T5HO overpowering MH Lights

MarkoD · #1 06-14-2011, 10:54 PM

i just put two 150 watt MH (300 watts total) lights with 20000k bulbs on my tank and took off most of my t5s

turned them on and thought they were kind of dim.

been on for an hour now and they still seem dim. and when i turn on the T5HO lights that i left on (170 watts total) it completely overpowers the metal halides to the point where i cant even see the shimmering at all.

what gives?

daniella3d · #2 06-15-2011, 12:04 AM

dunno about 150 watt but I have 250 watt MH 14,000k and nothing will overpower that. It does not even make much difference if I light up the T5 or not.

Maybe something is wrong with your ballast?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkoD

i just put two 150 watt MH (300 watts total) lights with 20000k bulbs on my tank and took off most of my t5s

turned them on and thought they were kind of dim.

been on for an hour now and they still seem dim. and when i turn on the T5HO lights that i left on (170 watts total) it completely overpowers the metal halides to the point where i cant even see the shimmering at all.

what gives?

MarkoD · #3 06-15-2011, 12:08 AM

ugh i hope not.

RedCoralEdmonton · #4 06-15-2011, 12:46 AM

Isnt your tank a 180 gallon? Maybe im out to lunch but 2 X 150watt HQI might not be sufficient enough to light the entire tank.....

Steve

cwatkins · #5 06-15-2011, 01:32 AM

2x 150W barely lit my 90, so I upgraded to 2x 250W...

MarkoD · #6 06-15-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedCoralEdmonton

Isnt your tank a 180 gallon? Maybe im out to lunch but 2 X 150watt HQI might not be sufficient enough to light the entire tank.....

Steve

oh i know that but i figured id put the metal halides above the spots where i have the most corals and then light the rest of the tank with t5

Dez · #7 06-15-2011, 01:36 PM

For the 1st 6 months I had my tank running I had a 150 watt halide in the middle of the tank and I had a green stag sitting on the sand bed right below it and it grew really fast. Tank depth in 24". Mind you this was 14K bulbs.

MarkoD · #8 06-15-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dez

For the 1st 6 months I had my tank running I had a 150 watt halide in the middle of the tank and I had a green stag sitting on the sand bed right below it and it grew really fast. Tank depth in 24". Mind you this was 14K bulbs.

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna try changing the bulb tonight

amoreira · #9 06-15-2011, 01:59 PM

If you're planning on having stony corals (esp. SPS), you'd be best with a 3x250 W MH arrangement + your T5HO actinic suppliment.

That being said, I love my LED's. I don't have algae problems with them. The corals love them. They don't heat up the tank. I can ramp up and down the output and control the white/purple colour mix. They've low power requirements. The only thing that one wouldn't like about them is the cost.

I've a green stag and it grows like a weed. They're famous for that.

chandigz · #10 06-16-2011, 02:13 AM

20000k bulbs don't look as bright because of the large amount of blue they produce. Your eye sees blue as less intense/bright then yellow or red. Your white t5 will appear to over power them as they produce more yellow and red light. I find14k produces an nice iceblue white light (I prefer these you get a nice colour and brightness)and 10k-is like daylight-white with a hint of yellow they will look the brightest(I find these a little to yellow for my liking). If you have a lot of t5 then i'd go with 10k halide (will give you better shimmer/brightness)and use some of your t5 (blue 460nm, actinic 420nm, purple/pink) to get the colour you want and the other t5 (10k, 12k, 14k) for added brightness). Hope this helps.