Metal halide or T5 H.O?

**jreich** · 03-10-2012, 02:38 AM

150w of MH over a 36 bow is way to much light even if your using press. co2. you really dont need a ton of light to grow plants, whats more important is ferts and co2. not many people use MH on a FW tank for good reason... its total overkill. the less ligh you have the more managable your aquarium will be, the more light u add makes the balancing act with co2 and ferts a razors edge.
150w MH would be good to grow coral, but not FW plants.
for a 36 bow i would go with 1 T5HO dual bulb fixture. with that you should be able to grow just about anything.

samamorgan · 03-10-2012, 06:49 AM

Way to necro a thread. That's interesting if true, but it's the only information i've read that shows figures like that. I cant give source links to refute it, because this was talked about months ago and i'm not interested in running around looking for more information.

dazkeirle · 03-10-2012, 12:34 PM

I use both, what people are omitting to mention though is that MH has a much nicer light to it. It is more natural and gives the cool ripples.

It is a bit of an algae magnet though, be warned.

Kathyy · 03-10-2012, 01:08 PM

The chart came from here.
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildin...white_leds.pdf

Before I went with MH I had seen similar information but no idea where, it has been a decade.

There are a few smaller tanks journaled here with MH, very beautiful but operating on a razor's edge. Not something for a first timer to try. Go T5, your electric bill will be smaller and you can have the lights on for longer!

BlueJack · 03-10-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dazkeirle

I use both, what people are omitting to mention though is that MH has a much nicer light to it. It is more natural and gives the cool ripples.

+1...no other light source can match that glistening effect. Just have to deal with the heat. Or go LED!!!

markstr · 01-19-2013, 03:25 AM

There are really so many factors that go into this. Location is also a biggie...
Depending on how tall the tank is, and how close the Halide is etc etc. will all factor into this.... Amano uses these on all of his tanks for yrs... Really depends on what your tastes are/ budget etc. Pressurized CO2 yes as a givin..

03-10-2012, 01:08 PM	#19
Kathyy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 2,992	The chart came from here. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildin...white_leds.pdf Before I went with MH I had seen similar information but no idea where, it has been a decade. There are a few smaller tanks journaled here with MH, very beautiful but operating on a razor's edge. Not something for a first timer to try. Go T5, your electric bill will be smaller and you can have the lights on for longer! __________________ http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=195914 "180 gallons of Ferny Wood"

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03-10-2012, 02:38 AM	#16
jreich Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: philadelphia Posts: 2,940	150w of MH over a 36 bow is way to much light even if your using press. co2. you really dont need a ton of light to grow plants, whats more important is ferts and co2. not many people use MH on a FW tank for good reason... its total overkill. the less ligh you have the more managable your aquarium will be, the more light u add makes the balancing act with co2 and ferts a razors edge. 150w MH would be good to grow coral, but not FW plants. for a 36 bow i would go with 1 T5HO dual bulb fixture. with that you should be able to grow just about anything.

03-10-2012, 12:34 PM	#18
dazkeirle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: England Posts: 21	I use both, what people are omitting to mention though is that MH has a much nicer light to it. It is more natural and gives the cool ripples. It is a bit of an algae magnet though, be warned.

01-19-2013, 03:25 AM	#21
markstr Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Seattle WA. Posts: 384	There are really so many factors that go into this. Location is also a biggie... Depending on how tall the tank is, and how close the Halide is etc etc. will all factor into this.... Amano uses these on all of his tanks for yrs... Really depends on what your tastes are/ budget etc. Pressurized CO2 yes as a givin..