I have been contemplating about upgrading my lighting for my 29g tank. I don't know whether to upgrade to mh or t-5s. I like to keep LPS, softies and some low to medium light SPS. As of right now I'm thinking of either a single 175w mh or use 3x 24w T-5. I know the corals I want to keep will do well under both lights but which will give me better growth as it will also be used as my frag tank. I like the idea of being able to keep anything under the 175w mh, will I also have the same option with 3x 24w T-5? Thanks in advance for your input.
Phong
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
I have been contemplating about upgrading my lighting for my 29g tank. I don't know whether to upgrade to mh or t-5s. I like to keep LPS, softies and some low to medium light SPS. As of right now I'm thinking of either a single 175w mh or use 3x 24w T-5. I know the corals I want to keep will do well under both lights but which will give me better growth as it will also be used as my frag tank. I like the idea of being able to keep anything under the 175w mh, will I also have the same option with 3x 24w T-5? Thanks in advance for your input.
Joined
·
3,635 Posts
3 X 24 watt T5's on a 29 gallon is a little on the not enough light (PAR) side. Is there are reason you can not use 4 X 39 T5's? There are plenty of threads on this sight that will answer your questions. Both T5's and MH have their good and bad points. But personally I do not think comparing a 175 MH to 3 24 watt T5's is a good comparison. If you are going for the most PAR, than the MH is your best option. But do searches here and at RC or anywhere else there are probably hundreds if not thousands of information on this debate. Happy reefing!
The reason why I'm going with the 24w instead of the 39w is because it will not fit my tank (its 30" long). I can do 4 bulbs, just wondering if I can get away with 3. I don't really want to add more than 4 because that would mean I'd need to buy another ballast (already have 2 workhorse ballast).
So I guess the question is whether 4x 24w T-5 is comparable to 175w mh. So far I'm leaning towards mh because thats what I'm familar with. I'd love to hear others' opinions.
So I guess the question is whether 4x 24w T-5 is comparable to 175w mh. So far I'm leaning towards mh because thats what I'm familar with. I'd love to hear others' opinions.
Thought I'd put my 2 cents in since I haven't posted in quite a while. 
Personally I think 3 x 24w T5's would be plenty enough light for what you want to do. I am currently running 4 x 24w over my 40 gallon tall (6" taller than your 29g) and have no problem keeping pretty much any SPS that I want (including acros). If you are going to go with T5's, make sure you get good parabolic reflectors (Icecap SLR, SLS Tek, etc.) so you get all the available light from the T5's into the tank. You may have to keep some of your softies down low in the tank - my mushrooms, rics, and zoos don't like being very high in the tank. The T5's will give you good even coverage over the entire tank - which is good or bad depending on how varied you want your livestock.
As for the 175 mh - I don't know if I would recommend it on your tank. It is pretty short and long to put a single MH over it - you will end up with a really bright spot in the center and dark ends. Most people recommend a 2' x 2' coverage for MH bulbs. Also, I would wonder if a 175w would be enough for the low to medium light SPS corals - I would almost say go with a 250 for that - but I'm not sure, I don't have experience with MH's.
The T5's will definitely use less energy (72 watts) and produce less heat than the metal halide. I have a tough time keeping my water temps over 75 without a heater (that's with 2 small computer fans blowing across the water at a very low speed). I struggle with too little heat, while most people struggle with too much heat - even in the summertime. Hope this helps you a bit with your decision. -yes
Brad
Personally I think 3 x 24w T5's would be plenty enough light for what you want to do. I am currently running 4 x 24w over my 40 gallon tall (6" taller than your 29g) and have no problem keeping pretty much any SPS that I want (including acros). If you are going to go with T5's, make sure you get good parabolic reflectors (Icecap SLR, SLS Tek, etc.) so you get all the available light from the T5's into the tank. You may have to keep some of your softies down low in the tank - my mushrooms, rics, and zoos don't like being very high in the tank. The T5's will give you good even coverage over the entire tank - which is good or bad depending on how varied you want your livestock. As for the 175 mh - I don't know if I would recommend it on your tank. It is pretty short and long to put a single MH over it - you will end up with a really bright spot in the center and dark ends. Most people recommend a 2' x 2' coverage for MH bulbs. Also, I would wonder if a 175w would be enough for the low to medium light SPS corals - I would almost say go with a 250 for that - but I'm not sure, I don't have experience with MH's.
The T5's will definitely use less energy (72 watts) and produce less heat than the metal halide. I have a tough time keeping my water temps over 75 without a heater (that's with 2 small computer fans blowing across the water at a very low speed). I struggle with too little heat, while most people struggle with too much heat - even in the summertime. Hope this helps you a bit with your decision. -yes
Brad
I ran a 175 MH on my 29 for a few years and it worked out great. I did have it in a canopy that kept it a bit higher and the spread was pretty good. The edges of the tank are a bit less bright and not idea spots for real high light coral. But, I had many nice coral including some montipora and acros that were quite happy with the light. I also did not have any heat problems, but I ran two 3" fans in the canopy and a temp controller that monitored the heater and another slightly larger fan. This was also without a sump, so if you have a sump heat should not be much issue. 250 would be way overboard IMO. I have no experience with T5's.
I've don a lot of research on T-5... and I would highly recommend that 4th bulb. It will give you a guaranteed comfort level in terms of the amount of light. You'll always be wondering if three is enough.....
A "six pack" is a guarantee for SPS... and 8 if you'll want to keep clams at the bottom of the tank...
A "six pack" is a guarantee for SPS... and 8 if you'll want to keep clams at the bottom of the tank...
Joined
·
990 Posts
Actually, why not use both! The MH and the T5.
In the past I had one 250W MH over something like a 30G tank an it seemed OK. I was also running 2 50W PC at the same time.
Today I have 2 40 something W T5s one is "white" one actinic. These guys are on 8am-8.30 pm.
My 2 250W MH kick in arround noon and go off arround 5 pm. (VARIABLE if summer gets really hot )
I have seen much better mushroom behavior with the T5s added to the system compared to what I had in the past. Most of the mushrooms almost doubled in size minutes after the T5s were added! (much happier)
In your case though I would rather go with 3 T5s than 1 MH!
MH burn a lot of electricity and they can heat up the system a lot in the summer so its always good to have a backup plan. Also with T5s you can really play with the selection of the bulbs to get maximum growth and nice color at the same time.
Since you do not plan to keep really light demanding sp. 3 T5s would do fine.
Almost forgot. I use 2 24W T5s over my fraging tank (20G long). I keep softies and SPS in there and it looks good. SPS growth is also exceptional.
In the past I had one 250W MH over something like a 30G tank an it seemed OK. I was also running 2 50W PC at the same time.
Today I have 2 40 something W T5s one is "white" one actinic. These guys are on 8am-8.30 pm.
My 2 250W MH kick in arround noon and go off arround 5 pm. (VARIABLE if summer gets really hot
)I have seen much better mushroom behavior with the T5s added to the system compared to what I had in the past. Most of the mushrooms almost doubled in size minutes after the T5s were added! (much happier)
In your case though I would rather go with 3 T5s than 1 MH!
MH burn a lot of electricity and they can heat up the system a lot in the summer so its always good to have a backup plan. Also with T5s you can really play with the selection of the bulbs to get maximum growth and nice color at the same time.
Since you do not plan to keep really light demanding sp. 3 T5s would do fine.
Almost forgot. I use 2 24W T5s over my fraging tank (20G long). I keep softies and SPS in there and it looks good. SPS growth is also exceptional.
I disagree, I have a pendant and my "high light" needing acros are doing very well. It actually bleached some paly's at the bottom before i moved them. the edges of my tank are a little dim, but not by much and I agree that combining them with t5's is a great idea. Good luck
29 Gallon 30x12x18 tallPhong said:
1-175w halide would be just fine on this size tank.
3- T5 bulbs would also work nicely, especially if you have very many medium to low light corals.
I have a 3 bulb T5 setup on my refuge/grow out tank. Running 2 GE 6500k and 1 pure actinic I have to be very careful with coral placement. Shrooms,yumas,Rics, and some zoos will bleach if I dont keep them on the bottom.
I still get much better growth under the halides in the main tank.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
