BigJay
Well-Known Member
All the tanks I've ever had in this hobby I've talked myself out of halides.
I've been running my 90 Oceanic bowfront (48" wide and 28" from light to top of substrate) with a Nova Extreme pro 6 x 54w T5 for about 1.5 years. Finally I decided to switch to Halides. Growth has been explosive! Coloration improved and polyp extension on SPS massive comaparitively.
Some notes on these experiences.
First why this isn't scientific thread but an opinionated one.
1. 324w of T5(10w of LED) vs. 500w of 14k halide(18w of LED)
2. No PAR or Lux meter used. all my observations are naked eye.
3. Shallower tanks may show T5's closer to halides. Distance of highest placed coral to light is 14" s in my tank.
4. While this T5 fixture does have a simulated individual reflector different units with different reflectors and ballasts may give you different results.
My experiences...
1. T5's are more then adequate in this fixture for all LPS and softies I have housed all the way to the substrate.
2. Even though I buy what I consider to be the best T5 bulbs all have significantly reduced output after a few months and all start to color shift around 6 months or less. (brands used Geisemann , ATI , UV lighting)(4 in the 10 -13k kelvin , 2 actinics)
3. Because of number 2 I change bulbs every 6 months. 6 bulbs x $20 average is $120 + additional shipping charges for longer bulbs is nearly = cost of replacing 2 250w halide bulbs of good quality. I do not believe that T5's are truly good for 1 year to 18 months as advertised.
4. T5's are indeed cooler. The halides have raised my tank temp 4.5 degrees. With a house temp of 74 this is a welcome increase. I'm also employing my hood now so this increase isn't a true accurate representation between the two types of lighting.
5. Growth on all softies and LPS has been good under T5. Coraline growth under my T5's have always been poor. SPS growth has been mediocre to slow. Maxima clam growth decent even at 28" 's.
6. All SPS showed an immediate and explosive growth after the halide switch. Coloration on my acropora has shown an immediate improvement. Polyp extension on all SPS has been down rate insane. I had decent polyp extension on some SPS like montis under T5's but many other species not so much.
7. My mobile inhabitants of the tank seem to appreciate the dark and light zones caused by the point of light of the halides. Of course this would be negated in halide/florescent combos.
In summary , I'm kicking myself for shunning halides for so long. I'm not condemning T5's as I feel they do have their place but I am no longer of the opinion their positives outweigh their weaknesses.
I hope to revisit this thread in about 6 months to provide a more long term opinion. I wish I had taken pictures of the first day of putting the light in. Some of my colonies have shown so much growth in such a short time I'm afraid to post how much in fear of being called a liar. Anyhow for the time being though, I 'm sticking with old school halides to get'r done.
(interesting enough I plan on using the T5's in a shallow frag tank of 14" 's)
anyone feel free to post your experiences.
I've been running my 90 Oceanic bowfront (48" wide and 28" from light to top of substrate) with a Nova Extreme pro 6 x 54w T5 for about 1.5 years. Finally I decided to switch to Halides. Growth has been explosive! Coloration improved and polyp extension on SPS massive comaparitively.
Some notes on these experiences.
First why this isn't scientific thread but an opinionated one.
1. 324w of T5(10w of LED) vs. 500w of 14k halide(18w of LED)
2. No PAR or Lux meter used. all my observations are naked eye.
3. Shallower tanks may show T5's closer to halides. Distance of highest placed coral to light is 14" s in my tank.
4. While this T5 fixture does have a simulated individual reflector different units with different reflectors and ballasts may give you different results.
My experiences...
1. T5's are more then adequate in this fixture for all LPS and softies I have housed all the way to the substrate.
2. Even though I buy what I consider to be the best T5 bulbs all have significantly reduced output after a few months and all start to color shift around 6 months or less. (brands used Geisemann , ATI , UV lighting)(4 in the 10 -13k kelvin , 2 actinics)
3. Because of number 2 I change bulbs every 6 months. 6 bulbs x $20 average is $120 + additional shipping charges for longer bulbs is nearly = cost of replacing 2 250w halide bulbs of good quality. I do not believe that T5's are truly good for 1 year to 18 months as advertised.
4. T5's are indeed cooler. The halides have raised my tank temp 4.5 degrees. With a house temp of 74 this is a welcome increase. I'm also employing my hood now so this increase isn't a true accurate representation between the two types of lighting.
5. Growth on all softies and LPS has been good under T5. Coraline growth under my T5's have always been poor. SPS growth has been mediocre to slow. Maxima clam growth decent even at 28" 's.
6. All SPS showed an immediate and explosive growth after the halide switch. Coloration on my acropora has shown an immediate improvement. Polyp extension on all SPS has been down rate insane. I had decent polyp extension on some SPS like montis under T5's but many other species not so much.
7. My mobile inhabitants of the tank seem to appreciate the dark and light zones caused by the point of light of the halides. Of course this would be negated in halide/florescent combos.
In summary , I'm kicking myself for shunning halides for so long. I'm not condemning T5's as I feel they do have their place but I am no longer of the opinion their positives outweigh their weaknesses.
I hope to revisit this thread in about 6 months to provide a more long term opinion. I wish I had taken pictures of the first day of putting the light in. Some of my colonies have shown so much growth in such a short time I'm afraid to post how much in fear of being called a liar. Anyhow for the time being though, I 'm sticking with old school halides to get'r done.
(interesting enough I plan on using the T5's in a shallow frag tank of 14" 's)
anyone feel free to post your experiences.