Metal halide or T5 H.O?

apeddle · 01-19-2012, 02:31 AM

I lucked into finding a local store that offers both t5's and metal halides.
I can get a 150 watt metal halide for around 130 bucks and he offers various sizes in the t5's but the only one suitable for my tank(36g bow) is the 24" duel bulb. Which is around 40 bucks and i'm pretty sure that is with the bulbs included?
What do you fellow aquarium enthusiasts think is my best option?

evan.m · 01-19-2012, 02:45 AM

Prices seem really low, I would be leery of an inferior product. Are you planning on a high tech, high light tank w/ co2 injection; or a low light tank that is easier to take care of. e In my opinion each light will give you one or the other

apeddle · 01-19-2012, 02:50 AM

They are pretty quality products, it is a greenhouse store more or less. But my LFS advised me to buy them from him, said thats what he uses on all his tanks and they work great.
I was considering doing Co2 injections, but idk how soon I would be buying a pressurized co2 kit. I don't think a DIY co2 system would work two well on a 36g

evan.m · 01-19-2012, 02:54 AM

I wouldn't use MH without co2, It will be an algae farm. But it seems metal halide is the way to go. I didn't have any patience when I first started my tank and I am still paying the price for not having co2 from the start.

apeddle · 01-19-2012, 03:17 AM

I'm debating, i'm going to be starting up some 10g plant grow tanks and hopefully sell them off. I was planning on running a MH for them, 1 MH for as many as I can squeeze on a stand probably 4 or 5 starting off and doing a diy co2 for them :P.
I also have a 55g cichlid tank that is due for a lighting upgrade so most likely ill add the t5 ho to that one!

amcoffeegirl · 01-19-2012, 09:12 PM

I just got my first t5ho and it looks really nice and bright. i got the 24 inch over a 15 gallon tank. i have a glass top on the tank though and may just rune one bulb. i also only paid $42. i think it will work fine for me.

apeddle · 01-20-2012, 03:43 AM

I rigged up my own t5 ho sorta looks great though!

TedP · 01-20-2012, 04:50 PM

Looks, like you already decided on T5. Good choice. MH would be too much. I run a 150 watt MH over my 30 tall with injected CO2 and it's way too much light.

apeddle · 01-22-2012, 12:24 AM

Yeah I did, seems like its going to work pretty well! I'd really like to get a metal halide on something but there just so friggin powerful.

samamorgan · 01-22-2012, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apeddle

Yeah I did, seems like its going to work pretty well! I'd really like to get a metal halide on something but there just so friggin powerful.

And very costly to run.

apeddle · 01-22-2012, 12:48 AM

There expensive to run eh? Because the drain so much power?

samamorgan · 01-22-2012, 01:49 AM

Energy used converted to light:

Incandescent/Halogen: 10% light
Metal Halide: 25% light
Flourescent: 70% light

There are more factors, but this is the basic concept.

TedP · 01-22-2012, 08:30 AM

Heat!

When the main lamp kicks on for my 30g it heats the room up uncomfortably. It doesn't really affect the water temp that badly but it's my office and I spend a lot of time there. For that, it's too much as well.

samamorgan · 01-22-2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedP

Heat!

When the main lamp kicks on for my 30g it heats the room up uncomfortably. It doesn't really affect the water temp that badly but it's my office and I spend a lot of time there. For that, it's too much as well.

Yeah, most of the energy that is not converted into light is converted into heat instead, so for that metal halide, 75% of the energy used is converted into radiation. This leads to more expensive cooling bills as well. Yet another thing to factor

Imagine a 150w incandescent

James77 · 03-10-2012, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samamorgan

Energy used converted to light:

Incandescent/Halogen: 10% light
Metal Halide: 25% light
Flourescent: 70% light

There are more factors, but this is the basic concept.

This is incorrect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samamorgan

Yeah, most of the energy that is not converted into light is converted into heat instead, so for that metal halide, 75% of the energy used is converted into radiation. This leads to more expensive cooling bills as well. Yet another thing to factor

Imagine a 150w incandescent

All of the energy, whether or not it is converted to light, will end up as heat. Flourescents and halides watt for watt will put out the same heat.

01-19-2012, 02:31 AM	#1
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	Metal halide or T5 H.O? I lucked into finding a local store that offers both t5's and metal halides. I can get a 150 watt metal halide for around 130 bucks and he offers various sizes in the t5's but the only one suitable for my tank(36g bow) is the 24" duel bulb. Which is around 40 bucks and i'm pretty sure that is with the bulbs included? What do you fellow aquarium enthusiasts think is my best option?

01-19-2012, 02:45 AM	#2
evan.m Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 154	Prices seem really low, I would be leery of an inferior product. Are you planning on a high tech, high light tank w/ co2 injection; or a low light tank that is easier to take care of. e In my opinion each light will give you one or the other __________________ My First Tank (55 gal)

01-19-2012, 02:54 AM	#4
evan.m Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 154	I wouldn't use MH without co2, It will be an algae farm. But it seems metal halide is the way to go. I didn't have any patience when I first started my tank and I am still paying the price for not having co2 from the start. __________________ My First Tank (55 gal)

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01-19-2012, 02:50 AM	#3
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	They are pretty quality products, it is a greenhouse store more or less. But my LFS advised me to buy them from him, said thats what he uses on all his tanks and they work great. I was considering doing Co2 injections, but idk how soon I would be buying a pressurized co2 kit. I don't think a DIY co2 system would work two well on a 36g

01-19-2012, 03:17 AM	#5
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	I'm debating, i'm going to be starting up some 10g plant grow tanks and hopefully sell them off. I was planning on running a MH for them, 1 MH for as many as I can squeeze on a stand probably 4 or 5 starting off and doing a diy co2 for them :P. I also have a 55g cichlid tank that is due for a lighting upgrade so most likely ill add the t5 ho to that one!

01-19-2012, 09:12 PM	#6
amcoffeegirl Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: iowa Posts: 676	I just got my first t5ho and it looks really nice and bright. i got the 24 inch over a 15 gallon tank. i have a glass top on the tank though and may just rune one bulb. i also only paid $42. i think it will work fine for me.

01-20-2012, 03:43 AM	#7
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	I rigged up my own t5 ho sorta looks great though!

01-20-2012, 04:50 PM	#8
TedP Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Central, FL Posts: 281	Looks, like you already decided on T5. Good choice. MH would be too much. I run a 150 watt MH over my 30 tall with injected CO2 and it's way too much light.

01-22-2012, 12:24 AM	#9
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	Yeah I did, seems like its going to work pretty well! I'd really like to get a metal halide on something but there just so friggin powerful.

01-22-2012, 12:48 AM	#11
apeddle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 46	There expensive to run eh? Because the drain so much power?

01-22-2012, 08:30 AM	#13
TedP Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Central, FL Posts: 281	Heat! When the main lamp kicks on for my 30g it heats the room up uncomfortably. It doesn't really affect the water temp that badly but it's my office and I spend a lot of time there. For that, it's too much as well.