Which would you choose for 110 X-High?

[jaidexl]

Thanks for the link, dragonthoughts.


Some good conversation here, lots of ideas

I wish I could cut the brace off, one pendant would be ideal. But after looking at the tank longer and imagining the hardscape, the proportions of the tank would not allow quite as much sand on the side as I thought, if I was to utilize the height properly. If I get as much stone as I'd like and build the planted mound up enough, there will probably be well less than a foot bare on either side. So, considering that, T5 might not be so bad.

Originally Posted by macclellan

Two things I'd consider instead

Great ideas! I was actually entertaining an idea like that in the past but forgot, it was actually to light a low-light-square tank, two center mounted, low wattage T5s for better spread. That could work here too. I saw the Brinks light DIYs with MH, and I think that could work too, the housing of the Brinks doesn't look that bad IMO, with a little painting and the right mounting hardware, it probably has more aesthetic potential than people think.

Originally Posted by jjp2

you may want to consider going with a 36 inch fixture so that the outer 6 inches of sand is dark. Maybe even a 24 incher

With this idea added to Macclellan's, I bet I could get away with hanging this as a pendant. It would give me roughly 1wpg, then add whatever extra efficiency from HO and the reflector's improved form factor (folded, similar to individuals), this should accomplish much of the objective. It should be enough to grow the plants listed, centered scape, and I might never need CO2 or dosing (perfect). The price is insanely low, which is great because I'm trying to put this all together on a poor man's budget without cutting too many corners. I should up to the 36" to counter the brace issue if I go this rout.

Good stuff everyone, thanks for the contributions. How could I ever come up with ideas on my own?

[dragonthoughts]

Originally Posted by jaidexl

I should up to the 36" to counter the brace issue if I go this rout.

Have you considered removing the plastic brace and siliconing in a glass one?

[jaidexl]

No, sounds scary. Know of anyone who's done it on a 110 tall?

[Saraja87]

The brace on my 110 Tall is glass. I would NOT attempt to remove it if I were you. It's there for a reason and you really need it, especially in a tank this tall.

No shadows from my brace with T5HO

[jaidexl]

I don't think I'd trust the silicone bond if I did, but I suppose I could cut out a portion and bolt an acrylic strip in it's place. *scratches chin*

Anyone think that would still cause some kind of refraction effect with an MH shooting through it, as in angled streaks sent down the glass? Does anyone have MH over a glass cover and notice anything like that when it hits the seams/edges?

I'm really liking that idea right now, especially since I can't find a 70w pendant as cheap as one 150w, especially a pair of them. I would have to DIY 2x 70w for sure. I wish I could find the EcoSystem Mini 70w lights sold separately, they're dang sexy. Saw one at the LFS a few eeks ago.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by CmLaracy

Absolutely not He's looking a 150w over a 100+ gallon tank. I have a 150w over a 40g tank, and I still need to heat it in the summer months of Jersey, let alone the winter months...

Metal halides really do not create as much heat as people think they do. The only time people run into heat issues is when reefers use them. They have them hanging less than 6" off the surface (we use them at 10"+), and they usually use more than twice or even three times as much wattage as we do. When you really get intense heat is when you hit combined wattages of about 400 or 500. The reefers complained about heat and we all assumed it'd translate over to planted tanks. It doesn't

I guarantee you, even if you put a 250w over your tank, hanging it at 12" it would not raise the temperature of your tank even one degree... let alone a 150w... Don't be hating on halides just cause you like T5's so much, know how they work before you post negativity about them. Why do you think a large majority of serious reefers still only use MH? And why do you think Amano only uses MH? It's still the best light, maybe not the best light for the money (T5 takes that award), but until T5 gets a little bit more effecient, and I mean a little, MH will still be the superior lighting style.

Also, it's easy to get large wattages of MH, all you usually need is one bulb. to get 150w of T5 you'd need around three bulbs, and for 250 about 5... So it's less efficient in that regard.

Also, who wants a large fixture spanning the length of the tank when you can have a small little pendant, which really opens up the top of your tank.

Oh, and let me know when T5 acquires a shimmering affect, cause it's b-e-a-utiful

LOL you crack me up, CML. You also don't live in the subtropics.

[DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR]

Originally Posted by macclellan

(1). I posted a thread about a real easy DIY Worklight, two of which would be great for this purpose (search to find it) - just fashion some kind of ADA-solar-style curved sheet aluminum housing for them like.
(2). 2-4x Centered 24" or 36" T5s if you want the shadowed corners.

hmm....
ive got a ~125g tank laying empty right now that i have been thinking about how to light and have been thinking of different t5 options, and there really isnt a wide selection of 60" t5 fixtures out there for me.

but i really dig the MH shimmer.

the brinks light alone does not look attractive to me. but ADA solars do. i might try to emulate that look and build something out of aluminum and giving it a nice brushed finish, hanging 3 of the 70w pendants.

ive got my ideas straight, now ive got to make the time to implement them.

[CmLaracy]

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

LOL you crack me up, CML. You also don't live in the subtropics.

LOL, I get serious sometimes Good to see you can take a constructive argument lightly

I will say this, my MH does heat up my room a lil bit, but not the tank (I've got a small room lol)

Ahhh the subtropics, just took a visit to palm coast florida for a couple weeks about a month back . Nice place

[Momotaro]

Absolutely not He's looking a 150w over a 100+ gallon tank. I have a 150w over a 40g tank, and I still need to heat it in the summer months of Jersey,

I have T-5s over a 38G and I fight like heck to keep the temperatures down all summer. That aquarium would boil with MH hanging over it.

I've done PCs. I have done T-5s. Won't do MH over the heat issue. I like T-5s best.

[dragonthoughts]

Originally Posted by Saraja87

The brace on my 110 Tall is glass. I would NOT attempt to remove it if I were you. It's there for a reason and you really need it, especially in a tank this tall.

that's why I suggested replacement, not removal...
however, on that note, how thick is your glass? my 90 has 1/2" and there is no centerbrace, no problems for well over a decade. I don't even get any noticable bowing, and I've looked.

I have not done it but here is some discussion about brace replace ment.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/glstkbraces.htm

[gmccreedy]

With that plant list, I don't see the need for a metal halide AT ALL. Why pump that much light for low demanding plants? Especially a tank without CO2.

As much as you can make the argument that the light is adjustable, and unless you have future plans you are trying to consider, T5HO or PC seem more than enough.

Just my opinion.

And Chris... MH's get hot man. Not sure what your fixture is doing, but mine gets scorching hot. I pretty much heat my tank with it.

[CmLaracy]

Originally Posted by gmccreedy

With that plant list, I don't see the need for a metal halide AT ALL. Why pump that much light for low demanding plants? Especially a tank without CO2.

As much as you can make the argument that the light is adjustable, and unless you have future plans you are trying to consider, T5HO or PC seem more than enough.

Just my opinion.

And Chris... MH's get hot man. Not sure what your fixture is doing, but mine gets scorching hot. I pretty much heat my tank with it.

Well, and this is in response to mike as well, my pendant is a good 10"+ off the surface of the water... something to consider. If I turn my hydor off, even with the halide on, the tank cools to about room temperature, maybe a degree over (thats a 40G 75P w/ a 150w MH over it). I could see it raising the temp at say 6" off the surface, but then the corners wouldn't get lit. Maybe the housing of my fixture has something to do with it, it's very thin aluminum, and thus heat is expelled from all sides of the pendant (it's actually one of the design descriptions, and I find the top to emit almost as much heat as the bottom where the light is), and not directly down into the tank as say Glenn's system might do, considering it's surround by thick metal/plastic? Also, are the ballasts in your fixture Glenn, because that could contributed greatly to the heat, and the HQI's ability to expel it anywhere but into the tank. My light gives off heat in all different directions, greatly reducing the amount that makes it into the tank. This is all speculation of course

In this case, it may be an issue of practicality. T5HO will provide the more practical option, but MH's do have some nice perks They both provide very efficient light, so it may just be a matter of personal opinion for Jaid.

[gmccreedy]

Originally Posted by CmLaracy

In this case, it may be an issue of practicality. T5HO will provide the more practical option, but MH's do have some nice perks They both provide light, so it may just be a matter of personal opinion for Jaid.

Agreed.

FWIW, my ballasts are on my floor outside the stand (haven't found room for them in the stand)

[ingg]

In the end, it is always a matter of practicality and personal preference.

CmL, you are a bit misleading in some of your points though.

Multiple bulbs in T5 is a plus to most of us, not a minus. I can swing and sway my bulbs' spectrum output to an incredible degree just by swapping one bulb and leaving the rest, how about you? I can control my output and intensity without picking the fixture up 18" off my tank and lighting the room up by simply noonbursting, or leaving off, one bank of bulbs, how about you?

Long bulbs spanning the tank are also a plus to most of us. I can get even coverage with 1 bulb set over a 4' tank, without having to burn energy and wattage overdoing it to raise the fixture for spread. I don't need to worry about the silliness of dark spots, as I don't make them with my lighting solution. I can even technically do it over a 5' and 6' tank, though bulb choices admittedly become limited unless using more than one bank.

Efficiency is often measured in Lumens/watt (T5's edge it out), bulb lumen loss over time (T5's crush it), or in bulb cost long term for replacements (T5's last longer and cost less long term in bulb replacements), and T5's beat MH in every regard listed there I believe as I noted (please tell me if one is inaccurate).

I'm not sure where you come up with MH's being a superior style - in what regard are you speaking? Because of a shimmer? I can copy that every evening with a few moon lights.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by CmLaracy

LOL, I get serious sometimes Good to see you can take a constructive argument lightly

I will say this, my MH does heat up my room a lil bit, but not the tank (I've got a small room lol)

Ahhh the subtropics, just took a visit to palm coast florida for a couple weeks about a month back . Nice place

There's a huge difference between a debate and an argument... and I'm ALWAYS game for a good debate!

I agree with Ingg- I researched the technology pretty heavily before buying the T5HO over my 90gal, and I do believe that there are more advantages to T5HO over MH.

Though MH definitely also has some plusses.

I think humidity also has a lot to do with heat dissipation, and when the humidity is over 50% for a hefty part of the year, I just don't see being able to run high wattage MHs over a tank without a chiller.

If you're sold on MH, Jaide, the chiller on Ebay is sold, but there were still 2 on the FtMyers Craigslist last I looked.