Thinking of replacing MH with T5

[efisher]

Hi everyone,

I am currently running 3 400 watt metal haildes on my 220 gallon tank. I am thinking of replacing them with 2 - 36" 4 bulb Ice cap T5 retro kits to help cut down the cost of electric. I currently have a few SPS 2 clams and 2 anonomes. Does anyone have any experience with running t5s and is there a significant savings in doing so. Any advice would be great. I dont want to lay out 400-500 bucks to find out it doesnt help with electric and kills everything.

Thanks

 

[bigcapct]

I have a 48inch 4bulb system works great for me,clams lps,sps

Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk

 

[efisher]

Cool. How big of tank. I am jut worried about the light on the bottom of the tank.

 

[batt600]

You will need more than just 2 36inc 4 bulb t5 .You have sps in your tank so you will need a 10 bulb unit a ATI power module is what you need and i think is the only one that makes a 10 bulb t5 unint.
I have a 75g with a 8 bulb T5 tek light .

 

[E.intheC]

Hi everyone,

I am currently running 3 400 watt metal haildes on my 220 gallon tank. I am thinking of replacing them with 2 - 36" 4 bulb Ice cap T5 retro kits to help cut down the cost of electric. I currently have a few SPS 2 clams and 2 anonomes. Does anyone have any experience with running t5s and is there a significant savings in doing so. Any advice would be great. I dont want to lay out 400-500 bucks to find out it doesnt help with electric and kills everything.

Thanks

To calculate energy savings you need to figure out how many watts you're going to change when (if) you make the switch from MH's to T-5's.

1000 watts of MH's will cost the same as 1000 watts T5's.. You can do that before you spend the "400-500 bucks"

 

[James983]

You could buy a 72" Aquactinics Constellation. Fixture holds 14, 39 watt bulbs for approx. 550 watts. You are currently pushing 1200 watts and probably using a chiller. You most likely will not need a chiller with this fixture. I used the same light on my 150 which was mostly SPS with clams on sandbed. I plan on using this light on a new 180 build. Check the for sale forums because the light new is around $950 w/o bulbs.

 

[efisher]

Thanks I will check out the 72" Aquactinics Constellation. The only issue is can i mount that in my hood. Looks like i may have to drill some holes if I can which i have no problem doing

 

[bmarkus]

I have a Aquactinics 72" fixture it is pretty good and I grow SPS under it. Do to a change in my tank I am changing the fixture and I was going to post it in about 2 weeks.

 

[James983]

Thanks I will check out the 72" Aquactinics Constellation. The only issue is can i mount that in my hood. Looks like i may have to drill some holes if I can which i have no problem doing

That may be a problem. Check the specs for fixtures measurements, and the sides will need to be vented for fans. I have a canopy also but plan on just hanging the light.

 

[Audi0s]

Ive got the 48" constellation, its a really nice fixture.

 

[tynman]

I say skip the t5's and sink the money into LED's.. I just changed over from 1 36 inch 4 bulb ho T5's and it grow my sps some better then others but not bright enough I didnt think so, so thats 160 watts.. I went to Wingo LED's 190 watts give or take, power should be close to 500 watt MH out put in par. Just the third day using them and just at 60% power and alot brighter already then the T5's.. And the t5's you still have to replace the bulbs every year to 18 months. No noise I leave the fan on only cause I dont have a temp setting on it yet, but still NO NOISE.. T5's had very loud fans and that was only one hood you want to use 2.. JMO... Gook luck and let us know what you come up with..