3 types of lighting, which is best???

Pufferpoison

Pufferpoison

Like a dolls eyes
Feb 6, 2006
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ok here's what i'm thinking of buying for my 90 gallon, which is best and since i won't be going fully reef for a while, is this too much light for a FOWLR, i mean i need to buy it now but will it hurt fish??? thanks

Outer Orbit HQI/Compact Fluorescent/Lunar Fixture 560 watts 2 x 150 hqi , 2 130watt PC.

Aqualight Pro HQI / Compact Fluorescent / Lunar Light Fixture(total 492) 2 x 150 hqi / 2 x 96 watts /

sunlight supply tek t5 lights 8 x 54 watt lamps (t-5 HO)

i was hoping for a fixture that used HQI and t-5 but can't seem to find any???
also if there are better / cheaper set ups out there, i would like to know. thanks
 
The Maristar from sunlight supply (makers of TEK) is a HQI and T5.

I have a Tek 4 bulb over my 55, and it rocks.
 
ok so i checked out the miristar and they have the 2 x150watt and the 2 x 250 watt fixtures with the t5-ho for the same price, is bigger always better? since bulb prices are almost the same for either 150w or 250w hqi, should i think about the 250w or would that be overkill? also could you put a 150w bulb in a 250w recepticle?
 
You can't use a 175watt blub on a 250watt ballast. What size tank are you using? What do you want to keep in it? How tall is the tank?
 
90 gallon, one day i want to be able to propigate sps frags. 48 inches long, 18 inches deep and 24 inches high. i was told that 6x54watt Tek light t5 would be "overkill" and that i don't need HQI's. i just get so much different information that it's hard to make a decision. The more research i do, the more confused i become.
 
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You would need a lot, lot, of T5 bulbs to equal a 250 hqi, which may cost a lot to replace the florescent bulbs.

400w metal halides are also common over SPS but I think you will be fine with the 250 for this tank.

I don’t own T5 so I really can't comment on difference.
 
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6x54W T5-HO Teklight would be fine for SPS on the 4' tank. Numerous people have SPS tanks under with that kind of T5 setup. If it's only 18" deep, I don't believe there would be much added benefit at all with MH.

When comparing T5-HO and MH this is my take:

Initial cost: about the same, perhaps a little cheaper for lower wattage MH if you're handy.

Running cost: the cost of two 250W HQI MH bulbs (what you'll need for a 4' tank) isn't that much cheaper than 6x54W T5s bulbs. Plus you'll be using 324W with T5s vs. 500W with MH.

Flexibility: easier to "fune tune" the colour temperature since you've got 6 or more bulbs to mix and match rather than a single MH bulb. Easier to "hide" low light corals with MHs since more shadows are created with a single point source of light.

Looks: subjective, but you can't get the pretty shimmer lines with T5s.

Others: No big bulky ballasts with T5s and far less heat to deal with.
 
i have 2x250watt halides over my 24" deep tank, you couldn't keep them on the bottom with 175watt halides.
 
Apples and oranges (both very good produce, yum!). HQI will produce a more focused point sorce light, which may be nice for such a deep tank. However T-5 will spread into all the nooks and crannies, and provide more even light. At the bottom under the HQI the light will still be intense, with the T-5 you PAR will be lower at the bottom (actually nice for yumas, blastos and the like). Will heat be an issue? are you looking for something energy efficient? T-5's fit that bill. You like shimmer lines, and crisp white/blues HQI's fit the bill. Let us know what you get.
 
You can also get both worlds. Hehee.

I thought 4-8 T5 bulbs equal a 175 SE bulb in par or lumens? I can’t remember the exact article, I would have to fish for it. The 250hqi or really DE equals a 400w SE when it comes to lumens and par? It has something to do with the ballast? I’m not a light expert but I can remember some of the literature, or I got it mixed up.
 
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