T5 versue MH light

[dead fish]

Hi

Just though of changing my Marine lighting, MH light are too hot cos Mine tank are enclose.

may anyone out there tell me :

Can I have almost the same effect of MH lighting if I use 4x T5 HO lighting 4 ft

Worrier

[veliferium]

No,u cannot

Tubes have a wider spread while MHs are point-sourced

[veliferium]

i think for 4ft you have to use 8 tubes of T5 HO or maybe more if you intend to go full sps,and you definitely need chilling for sps

[KTLK]

Think I saw somewhere in the forum that one of the member's tank featuring in the Reefcentral magazine uses only T5s for his beautiful LPS tank.

[minsmarine]

Upto 2 ft from tubs, should be alright to keep SPS.

[Clownfish]

hmmm... how u all noe he's going for sps???

[wil_lee76]

just an advise in case in future he goes for SPS! lot of reefers will started off doesnt know what he wants and get whatevers equipment he had! veli is right. MH is point source and its advisable to have a chiller if intend to go for MH....but IMO, it best to have MH and T5 if buget allowed...

[Kelmen]

Run chiller to help reduce the heat. Its implicitly to have chiller for MH tank at equatorial region, unless you got a real cold room (aircond full time)