PL or MH option for deeper light penetration?

[kelvin72]

hi all, i need some advise from the bros here.
i currently has a total of 8 tubes of 55w pl lights. this makes 440 w of lights.
i was wondering if i should change to MH which is 3 x 150 w, which is 450w.
i was told that MH lighting is more indense and its good for my 2.5 ft deep tank. should i change or not??

[|squee|]

Why not? 2.5feet deep... I'd change to MH if I were you. They also produce nice rippling effects on the walls around your tank.

[kelvin72]

hmmm agree with you....nice ripping effect... its like dreaming.... but i am just afraid that the heat from MH will heat up the water in the tank... 3 fans will be install duo. what you think?

[|squee|]

According to Goondoo (forummer here) the heat from the MH is negligible, but others have opposite opinions, like needing a chiller for your tank when you use MH. I guess it depends on how far you hang the MH from your tank's surface.

[Weirong]

You should have quite a big tank to begin with so the heat should be able to disperse more easily. I would really go for MH.

PL does not work as well with such a deep tank. In fact, it didn't work like I wanted it to with my 2ft deep tank, so I did a switch to T5. Worked much better but still nothing compared to how MH can penetrate the waters.

[kelvin72]

Wow thanks guys, you ppl here are certainly nice!
I like it here where many bros help each other....nice!!

[mecedesfish]

You should have quite a big tank to begin with so the heat should be able to disperse more easily. I would really go for MH.

PL does not work as well with such a deep tank. In fact, it didn't work like I wanted it to with my 2ft deep tank, so I did a switch to T5. Worked much better but still nothing compared to how MH can penetrate the waters.

hi weirong,
i am thinking to change with my 4x2x2 tank to T5 or MH lighting. Currently using 36w x 4 PL tube x 2nos = 288 watts. I have installed a chiller at 25-26D

Do you think, will it will work better or should i stay with my PL lights. I am growing US fissidens and downoi as my foreground. Some "red taiyang chow" and java fern with DW on the rear.

Thanks

[Weirong]

Your plants are actually not that light demanding. My personal 2ft tall tank is blasted with HOT5 with parabolic reflectors and works well enough to support some light demanding foreground plants.

I'm using 3x 39w tubes only but directing the lights evenly with the reflectors.

What I would do personally would be to cut down to 1 light set (with the T5 or MH) instead of using 2 PL light sets.