Lighting Questions

[junyong84]

Hi, what is MH best used with? T5s? PLs? FLs?

What are the uses of T5s/PLs/FLs with MH??? to provide the actinic part? or to even increase the light strength?

[lightningstrike]

dunno for other reefers, but i use T5s with MH to offset the yellowish tinge from 10kk bulbs with T5 actinics.

[ervine]

Erm.. I'm actually thinking of using 10k T5s to improve the lighting from my 20k 250W BLV... so it's the other way around I guess...

I think my 20k BLV isn't strong enough for my corals...

[Clownfish]

it's basically to offset colors i tink... cos ur intensity for corals shld depend more from the MH

i will recommend T5 for u as its slim design makes ur canopy look nicer n lighter, furthermore, MH r usually hanged more than 6 inches n above, thus using T5 can hav betta penetration into the water....

otherwise, if u hav some leftover lightings after ur upgrade, u can consider using them as well

[Ekia]

it's basically to offset colors i tink... cos ur intensity for corals shld depend more from the MH

i will recommend T5 for u as its slim design makes ur canopy look nicer n lighter, furthermore, MH r usually hanged more than 6 inches n above, thus using T5 can hav betta penetration into the water....

otherwise, if u hav some leftover lightings after ur upgrade, u can consider using them as well

Hmmm... first time hear that T5 got better penetration into water over MH

[bloodlamb]

In my lighting design the T-5 got to be quite high up because they are mounted with the MH in a single housing. MH are 10in from water surface and T-5 are 9 in. Hence I think that the T-5 are only good for color balance and for dawn/dusk simulation.

Those of you with 8xT-5 how is it mounted on the tank? I tought of getting 8xT-5 (4FT for a 4x2 area) but then to keep them 3in above water would mean that the whole top of the tank is covered up. very troublesome to maintance then.