MH or T5

[hammy]

have been comtemplating between 4 x T5 24w HO lighting or a single 150w Mh for my 2 feet tank ,ungrade from 2 x 24 w HO.

keeping LPS and softies . hoping to keep clam.

i know the shimmering effect of MH is nice .

hope to hear from some reefer some ideas and sharings which one should i choose .

thank u

[c0ol]

i think MH would be great

btw since you got the chiller,i think you should get the MH

[k0na_scab]

i wld go for T5 dude , MH can get preety hot.

[Alvin Tan]

i suggest using the T5s will be gd....im using that too...

[iantoh]

hi there bro hammy,

the shimmering effect can be created for T5s with good parabolic reflectors. the Aquaz reflectors are actually not bad. in my present tank, even without parabolic reflectors, just with the foil reflectors in my atman light casing within which are my HO-T5s, theres a little shimmering already. i think the surface agitation or movement of water just needs to be greater for the shimmering effect to be visible for T5s. You can also add a couple of LEDs for the shimmering effect as LEDs have very directional photon emissions. just try using a normal cheap LED torchlight and shine in across an area of water turbulence and youll see lots of shimmering. so that way, you can just add two more tubes to your present 2x 24w set up, and save costs and reduce heat load, and reduce the chances of your corals bleaching or not being able to adapt to the MH lightings.

cheers bro,

ian

[hammy]

wow thanks cool, k0na_scab, Alvin Tan, iantoh for the input . my tank dun have space to put another retrofit , so was thinking the economical starlite which is only 170 dollars .

or the dymax clip on retail at 290 .

getting another retrofit is only 98 , however the placement of the light will be like bro iantoh. and i am very clumsy. haiz .

the optopus clip on

[hammy]

starlite , come with leg too. dun light to drill here or there . but if no choice i will do it

[hammy]

hi there bro hammy,

the shimmering effect can be created for T5s with good parabolic reflectors. the Aquaz reflectors are actually not bad. in my present tank, even without parabolic reflectors, just with the foil reflectors in my atman light casing within which are my HO-T5s, theres a little shimmering already. i think the surface agitation or movement of water just needs to be greater for the shimmering effect to be visible for T5s. You can also add a couple of LEDs for the shimmering effect as LEDs have very directional photon emissions. just try using a normal cheap LED torchlight and shine in across an area of water turbulence and youll see lots of shimmering. so that way, you can just add two more tubes to your present 2x 24w set up, and save costs and reduce heat load, and reduce the chances of your corals bleaching or not being able to adapt to the MH lightings.

cheers bro,

ian

bro , is ur surface agitation very powerful?

[ozy]

the clip on are very convenient. You get a lot of working space if you use the clip on.

But a word of caution, if you are going to use the Dymax octopus, please be care ful as the metal casing is EXTREMELY hot. I have burnt myself on the light on several occassion.

Alternatively, you can consider the Solite clip on. It is very sleek looking and prices are more competitive compard to dymax.

I think you can get Solite from Aquamarin or Irwana.

[hammy]

the clip on are very convenient. You get a lot of working space if you use the clip on.

But a word of caution, if you are going to use the Dymax octopus, please be care ful as the metal casing is EXTREMELY hot. I have burnt myself on the light on several occassion.

Alternatively, you can consider the Solite clip on. It is very sleek looking and prices are more competitive compard to dymax.

I think you can get Solite from Aquamarin or Irwana.

thanks man . yup . recently AM earned a lot of my money haha

[kueytoc]

thanks man . yup . recently AM earned a lot of my money haha

please continue to provide them 'financial $upport'...hee hee hee

[hammy]

please continue to provide them 'financial $upport'...hee hee hee

financial support is never ending.

anyway decided to stick to T5 after talking to reefers and work out the cost.

thanks to all who had help mi especially bro iantoh

[hondaker]

bro , is ur surface agitation very powerful?

i second the comment about surface agitation

i am using T5NO, and i didn't notice it until today, when my buddy came over to view my tank, can notice the shimmering effect on my sandbed, even using T5s

[marble]

sorry to hijack tis thread...

Im gog to upgrade to a 4by2by2.5(ht)ft tank...

Is T5 powerful enough???for a ht of 2.5ft tall???

Im keeping mostly LPS lor...

Have being thinkingof 2*150w mh or t5 lor...E inital cost is abt e same....its e maintanance cost n heat tat is worrying me....as if its too hot my chiller will run longer n cost higher.....hmmmm

can anyone advise???

tks

[Copperband]

Erm.... bro marble... for your tank, since you indicated you will be going for LPS and softies,... The T5 would be good enough..But you will need alot of tubes... supplement the 2 T5 with 2 150W metal halide would be great. Hope this helps....