Poseidon · Sep 28, 2009

I vote T5 as well...

As you can see, I get "pretty good" color, and "ok" growth!

LOL!!!

MikeD88 · Sep 28, 2009

Poseidon said:
I vote T5 as well...

As you can see, I get "pretty good" color, and "ok" growth! LOL!!!

Awesome set-up man! I would go T5, but I am really in love with the
shimmer from the halides... too me it looks so natural and cool. Any opinions on the Hamilton combo light?

AZDesertRat · Sep 28, 2009

Look at as many tanks as possible and make your own choice. Its personal preference.I much prefer MH myself and don't support the power savings or less heat claims. Watts are watts, PAR is PAR and Lux is Lux. Nothing has the punch MH has as far as brightness and ability to get light to the bottom of a tank. Heat gain, watt for watt is going to be about the same, its spread out over a larger area with T5 is all. I don't use a chiller either and thats with 2x250w MH and 2x140w VHO actinics in a completely enclosed canopy with only two 4" computer fans. My system runs 79-81 year round and thats in Phoenix.