T5 or MH

N-E CICHLIDS · Dec 31, 2011

I am setting up a 24 Gal Aquapod. I can't decide if I want to use HOT5 or Metal Halide. Any suggestions?

Aquaph8 · Dec 31, 2011

What are your plans? Either way your gonna get very mixed opinions on the subject. IMO it really comes down to personal preference cause either can do the job.

gar732 · Dec 31, 2011

There are a lot of die hard MH guys out there but I have never been able to deal with the heat and didn't want to run a chiller. You are also limited in T5 options because of the size of bulb you would need on that tank. I believe the smallest bulb ATI makes is 24" and those are IMO the best bulbs out there. Have you considered going LED?

Reef Pets · Dec 31, 2011

Being that you are in Florida T5 might be the way to go. T5's will run much cooler. On the other hand, if you keep your house cool during the warm months then MH should not be a problem.

N-E CICHLIDS · Dec 31, 2011

I am torn between the 2. I have a RedSea Max 250 with ATI Bulbs and a 90 Gallon with (2) 150W MH. I get better growth with the T5's and keep SPS in it with no problems. I can get a used 20" Current Nova Extreme 6 Bulb or a 24" 150W Sunpod. Both will cost me the same price. I am concerned with finding the bulbs for the Nova Extreme. I hear that you are limited in the Bulbs. Hard to find 460nm and I am not a fan of the 420nm. The 90 got up to 82 degrees with a canopy on it. I put a fan in the canopy and the temp went down to 80. This one will be a wide open tank, so don't think the Temp will be bad. Not a fan of all LED on the tank. Like them for Supplement

skinz78 · Dec 31, 2011

I run a 4 bulb 24" Nova Extreme over my 20g and I love it.

Larsen · Jan 1, 2012

I running a 8 bulb T5 fixture on my Marineland DD 150 and am absolutely loving it.

Rem · Jan 1, 2012

For the shimmer, get MH or LEDS. I use T5 as I like the color combinations I can with them. You really can't go wrong either way.

FaviaFreak · Jan 1, 2012

4x24watt T5 over my 24g nano

MobyMD · Jan 2, 2012

T5 and LED! That way you get good spectrum coverage but intensity and shimmer as well. That is what I have and love it.

DBarsotti · Jan 2, 2012

why not just go with both. I used a 24" current USA outter orbit fixture 4xt-5 1x150watt MH on my BC29 and it worked great.

STL · Jan 2, 2012

N-E CICHLIDS said:
... 24" 150W Sunpod...

I had a 70 watt Sunpod on an old tank. It's a really nice fixture, but you will likely want to supplement with some very powerful actinic LEDs (e.g., Ecoxotic Stunners - I used two of these attached to the Sunpod, a little untidy with the wires, but it greatly improved color rendition). Also, MH bulbs wear out fast pretty fast, 6-7 months before a noticeable color shift in my experience. And watch that salt spray/creap does not destroy the moonlight LED panels. They are not sealed very well/at all.

I have a 48" Nova Extreme on another old tank. That fixture is also nice, but I had to replace the fan because it was too noisy and after a couple years the LED moonlights completely died. The stock bulbs were also pretty poor color-wise, but there are some really nice T5 bulbs out there from other companies that produce really good color (ATI, UVL, Geisemann).

Personally, I've gone LED on the new tank, though. Ecotech Radion, no looking back!

MattL22 · Jan 2, 2012

I would love to run mh but with out a sump in a cool basement or chiller it's just not an option I ran mh with a fan for a bit but the evaporate was crazy ! In the end after overheating my tank twice I decided to go with LEDs ! I think mh will grow sps faster but the trade off in growth not having to worry about heat issue