Metal Halide and wattage

[Mr.Firemouth]

Hi Tab,
If you haven't purchased the light yet you might want to consider T5.
They are cheaper to run and replacement bulbs are less. Unless you want a 55g dominant in SPS corals I would recommend the T5 all day long!

MH give off heat and I have always had to use a chiller on 55g reef tanks to stay under 82*F. This would not be necessary with the T5 light.

Check this fixture. It is High Output and has individual reflectors. Very good lamp.

http://www.aquactinics.com/Products/T5_HO_Systems.htm

 

[WeeNe858]

holy moly mr. thats crazy!!!! :].. i still think MH are better due to its avaiability

 

[Tab64]

Well the MH I will be adding will be in addition to the T5's I already have. Right now I have PC and T5 with a real heat problem. They are mounted under a canopy and the T5 are using a ice cap ballast so they are running better than on a standard ballast, and also hotter. So I decided to, using some input from other forum posts, to remove the PC's, but keep the T5's. I will be removing the lid on the canopy, which now is almost totally enclosed, to allow the heat to escape. The T5 are mounted on the parts of the canopy that will remain. With the opening from the lid I will be placing the MH fixture which will be raised 2-3" higher than canopy by the legs which the fixture. And I will also drill holes into the canopy and installing cooler fans to help move the air. The MH will run hotter than the PC's but I am hoping that with the fans and lid removal this will counteract the heat problem.

I have been looking into fixture and has anyone used the Sunpod? They come in either 150 or 250 watt. And they state the 150 gives off as much light as many 250 watts. Not really sure what that means, but I like the fact they have moon light built into them.

 

[dorkfish]

They come in either 150 or 250 watt. And they state the 150 gives off as much light as many 250 watts. Not really sure what that means, but I like the fact they have moon light built into them.

I think this is could be becuase there using HQI's and comparing there fixtures to standard MH's. It could also be electronic balasts vs. standard ballasts.