What lights should I get for a 75G

[Chioru]

Hi
What lights should I get for a 75G(48*20*18)?

3 or 4 URI VHO 48" (what colors)?

3 or 4 T5 HO 48" ?

Also which one runs cooler URI VHO or T5 HO?

MH lights are out of question (tooo hot... no AC)

TIA

 

[Mihai]

Chiorule,

I'll give you the unofficial welcome, I'll let the admins give you the fancy one .

MH are OK, if you use fans for cooling. VHOs are getting hot as well. Besides, in Montreal you can really use some heat in the winter .

M.

 

[Anonymous]

I run 2x175 MH and 2-110 VHO over my 75. I do have AC though.

I previously ran 4-110 VHO's. I used 2 actinics and 2 aquasuns by URI. You'll be limited to softies and LPS for the most part.

Louey

 

[ChrisRD]

What lights should I get for a 75G(48*20*18)?

Depends on what you want to keep in the tank. If you tell us what you plan to keep we can give you more specific recommendations.

Also which one runs cooler URI VHO or T5 HO?

If you're talking about the same number of tubes, ie. 4 X 48" T-5 tubes (54 watts each) vs. 4 X 48" VHO tubes (110 watts each) the T-5s are going to generate less heat because they consume less power.

 

[ChrisRD]

Almost forgot... ...Chioru...

 

[Chioru]

OK... so the less Watt less heat.... hmmm... ok...
T5 48" are only 54W each? Hmph 8O

Regarding on "what do I wanna keep"... Hehehe.... not 100% yet. Wifey want some of those yelow long nose fish (Tangs I guess), and the blue on like the one from "Finding Nemo"( Damsel I guess) and of course "Nemo"... lol... I want a few corals if it's possible. If no, whatever nice zoos and shrooms.

What lights should I get for a 75G(48*20*18)?

Depends on what you want to keep in the tank. If you tell us what you plan to keep we can give you more specific recommendations.

Also which one runs cooler URI VHO or T5 HO?

If you're talking about the same number of tubes, ie. 4 X 48" T-5 tubes (54 watts each) vs. 4 X 48" VHO tubes (110 watts each) the T-5s are going to generate less heat because they consume less power.

 

[Chioru]

Hehe Mihai

I got too much heat thats my problem.

Chiorule,

I'll give you the unofficial welcome, I'll let the admins give you the fancy one .

MH are OK, if you use fans for cooling. VHOs are getting hot as well. Besides, in Montreal you can really use some heat in the winter .

M.

 

[ChrisRD]

The best thing you can do at this stage is get a good book before you go any further (check the links in my sig). Get an idea of what you'd like to keep in the tank first - that will have some effect on what equipment you choose.

 

[tygger]

What lights should I get for a 75G(48*20*18)?

Depends on what you want to keep in the tank. If you tell us what you plan to keep we can give you more specific recommendations.

Also which one runs cooler URI VHO or T5 HO?

If you're talking about the same number of tubes, ie. 4 X 48" T-5 tubes (54 watts each) vs. 4 X 48" VHO tubes (110 watts each) the T-5s are going to generate less heat because they consume less power.

If the T5s generate less heat because they consume less power, does that also mean that they will output less light??

 

[ChrisRD]

If the T5s generate less heat because they consume less power, does that also mean that they will output less light??

Not necessarily - not all lamps are created equal in terms of efficiency. To futher complicate things - ballasts and reflectors also come into play as variables when comparing lighting systems...

In general, T-5 HO fluorescent lamps are more efficient than T-12 VHO fluorescents. In this case assuming you're comparing similar ballast types and the lamps are in-fact being driven to their rated wattages (not always the case), there's a pretty large power consumption difference (54 watts vs. 110 watts). IMO, it's likely that the VHO lamp itself produces as much or more light (although much less efficiently) as the T-5 lamp, but the real question is, how much of that is actually getting to your corals...

In this case (T-5 HO vs. T-12 VHO) the bigger factor is probably the reflector. The reflectors that are currently available for T-5s are far more efficient than what's currently out there for VHO (T-12 lamps) systems. Also, the smaller diameter of the T-5 lamps probably lends itself to more efficient reflector design. In other words, the better reflector outweighs any difference in output from the lamps.

This is sorta similar to the DE halide vs. Mogul halide thing. It's been shown now in testing that the DE lamps do not necessarily produce more light, but the geometry of these lamps lends itself to better reflector designs. In the end, the overall system is more efficient - ie. they deliver more light to your corals for the power being consumed. Same relationship appears to be true with T-5 HO vs. T-12 VHO...

HTH

 

[tygger]

Great reply! That sheds a new light on things

 

[down&dirty]

I went through all stages of lighting on my tank. From NO 4 foot tubes, to T5 then on to PC. Now I have moved to MH. I would suggest skipping the steps and jumping directly to MH. The heat generated per watt seems to be less than the other lamps. And if you put in vent fans it is not an issue. (Just don't let your MH lamps stay on for too long or you will cook everything and have a nice reef tank gumbo.) Also you can keep anything under then. I run 2-250watt MH and 220 watts of PC right now. I am going to adjust to only the 2 MH bulbs and a 130watts of PC for the actinics.

 

[tygger]

(Just don't let your MH lamps stay on for too long or you will cook everything and have a nice reef tank gumbo.)

That's what I was afraid of. How many hours do you keep your MH on? Would 12hrs be too long?

I was leaning towards T5s because of the price and heat issue. Would T5's support most coral/verts?

 

[insearch]

I have 2- 175 halides and 2-96w PC actinic over a 36" by 24" deep tank. I run my halides 8hrs and 10hrs on the PC actinics and everything is thriving fine.

 

[insearch]

Also FWIW I also ended up going to a chiller. Ah something about southern California and 115 degree heat. I really don,t think it would have mattered if I was just running PCs. I have a decent exhuast in my light hood. I think it was the 115 heat and a chiller is far less than my AC bill.

 

[hillbilly]

Anything but MH on a reef tank is a waste of money, sorry, but that's the bottom line. Been there, done that, have many tee shirts! Get some pendants, and no tank heating worries.

 

[drywallguy29]

I have to agree with" Hilbilly" you may not know it yet but there is a metal halide setup with your credit card # on it already. Better to skip the paying twice game and go straight to MH. On a possitive note my 24" 250.00$ custom sea life pcs work great on my refugium. They just didn't quite cut it for a 110 tall wonder why????

 

[down&dirty]

Yeah, don't waste and it is a waste, money on anything but MHs. I got my dual 250's with bulbs on ebay for $250. That is only $0.50 a watt!! Now look at the value of PC or T5. I paided $130 FOR MY 220 watts of PC on ebay. Now the two work great together with the PCs running my actinics and the MH for the real light. If you look at NO, bulbs alone are $40 for a four footer. It will take at least 2 to grow anything. So $80 plus ballast and mounting ends up around 100-120 depending on how nice you go. At that go ahead and order the PCs from ebay or look for a good deal on VHO. I bought my PC's knowing that they would be actinic only as soon as I free'd up 250 on the card. Unfortunatly I am also addicted to Jeeps so a free 250 on a card is hard to come by.