which light should i get

[killingseed2000]

i have a zoa tank 75 gl i think its 48x18x21.
going to upgrade but not sure which ones.

i was looking at
tek 6 x 54 this i know is a good light

these i am not sure which ones would be best
mh 2x 175 20k REEFSUN DOUBLE BULB
mh 2x 250 20k REEFSUN DOUBLE BULB

i am currently running around 420 watts 4x 65 pc and 4 x 40w flouresents.
i have seen t5's in action for color and growth with 8 x 54 but at the price of the tek 6x 54 i thought for not much more would it be better to go mh for a zoa tank?

 

[Azurel]

WIth a 75g I would go with 250w MH.....The tank is much deeper and the 250 will be able to get the light intensity down deeper...

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yes go with the 250w for sure!

 

[JGoslee]

IMO 2-250watt would be perfect for a 75gal.

 

[shred5]

Personally I would go with the tek fixture... I have switched to t-5 and love it... Great way to save money on electricity... unless I have an extreemly deep tank where I need 400 mh I will most likely never use halide again...

Dave

 

[impur]

If it were me, I would go T5.

Less heat = smaller electric bill = save $
Less heat = no chiller = save $$$$
Bulb life = 2X+ the life of a MH bulb = save $$

IME i've gotten much better growth from my zoas with T5 than with MH.

The only upside to MH i've come across is the shimmer lines, and i never had to acclimate corals to the MH light. With T5s, acclimation is a must.

Did i mention all the $$$ you would save going T5? LOL

 

[Azurel]

T5 are good option as well.....I am switching over to T-5 for my supplimentation once I set up my new tank. I will still have my MH though but it's only a single bulb. I do like the savings with T-5.......Definatly the only alturnitive to MH out there.....

 

[killingseed2000]

well that reefstar cought my eye. i dont want any more heat or to rase my eletric bill but thinking about bumping up to the 8 x 54. by brother got a nova 8x54 and the colors of the zoa's and the growth is much more intense. the what i am running by far.

 

[impur]

I have a 75gal too, using a 6-54w TEK T5 fixture. I had to add gutterguard to one side of my tank to help shade that side so my zoas wouldn't melt away! The light is that bright.

 

[shred5]

I have a 75gal too, using a 6-54w TEK T5 fixture. I had to add gutterguard to one side of my tank to help shade that side so my zoas wouldn't melt away! The light is that bright.

Alot of people do not realise the par t-5 fixtures put out... The thing to is you have to stay way from the cheap t-5 bulbs and fixtures like finnex.

Fxtures need to have a reflector for each bulb not a single reflector.
Tek, ATI or aquatinics fixtures are good...

Dave

 

[killingseed2000]

well i have order some of my part and pick some up from a local reefer used. i have t 175w balist and one 10k and one xm15k for now. i didnt order any reflectors i am thinking about ordering a couple lumenarc next month or so. it should till be awsome.

 

[chadfarmer]

my vote is a 4 bulb tek and or 175 or 150w metal halide (depending on what bulb you want to run



my cousin has the 8 bulb tek over his 65 and had to buy a fan to keep the tank temp down (they heat up the water)

 

[reefermadness]

I am going through the same dilema. Do I by a 250 MH (SE or DE) or use the TEK Mate 6-bulb I already have? I am downgrading form a 135 to a 55 or 75 gall. I like the SPS corals, so I am leaning to the 250 MH.

 

[killingseed2000]

i had 250w on my mind. i think the 175 will a good start for me and i get to trying HM and not go over board on the heat and the electric bill.

t5's are nice the tek is one of the best if not the best. i haven’t seen the tek in action personal, but i have seen other t5 in action with growth and color.
gave my broth may be 5 to 10 frag of some nice fire and ice, 4x the growth or more then i go, same tank different lights. The color his lights put out are geat.


So why I’m I going HM I am still not sure but once I have them running maybe then I can tell you if I did the right thing.

The shimmer is cool.
The penetration better be all that with mh

 

[killingseed2000]

 

[fishes2889]

that is a saweet lighting setup ya got there. :thumbleft:

 

[surfn]

very nice set up. i see you chose the PFO parallel refector, and i'm guessing 2x175w bulbs? what kind of MH bulbs?

also, i'm confused at how you have the T5's set up. why are the T5 reflectors pointing in a different direction than the MH reflectors?

also, which bulbs did you end up using for the T5's?

 

[killingseed2000]

2x 24" PFO parallel refector, 2x175w bulbs xm 15k "thanks 143gadgets for one bulb",1 Super Actinic R- UV Light,1 Reef Blue Actinic- Aqua Medic.

T5 reflectors are not mounted yet i just pop them on to see

 

[killingseed2000]

i just finished basicly minus a couple things. will be places over tank tomorrow.

 

[killingseed2000]

before

new actinics only

new all

some other shots