T5 v MH

[DSR]

So the age old problem resurfaces. Which system? With 20" of room my options are limited as to makers. But I can either get a T5 or MH. The MH is the sunpod and is 150W with 12 moonlights. The T5 is also by current as well.

I really want the MH but it does not come with actinics and there is no way to put those in the fixture. So for those of you who have the sunpod... do you miss the actinic lighting at all? As soon as I get these lights I am planning on adding two clams to my tank (one of the main reasons I am getting the lights and the chiller is so I can get these two clams).

The T5 is cooler in temp... but does not have moon lights. It is a smidge more and there are more bulbs to replace. Can one succesfully raise clams with a t5?

I am leaning toward the MH, but I am concerned that lack of actinic will be a disappointment. What were your impression/

 

[carolinyens]

I know Current Nova Extreme USA sells the 4x and larger with the moonlight option. Is it SW or FW? by the way

 

[fsn77]

On a tank of that size, I'd go with the MH. You can get a 14,000K bulb that'll balance out the color and keep the tank from looking so white. Depending on the bulb / ballast / reflector combo (not familiar with the quality of the MH reflector or ballast in the SunPod), you may sacrifice a little PAR by going with a 14,000K bulb instead of a 10,000K bulb, but I find the difference in color well worth it. While I really like T5s and use them on more tanks than MH, I've grown partial to having a MH over a smaller tank.

Yes, clams can do fine in a tank lit by T5s, especially in a tank that's not particularly tall.

 

[reefbumgm333]

Do you remember the small nano tank at Oddballs? It has great color with a 75wt 20k bulb. You can keep clams with t-5's, you can keep anything with t-5's.

With the halides you will get the shimmer effect, no shimmer with the t-5's.

 

[DSR]

Reefbum, that's true. I had forgotten about that. I am about to place my order...

1 150w MH sunpod
1 aqua Euro 1/13 chiller

Can't find a single store that has both so I will have to order from two different sources, but both have each on sale at really low prices. So its a go. Has anyone here ever dealth with Reefplayground or Marine depot?

 

[reefbumgm333]

I have ordered from Marine Depot many times with no problems. I am not sure on the other store mentioned.

 

[DSR]

I wanted to get the whole thing from MarineDepot, but they don't have the sunpod right now. SO I am having to split my order. Hate that... bad enough waiting for one package, but two.. argh!! lol

Hey, once I get my lights and chiller, consider me there at the Reefbum emporium. ahahahah. Would love to see your setup and see whatcha got for sale. Based on the advise you've given me thus far I am bettin' I will be able to find some killer deals. I held back enough money to buy two clams and a host of coral (if another deal goes down with some other things, I may be getting another tank... spring cleaning kicks a$$. ) I thought a 24 gallon would be plenty big for my "reef" but I am already wishin for more space. lol.

 

[GregAW]

I had to go another route to get replacement bulbs because Marine Depot kept telling me it would be "next week" before they could ship.

 

[DSR]

Well I ordered them tonight. One from Reef and Marine and one from Marine Depot. I had wanted to buy them locally until I had a very friendly chat with a young lady in Norman, OK. She very kindly disclosed what their cost was for the two items I was purchasing and it was literally $100.00 more than I was paying retail. So my $250 were sold for $350 to the retailer and then $450 to the customer. That sucks. So I had to bite the bullet... but, the upside, the $200 I saved will certainly go to my new favorite LFS (and to reefbum... my new coral guru).

 

[Fishieness]

I know you already ordered, but I thought I would join int he never-ending debate.
I had a 150 watt sunpod on my tank. But I did really miss the actinics. To help with this, I added a NO t5 fixture that just rested against my sunpod. It helped. But still. I never really found the kelvin temperature that I liked. Heat was always an issue. I do have a small chiller on there. But my dormroom gets hot when the summer comes near. Also, I don't like have one point source over a tank, even though I like the shimmer affect that it produces. A lot of my sps look awesome from one perspective, but not from another because they shade themselves.
I was looking into getting the nova extreme pro, as it is the only 20" fixture. But there are only blue and daylight bulbs available at the moment, which I dont like. And made by current/ Also which I don't like.
I did find a tek fixture used that I put on my tank last night. I have a geissman aquablue and actinic plus, an ATI blue+, and a figi purple and it looks awesome. I might take out the daylight and replace with another blue though. I'll have a PAR meter late this week to measure it also.