WMAS Discussion Forum : help me choose lights http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:28:44 +0000 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:37:19 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=19425 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[help me choose lights : All I know is mh creates major...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169377&title=help-me-choose-lights#169377 Author: shaggydoo
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 9:37pm

All I know is mh creates major heat issues in a lot of tanks. T5 does not. Doesn't mean the same amount of heat isn't there (although I don't think it is but what do I know?), maybe in t5 the heat is easier to dissipate and therefore can be 'blown' away before actually transferring to the tank, or maybe there is some other explanation. I can only speak from experience. MH can cook a tank in no time. T5 cannot. Even before I put fans on my lights my temp did not raise when my lights come on. But I do have my t5's higher in my canopy than most people but not as high as most mh setups.

As far as parking lot lighting goes, I guess they didn't want to put in 4' squares of lights up in the air... easier target for those punk teenagers with their rock throwing So they went with mh for a smaller target.

I wouldn't call this a t5/halide battle because both are great lighting choices. With my setup I know t5 is the more efficient choice, with other setups I bet t5 could be more expensive and less effective. A lot depends on the space you have and the setup you are trying to achieve. But I still stand by my statement that t5's rock. And if you don't like it you can go to Russia! ]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:37:19 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169377&title=help-me-choose-lights#169377 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : same here, with one added punch,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169374&title=help-me-choose-lights#169374 Author: bbeck4x4
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 9:22pm

same here, with one added punch, Wink if MH was so expensive why do they use it for parking lot lighting?


]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:22:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169374&title=help-me-choose-lights#169374 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : I agree! Use whatever you think...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169371&title=help-me-choose-lights#169371 Author: Ed Taylor
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 9:06pm

I agree! Use whatever you think looks the best in your tank. I was just pointing out that two systems using the same power should input the same amount of heat and will result in the same power bill.

I use, and like, both!
]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:06:25 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169371&title=help-me-choose-lights#169371 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : Oops, here is another T-5 and...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169368&title=help-me-choose-lights#169368 Author: dustponds10
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 8:40pm

Oops, here is another T-5 and halide battle.  One would really have to see the tanks and how they look and go with what they like.  I like options, there for the options of changing the color of my tank with just adding more actinics or making it whiter with just bulbs is awsome.  Not to mention the face that I would have to find a way to retro a few VHO's or T-5 to make a really pleasing color to my eye, and that equals money.  Either way, its what the hobbiest wants.  Thats what makes this such a great hobby.  Plus T-5 and Mh have the same kind of set ups, they can hang sit on your aquarium or they can just be retroed in to a hood.  Go with what your eye likes.  Our opinion are pretty bias if you cannot tell]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:40:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169368&title=help-me-choose-lights#169368 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : I disagree on your conclusion...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169361&title=help-me-choose-lights#169361 Author: Ed Taylor
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 6:20pm

I disagree on your conclusion that t5's put less heat into a tank than the same wattage of halides. The surface temp of the tube itself is much lower, however, there is far more surface area per watt of t5 than per watt of halide. So with halides, the heat is concentrated more making it feel hotter. ]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 18:20:00 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169361&title=help-me-choose-lights#169361 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : Whoa those are the most expesive...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169353&title=help-me-choose-lights#169353 Author: shaggydoo
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 4:32pm

Whoa those are the most expesive t5 bulbs I have ever seen. I went with ge 6.5k bulbs and they are really cheap and put out almost more par than any other bulb out right now. They are only 12 bucks or so. So if you get 2 or 3 of these and provide the rest actinic (which you can usually find for around $20 or less if you get some on sale, I'm not picky about brands) you can get a lot cheaper set of bulbs than 8 at $28 (which is a ridiculous sum to pay for t5 bulbs). And you can save quite a bit of cash if you are replacing every 24 months versus every 12 with mh.

As far as my total power draw I have no idea. I would have to look at the ballasts and they are attached to the back of the canopy so that aint going to happen until I replace bulbs. But t5s do not get even close to as hot as mh. You can walk up and grab my t5s with no burning. I'll go do it right now,..... ouch ;) jk but you really can grab them with no harm done even after they have been running for hours.

Anyone who runs mh on their tanks knows heat becomes an issue fast and if you are in UT you are lucky because a couple fans and you are good to go. In more humid areas you almost have to get a chiller and that is a huge factor (luckily not for us here though).

Are you using electronic ballasts on your mh? Because I know those are a lot more efficient than the magnetic which is another thing to consider. At my parents I was living in the basement and switched to 250w magnetic mh about the same time as my parents put in two 250 mh also on magnetic ballasts. My dad almost took a hammer to these lights after the first full month's electricity bill came in with the mh's usage on there. I know that there are many things to consider because obviously other things were using electricity besides the new mh lights but that did not calm my dad down any as his electric bill more than doubled in one month (in the winter so it wasn't ac usage or anthing else obvious we could blame).

One day I will actually add it all up and see how much wattage I am using but I'm sure it will be less than the alternative (2 250w mh and actinic supplementation, which would have been approx 600 watts vs 400 watts t5). But that is just my tank, other tanks have different dimensions and different options available. So for me t5 was a no brainer, I have many gorgeous SPS and really prefer the look of t5 to mh. Again the savings are trivial when compared to the look. This hobby is expensive so get something that looks good so you can justify the high cost of this hobby with the gorgeousness (probably not a word) of your setup.]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:32:51 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169353&title=help-me-choose-lights#169353 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : what is the total amp draw on...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169348&title=help-me-choose-lights#169348 Author: bbeck4x4
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 3:58pm

what is the total amp draw on your ballasts?

I agree aesthetics are a major factor,  I prefer the ripple lines from the point source of light.

as far as efficiencies go, when I did the calculations my mh lights are using 529 watts of electricity for 500 watts of light, so with MH I am loosing 29 watts of electricity to heat from the balasts.

Watts are watts, MH feel hotter because it is 250 watts of heat/light in one small space, T5 may be the newest thing, but believe me they all put off heat, I personally have burned my hands from changing VHO lighting (outdoor signs)and t8 lighting(office lighting), they all get hot.

drsfosterandsmith.com is showing this for the price of bulbs, not cheaper in bulb cost,  figuring on them lasting for 24 months that is a per month cost of 9.33,

the two MH lamps that i have are at 3.61 per month.

they had better save a whole lot of electricity to offset the lamp price.




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  ]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:58:15 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169348&title=help-me-choose-lights#169348 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : T5&#039;s are much more efficient....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169345&title=help-me-choose-lights#169345 Author: shaggydoo
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 3:28pm

T5's are much more efficient. You can touch my bulbs when they are running and they transfer little heat to my tank. My heaters come on just as much in the day when lights are on as they do at night with no lights... I've never heard of a MH system that works this same way. MH adds a lot of heat to a tank and this is another thing to consider.

I've got 8 t5's over my tank and would have had to had at least 2 250 mh with some actinic supplementation to get the same intensity and coloration. That is 432w of t5 versus 500w mh plus probably over another 100 in actinic. Big difference there, if wattage was the only factor I would have chosen t5, but its not. MH produces a lot of heat at the bulb and ballast creating inefficiencies. No lighting source is perfect, t5 wastes electricity in the form of heat as well, but not as much. Therefore again I chose t5.

But every system and preference is different. Aesthetics are a huge factor in a reef tank. No one has a reef tank because it is a cheap way to take up space. It costs money no matter what you choose, so go see some tanks. Decide what you like and what you can afford. Then apply it to the system you want to build and go from there. T5 and MH are each great but of course t5 is better... GO T5!!! ;) And if anyone who hasn't seen an all t5 wants to come see mine, I always like to show off my setup.

EDIT - I forgot to mention the cost of replacing t5's. Most bulb manufacturers recommend replacing t5 every 18-24 months if they are adequately cooled. I will see if my bulbs last this long. But I do know that I had to replace my PC every 12 months and most people replce MH every 12 months as well, though I personally would try to get more use out of a mh bulb because they are not cheap. That is almost double the life for t5 bulbs, but I will monitor my bulbs to see if this 2 yr timeline is a reality. I hope it is.

Edited by shaggydoo - July 22 2007 at 3:41pm]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:28:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169345&title=help-me-choose-lights#169345 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : Suzy wrote:2 250 watt MH on...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169285&title=help-me-choose-lights#169285 Author: ReefBones
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 10:43am

Originally posted by Suzy Suzy wrote:

2 250 watt MH on a 55 gallon should be able to reach the boiling point...Sounds like a crock pot to me.
 
Suzy I was using that as an example .. but your correct .. it would be way to much for a 55 .... I would go with 2 150 watt HQI`s on a 55 gallon ... thats 300 watts versus 324 watts needed with T5`s .... sounds like a no brainier to me ...


Edited by thebutler4 - July 22 2007 at 10:49am]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:43:36 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169285&title=help-me-choose-lights#169285 <![CDATA[help me choose lights : And don&#039;t forget, watts are,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169272&title=help-me-choose-lights#169272 Author: Ed Taylor
Subject: 19425
Posted: July 22 2007 at 9:00am

And don't forget, watts are, well, watts. The power to run any bulb is converted to heat and light. Mostly heat. T5 and halides are close to each other in efficiency. So 350 watts of halide will produce roughly the same amount of heat as 350 watts of t5. I think the perception of them getting hotter is due to the FEEL hotter when you put your hand near them. That's only because it's concentrated on a smaller surface area than a long fluorescent tube. Heat transfered to the water should be roughly equivalent from either source. ]]> Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:00:18 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19425&PID=169272&title=help-me-choose-lights#169272