MH vs T5???

[Crimsonvice]

So new guy with a light question. So I bought a 60 gallon tank, 30 x 18 x 24, and my LFS says that due to the dimensions I should probably go with metal halide lighting. I am not sure if I want to run that route due to heat and the electric bill, but if its best I guess I will spring.

Otherwise, I was looking into T5's. My question for T5's is: there are many types of fixtures out there. Is there much difference between the $150 fixture compared to the ATI $450 fixture. I would run ATI bulbs. Just didn't know if this is a "get what you pay for" situation.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Pete polyp]

What are you wanting to keep? A 4 bulb t5 would be able to keep lots of corals in that tank. A 6 bulb would allow you to keep high light corals anywhere in the tank. I have a 6 bulb on this 29 gallon. And it's a $100 fixture off eBay

 

[Crimsonvice]

What are you wanting to keep? A 4 bulb t5 would be able to keep lots of corals in that tank. A 6 bulb would allow you to keep high light corals anywhere in the tank. I have a 6 bulb on this 29 gallon. And it's a $100 fixture off eBay

I would like to have Coral and some Fish. As to what types I am not sure yet. I need to do my research and see what I really like. I might just go with a six bulb fixture just so that I can have all of my basis covered if needed.

 

[Pete polyp]

I would like to have Coral and some Fish. As to what types I am not sure yet. I need to do my research and see what I really like. I might just go with a six bulb fixture just so that I can have all of my basis covered if needed.

That would be a good idea. Halide is superior, but as you already know it will produce lots of heat and cost more to run. On a tank your size heat from halide could easily be an issue.

 

[Crimsonvice]

After poking around for a while, I think I have decided between these two fixtures:

24" ATI Sunpower 6x24W or the 24" Hamilton Fiji Sun 6x24W

Any recommendations or suggestions on these two, or any other fixture that I should consider?

 

[Pete polyp]

The sun power would be a great fixture, especially if it's dimmable. Have you considered a powermodule?

 

[Crimsonvice]

The sun power would be a great fixture, especially if it's dimmable. Have you considered a powermodule?

The cost on it seems to be a little out of my price range.

 

[cloak]

For that size tank I would just put a 250 watt Radium bulb over it and call it a day. Heat can easily be alleviated by a cheap household fan and the cost of electricity & bulb replacement each year would be peanuts compared to the grand scheme of things IMO.