MH Light Vs PL Lights

[ScottTCS]

Hi All,

My current 4Ft tank setup:
i) Artica Chiller
ii) CO2 cylinder with electronic valve
iii) PL Lights(55W) 2 sets (220W)
iv) Jebo Canister Filter

Things kept in my tank are:
i) Riccia
ii) Christmas moss
iii) A few common rooted plants
iv) Cherry Shrimps
v) CRS
vi) Otto

I found that my PL lights does not penetrate deep because my riccia growing at the bottom of the tank does not bubble while those i put higher up starts bubbling and show the 'snow effect' whe the whole plant is filled with bubble.

I am thinking of getting MH light to replaced the PL.
But i have no idea which type shall i get? (example, what wattage to get, how many Ks to get, how many MH lamp to install)

I've called NA and the woman reply that a set that consist of 2 MH lamp + T5 light will cost about $500+.

Can someone advise me on the type to get - whether pure MH or MH + T5.

Any economic place to buy these be it DIY or the whole set. And also what is the power consumption compared to PL lights.

Please help


Scott

[Shadow]

I suggest to get 2 x 150W MH

you can try:
http://www.viclite.com/aqlight.htm

much cheaper for DIY, of course it wont be fancy and only MH, no T5.

[o2bubble]

Just get 2x150w MH will be enough. I use the same for my 4ft and just 10 mins after lights on, all plants bubble like crazy. previously using T5 with the 320w in total only produced a few streams of bubbles after 6 hours.

[ScottTCS]

Thanks you all for the advice & info. With the help of one of my friend, i've bought 2X 150W 6K Light from a lighting shop at $120 each.

Bought some Aluminium Profile (2 inch by 1 inch rectangular hollow section) at Ubi area at $17.20. They provide cutting sevice at no cost! The only down point is that they only sell you the whole piece at 6m in length.

I will rivet and assemble everything DIY:

Metal Halide 150W x 2 -- $240.00
Aluminium Profile x 1 -- $ 17.20
3 Pin Socket -- $ 1.60
3 core Wire FOC from my workplace

Total I spent about $258.80

[Goondoo]

Thanks you all for the advice & info. With the help of one of my friend, i've bought 2X 150W 6K Light from a lighting shop at $120 each.

Bought some Aluminium Profile (2 inch by 1 inch rectangular hollow section) at Ubi area at $17.20. They provide cutting sevice at no cost! The only down point is that they only sell you the whole piece at 6m in length.

I will rivet and assemble everything DIY:

Metal Halide 150W x 2 -- $240.00
Aluminium Profile x 1 -- $ 17.20
3 Pin Socket -- $ 1.60
3 core Wire FOC from my workplace

Total I spent about $258.80

I would advise you to vary the height of the MH before riveting, and try to have atleast 30-35cm height.

[o2bubble]

Try 30 cm first. Once fixed, not easily to adjust. I tried 30 cm but felt too high and now have to lower it to 25 cm.

[ScottTCS]

Thanks again. I've did it for about 20cm. All my plants bubble like crazy indeed.

Should have read your advise earlier. I will have to find time to cut my profile shorter.

Now the MH is hanging down using cable tie.

At least MH is worth the investment.

[o2bubble]

After 1 week, you will see a decrease in amount of bubbling. This is normal. To keep up with high light, remember to increase fert and co2 to about at least 3-5 bps.

[soulfinder78]

Oh that's cheap and good lightings. Can share where you got the lights and the aluminium profile???

If my T5HO don't work well for me i will change into 2 MH too

[Sunflower]

bro bravo to your DIY MH. would like to know if MH will produce a lot of heat

[ScottTCS]

Hi Soul Finder

Sorry did not read the forum for quite sometime.

I bought the MH from: Rad Son Lighting. No. 137 Jln Besar #01-01 (along the right hand side of the road)

Aluminium Profile: Ubi (turn in from Paya Lebar to A-Z building)

The shop is along the whole stretch of Hardware shop. You should be able to see it if you drive slowly. The shops only sell aluminium profile.


ScottTCS

[ScottTCS]

Hi Sun Flower

Yes, the MH will definately produce heat but since my setup is 1/10hp Arctica chiller, i have no problem on cooling the temp of my aquarium.

You can install a fan to cool the MH or dessipate the heat away.


ScottTCS

[celticfish]

if the budget is okay for you, MH anyday!
the insensity of the light will be appreciated by all your plants.

[illumnae]

i think one of the huge disadvantages of MH is the heat it produces, which i've been told makes it compulsory to have a chiller if you don't want your tank inhabitants (both fish and plants) to suffer. that adds a hefty sum to your total cost both in terms of sunk cost and increased electricity bills. so if you don't intend to install a chiller in your tank, it might be better to get t5 or PL instead

[Goondoo]

i think one of the huge disadvantages of MH is the heat it produces, which i've been told makes it compulsory to have a chiller if you don't want your tank inhabitants (both fish and plants) to suffer. that adds a hefty sum to your total cost both in terms of sunk cost and increased electricity bills. so if you don't intend to install a chiller in your tank, it might be better to get t5 or PL instead

I beg to differ, I was using 2x150w MH on my 4x2x2 tank and the temperature had never exceeded 28 degree celcius. I was only using a AC Fan bought from Nature running 24/7 and I had two thermometer then. I suggest such "hear say" comments not to be make unless you had verified it personally before. Its misleading and unjust.

On the other hand, 300w consumption is still 300w consumption regardless of what lights you use. I spent about $350 on my MH lights then, including the bulbs that give better intensity and could last me for 2 years or more. In a long run, which is cheaper? I nearly wanted to change to T5VHO but I realized it cost more than my pair of MH lights.

Just my thoughts.

[illumnae]

if MH doesn't require any chiller as you say, then i think MH is definitely the way to go

[soulfinder78]

Thank you for your sharing.. By the way does MH lights come with built in timer? Was wondering with such high wattage, if using normal timer can it stand the sudden power surge during the transistion from off to on.

any advise?

[Goondoo]

Thank you for your sharing.. By the way does MH lights come with built in timer? Was wondering with such high wattage, if using normal timer can it stand the sudden power surge during the transistion from off to on.

any advise?

I was using normal timer connected to both MH + a CO2 solenoid if this help.

[valice]

if MH doesn't require any chiller as you say, then i think MH is definitely the way to go

There are many factors to whether you need a chiller or not.
Air circulation around your tank plays a part as well. If the air circulation is bad, the ambient temperature will rise due to the chiller. And as a result, your tank temperature goes up.

Also, with chiller, your surrounding temperature will increase too if you have bad air circulation.

Having a high ceiling will help.

[Star-flog]

I beg to differ, I was using 2x150w MH on my 4x2x2 tank and the temperature had never exceeded 28 degree celcius. I was only using a AC Fan bought from Nature running 24/7 and I had two thermometer then. I suggest such "hear say" comments not to be make unless you had verified it personally before. Its misleading and unjust.

On the other hand, 300w consumption is still 300w consumption regardless of what lights you use. I spent about $350 on my MH lights then, including the bulbs that give better intensity and could last me for 2 years or more. In a long run, which is cheaper? I nearly wanted to change to T5VHO but I realized it cost more than my pair of MH lights.

Just my thoughts.

I always want to try HM because of it 'natural lighting' effect. If HM does not raise the temperature too much, it should worth trying.