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  1. #1
    Moderator The R/C Man's Avatar
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    T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Here is the deal...

    30" tall tank
    4 x 400W MH 20K bulbs for the main lighting
    The T5's = 192watts
    The VHO's = 600watts
    With the MH's I am thinking I am covered as far as PAR goes.
    I am making the consideration based on the corals needs vs my wallet.
    Now should I add 8, T5 bulbs or 8, VHO's to supplement?
    If you all think the SPS will need the lighting I will suck up the power bill. If not I will go with the T5 strictly to balance out the 20k's.....
    Greg

    14 gallon BioCube, modified to accept Maxijet 600
    75 gallon reef with 29 gallon sump/fuge, Barr Aquatic Skimmer, Iwaki 100, Mag 7 return, Hamilton T-5 lighting
    375 gallon tank....... SOLD
    675 gallon wood tank in design phase.

    Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

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    Moderator Poseidon's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Are you supplementing WHITE because the 20K's are too blue?

    If so I would do T5 no question. If you are adding more actinic, VHO is still the best, but D+D True actinic T5 is pretty darn close, and half the wattage.
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  3. #3
    Moderator The R/C Man's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Yeah I am planning to use 6k or a combo of 6 and 10k T5's.

    My little tank has a 250W MH 20k supplemented with 6700k PCs and looks the same as a 10k MH with actinic PC's. I figured I may as well get the power to the corals from the 20K spektrum...
    Greg

    14 gallon BioCube, modified to accept Maxijet 600
    75 gallon reef with 29 gallon sump/fuge, Barr Aquatic Skimmer, Iwaki 100, Mag 7 return, Hamilton T-5 lighting
    375 gallon tank....... SOLD
    675 gallon wood tank in design phase.

    Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

  4. #4
    Moderator Poseidon's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    If that is the case, then T5 all the way!
    Need a Photographer?

    Just say NO to CRABS

    Mike

  5. #5
    Just Moved In
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Hey guys, I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I'm very curious about supplimental lighting as well and trying to learn its purpose(I've only got 4x65w PCs now). Is supplimental lighting usually just to get the visible color you want, that is, to bring out the color in the corals/make them glow? Don't you get all the PAR you need from the MH lamps?
    Thanks

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    Keeper of Willis charlie's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Lots of folks just use them for aesthetics, or the dawn-dusk effect.
    400 Gallon Reef Log
    Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

    Willis--1998-2009---I will miss you.

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    Just Moved In
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    I see. So if you were to use a 14k bulb there would likely be no real need for the supplemental lighting (colorwise) except perhpas if you wished to ease your animals into more intense MH lighting with the dawn/dusk less intense lighting. That makes sense.
    Thanks

  8. #8
    Moderator The R/C Man's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Thats correct. I have decided to go with 20K MH bulbs for the main lighting. Having the higher wattage at the spectrum that penetrates the water deepest makes more sense to me. Since that will ultimately make the tank appear bluish and not very bright to our eyes I choose to add the other colors of the spetrum to balance it out.
    Greg

    14 gallon BioCube, modified to accept Maxijet 600
    75 gallon reef with 29 gallon sump/fuge, Barr Aquatic Skimmer, Iwaki 100, Mag 7 return, Hamilton T-5 lighting
    375 gallon tank....... SOLD
    675 gallon wood tank in design phase.

    Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

  9. #9
    Keeper of Willis charlie's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    I supplemented 6 400w 20K radiums. with 6 various wattage, VHO actinics, and had some really good growth going on. I think R/C man can attest to that.
    I think the dawn to dusk effect is for human eyes only.
    400 Gallon Reef Log
    Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

    Willis--1998-2009---I will miss you.

  10. #10
    Moderator The R/C Man's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Hey Charlie!

    Yeah I am not sure if the dusk to dawn effect matters or not. It is however a possibility. I do believe it helps from freaking out the fish when the lights just all of the sudden come on though. Hopefully it will be a good look and provide adequate lighting for the corals.
    Greg

    14 gallon BioCube, modified to accept Maxijet 600
    75 gallon reef with 29 gallon sump/fuge, Barr Aquatic Skimmer, Iwaki 100, Mag 7 return, Hamilton T-5 lighting
    375 gallon tank....... SOLD
    675 gallon wood tank in design phase.

    Over time science has shown that the simplest answers are usually the correct ones.......

  11. #11
    Moderator Poseidon's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    I like the dawn/dusk effect myself, and as an anecdotal evidence, my Blue tort has really colored up since adding the 5th bulb. (I am sure it has more to do with the added light, then the dusk/dawn though.)
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  12. #12
    Just Moved In
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    How many T-5s would you need to replace a VHO. Lets say you had 2x 48" 110W VHO actinic bulbs as supplementation to a pair of 10k MH lamps, would you only need 2x 54W T-5s to achieve the same effect?

  13. #13
    Moderator Poseidon's Avatar
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    Re: T5 or VHO for supplemental lighting?

    Yup, 2x54W will be fine.
    Need a Photographer?

    Just say NO to CRABS

    Mike


 

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