Light of choice for tanks 2ft and above in depth

[izzat]

Hi guys,

I'm doing a poll to see which of the 3 options would you guys prefer to choose in the case you have a 2ft and above high tank. I'm still deciding between MH or T5. I do not know if PL light are about to penetrate 2ft in depth but T5 should be able.

So guys, cast your votes and maybe want to give me a brief guide as to why you chose it and maybe add for me some pros and cons of your choice.

[Simon]

[quote:7fe134c685="aCe^bOwleRz"]Hi guys,

I'm doing a poll to see which of the 3 options would you guys prefer to choose in the case you have a 2ft and above high tank. I'm still deciding between MH or T5. I do not know if PL light are about to penetrate 2ft in depth but T5 should be able.

So guys, cast your votes and maybe want to give me a brief guide as to why you chose it and maybe add for me some pros and cons of your choice. [/quote:7fe134c685]

defintely MH, intensity, coverage.. but will increase temperature (something to consider)

[izzat]

[quote:d4876c0be6="Simon"]defintely MH, intensity, coverage.. but will increase temperature (something to consider)[/quote:d4876c0be6]

Hmmm. Since I need sometime to collect money to invest in a chiller, will a fan be able to help to reduce the heat. I'm scared that my water might be "boiling" temperature for the plants.

Planning to get a DIY set and not the pendant types to save $$ unless I get a good offer on a pendant.

[Goondoo]

[quote:d4876c0be6="Simon"]defintely MH, intensity, coverage.. but will increase temperature (something to consider)[/quote:d4876c0be6]

Hmmm. Since I need sometime to collect money to invest in a chiller, will a fan be able to help to reduce the heat. I'm scared that my water might be "boiling" temperature for the plants.

Planning to get a DIY set and not the pendant types to save $$ unless I get a good offer on a pendant.

Good offer is a very subjective word. Just how much is your budget?

[izzat]

Good offer is a very subjective word. Just how much is your budget?

Within my budget. Also depends on the brand of the MH.
But most probably I'll still stick to T5

[Mossana-Mossini]

what light to use also depends on what plants one intends to keep.

[izzat]

what light to use also depends on what plants one intends to keep.

Hi MM,

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't the choice of lighting depends(mostly) on the height of your tank?

If your tank height is 2ft< we would normally use MH as it has the penetration power/effect. With T5 and PL, the penetration is not so strong to reach the foreground plants.

If your tank height is 2ft> we have the option of PL, T5 or even MH if you have cash on hand to spare.

With MH lighting, we have to settle the heat issues. For T5 and PL, we can go off with a fan.

[Goondoo]

I stay in HDB flat, running 2x150w MH lights with electronic ballast. I use 1 AC fan (from Chan) with lights timer from 6pm-12am. The other fan running at noon when ambient temperature is the warmest. I managed to maintain my temperature below 27 degrees most of the time (these few days) and it hit 26 degrees flat last night! During the warmest period, the temperature hit 28.9 when the lights are off and about 28.5 when the lights are on

So what were you saying about heat??

Cheers,
Goondoo

Hi MM,

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't the choice of lighting depends(mostly) on the height of your tank?

If your tank height is 2ft< we would normally use MH as it has the penetration power/effect. With T5 and PL, the penetration is not so strong to reach the foreground plants.

If your tank height is 2ft> we have the option of PL, T5 or even MH if you have cash on hand to spare.

With MH lighting, we have to settle the heat issues. For T5 and PL, we can go off with a fan.

[izzat]

I stay in HDB flat, running 2x150w MH lights with electronic ballast. I use 1 AC fan (from Chan) with lights timer from 6pm-12am. The other fan running at noon when ambient temperature is the warmest. I managed to maintain my temperature below 27 degrees most of the time (these few days) and it hit 26 degrees flat last night! During the warmest period, the temperature hit 28.9 when the lights are off and about 28.5 when the lights are on

So what were you saying about heat??

Cheers,
Goondoo

Yes, yours is 150W but mine is 400W

150W would create lesser heat as compared to 250W or 400W.
If we are using 250W or 400W, we will most probably need to use a chiller.
Marine keepers would know this well

Different area of SG also has different ambient temperature?
Yours might be cooler spot of SG

[BFG]

Since you have T5, might as well use them. If you are on a tight budget, go DIY T5 setup. Hide the setup inside the hood.

[benshthong]

Is long term cost a factor to you? At 400W and a chiller, your electrical bill shd increase abt $40-$50per month on top of your existing equipments. If that is not a worry, then MH will be best option.

I think you can use back your T5 or add some more if need be.

[sithspawn]

My 6ft MH lights cost below $600 and are made up of 3 x 150 watts MH, and on each side a pair of 30 watt and 20 watt FL tubes with 2 separate switches for MH and FL. It's made of aluminium and uses passive cooling. For $700 you can get one with fans and a timer though you will still need a chiller for sure. For a planted tank length of 5ft and above it makes more sense to use MH rather than so many T5s and FLs to get the required amount of light. The 6500K MH bulbs are $50 a piece so it's not that ex to replace. For a smaller length tank, sometimes one or two simple 150 watt MH lamps is just more neater and less complicated.

[Goondoo]

My 6ft MH lights cost below $600 and are made up of 3 x 150 watts MH, and on each side a pair of 30 watt and 20 watt FL tubes with 2 separate switches for MH and FL. It's made of aluminium and uses passive cooling. For $700 you can get one with fans and a timer though you will still need a chiller for sure. For a planted tank length of 5ft and above it makes more sense to use MH rather than so many T5s and FLs to get the required amount of light. The 6500K MH bulbs are $50 a piece so it's not that ex to replace. For a smaller length tank, sometimes one or two simple 150 watt MH lamps is just more neater and less complicated.

wow, talking about digging old posts.....

[sithspawn]

wow, talking about digging old posts.....

Yeh I think it was a bug caused it turned up under the new posts. I didn't notice the date. Well I hope it answers his question LOL

[yappeyap]

Actually there a similar discussion quite some time ago,
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=20489

Read this in one of the article written by a Marine guru in the net, if you're interested the whole article can be found in

http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/pr...?t=77883&pp=40

In summary of the lighting portion, it states that
Effective water penetration power of bulbs and tubes:
Fluorescents - Down to 12"
CF like PL, T4 and T5 - Down to 15"
MH 70W - Down to 16"
MH 150W - Down to 20"
MH 250W - Down to 24"
MH 400W - Down to 30"

Hope it helps.........