Ok, more lighting problems/questions..

[Jflip2002]

Ok, so Im moving my reef to the smaller 20 gallon cube tank. I have enough to fill it up about 75% to the capacity that I'll want it, with coral. Well, I have crappy lights on it right now, because I only have a fish in there, nothing else living. Well, now I need lights!

So do I put the different spectrum of T5s, like a couple 10ks, and a couple actinic across the top? Or go for just a 24" PC set up, or I found a 20" MH fixture that looks ok as well.

Ive heard you can fry stuff with T5s, which could be scary, but it also sounds positive. Obviously T5s are putting out a lot of efficiency if they can fry things, and IVe never heard that with MHs. Im trying to keep maintenance down (like replacement costs, and electricity bills), but I Dont want to compromise TOOOOO much.

Ive heard good about T5s, but the fact that theyre rather cheap, and the "watts" look low, scares me away. They seem very half ass. I know "watts" are thinking in the 80s, and now its about efficiency. Im still very very green when it comes to all this, and IVe been looking for about 2 hours now, and am getting a brain cramp deciding between the 3 lol.

The tank is 24 wide, by 16 tall......

[Viv]

You know that's a loaded question! It depends on what your aiming to do with your tank. What are you going to keep in the tank. Different corals/animals have different needs. Your water quality will have something to do with it also-if you have super clear water the light will penetrate to the bottom easier. Which brings up the bottom. A substrate will absorb light whereas BB will reflect the light. T5's have been used to grow SPS corals which require high light-but in many of those tanks the water quality/clearness is top notch. It's hard to answer your question. Could you give more details about your tank, your filtration, what and where you want to go ultimately-and don't forget the money issue-you want to change whatever bulbs you do get about every 6 months (although I've heard the T5's can go about 10 months).

[jenajet]

I really like the sunpod 20" mh. Comes in 70 or 150. I have seen one set up and it really was excellent lighting. If I had the money thats the way I would go but this is just my opinion.

[Little Luey]

Originally Posted by Jflip2002

Ive heard you can fry stuff with T5s, which could be scary, but it also sounds positive. Obviously T5s are putting out a lot of efficiency if they can fry things, and IVe never heard that with MHs. Im trying to keep maintenance down (like replacement costs, and electricity bills), but I Dont want to compromise TOOOOO much.

.

I always heard the opposite. I think the MH may increase the temperature a lot on that tank. T5 are cooler for what I heard, never had them myself but I would be affraid if anything got hotter than MH.
Definatly do not get the PC. I think the real options are T5 or MH. On MH maybe a 75W.