Lighting: T5 vs Metal Halide???

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by lorenz0

imo if your comparing a TEK or powermodual they are basically the same as MH. I did a par test comparing the 2 and they both put out similar numbers.

weird, I have never found a T5 that puts out anywhere near at 250 watt MH, but I am doing testing through water at a distance of 18".

and yes I have tested a Tek. problem is if you are testing a 10K MH then you need to have 10K bulbs only in the T5. actinic give a false high reading pn PAR meters.

Steve

[lorenz0]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

weird, I have never found a T5 that puts out anywhere near at 250 watt MH, but I am doing testing through water at a distance of 18".

well the fact that in our house we have a strictly T5 tank and (during the tests) a 2x250watt MH set up. The t5's were slightly lower in par but comparable. Personally, i prefer the look of t5's. And imo, t5's bring out the color of sps. I could care less about growth in my tank as long as the color's produced are amazing.

but this isn't another t5 vs MH thread. let the OP say what they want for lighting

[lobsterboy]

i found that when using MH, i had deeper and shimmering colors on the corals.
with t5;s the corals have great color, but are more pastel, so it depends on what colors you are looking for.
myself i wouldnt mind trying the combo of t5s and MH, but for now i just have t5;s, and....THEY RULE THE DINOSAURS, YEAH!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

weird, I have never found a T5 that puts out anywhere near at 250 watt MH, but I am doing testing through water at a distance of 18".

and yes I have tested a Tek. problem is if you are testing a 10K MH then you need to have 10K bulbs only in the T5. actinic give a false high reading pn PAR meters.

Steve

You make some very good points. When you take away all the variables, and actually compare them on fair grounds T5s just won't keep up to MH - especially when you get a bit of depth to the water.

Why do actinics give a false high reading on PAR meters?