I should have jumped in sooner this is a great debate!
Im swinging for team T5!!!!!! (In shallow tanks, I never had a tank deeper than 18inches.)
Anyways, its 2007 watts per gallon is irrelevant when it comes to reef lighting. There are way too many options here T5, LED, MH ect.
The magic of t5's it that your able to wrap a bulb in a parabolic reflector! Strictly physics here. This reflector increases the strenght of the bulb like 300%.
Also, when you put a 48" bulb over a 48" tank, you get 100% coverage. You can grow SPS in any corner of your tank.
I have 2 tanks with t5's, I have to keep a heater on them year round! If I dont the tank will be 2-3 deg. below my house temp with one little fan and GLASS HOODS! house is 77 tank would get 74 in the summer!
I change my bulbs out at 1 year. What a savings!
GO T5's LOL
