Bioterrorist
May 21st, 2006, 10:12 PM
Well I started this hobby running ODNO's (5 of them on a 33g), then Vho's (2 on the 33g), on to T5HO's (4 on the 33 then kept them when I upgraded to a 40g), and now I'm running Mh.
I just found this site (from Big Al's in London of all places) but wish I had found it 2 years ago when I first bought stuff. I would have went to Mh right in the beginning. I never really got that 'pop' from my corals like other tanks I've seen running Mh.
So I bought a 14k 70w HQI Mh to try out. My T5HO actinic blew so I needed something to kill the yellow. I set it up on one side (damn breeder tank has that damn brace in the middle, but it's only 16" high) and showed the wife what it looked like turned on alone. She loved the colour and I found that 'pop' I wanted.
All the LPS got moved over under the Mh and they were very happy. I only plan to keep LPS, softies, BTA, and a clam so a duel 70w HQI Mh setup (one Mh over each opening so there will be 12" of double illumination) should be fine. The BTA's about 6" away from the light and the clam is about 8" so I don't think they'll have a problem.
I'm sure some will argue that T5HO's can out perform Mh in nano/mini reefs but mine is brighter (yes I had an individual reflector setup), colours pop more, and corals are happier with the Mh than they were with everything else including the T5HO's headed out the door.
I just found this site (from Big Al's in London of all places) but wish I had found it 2 years ago when I first bought stuff. I would have went to Mh right in the beginning. I never really got that 'pop' from my corals like other tanks I've seen running Mh.
So I bought a 14k 70w HQI Mh to try out. My T5HO actinic blew so I needed something to kill the yellow. I set it up on one side (damn breeder tank has that damn brace in the middle, but it's only 16" high) and showed the wife what it looked like turned on alone. She loved the colour and I found that 'pop' I wanted.
All the LPS got moved over under the Mh and they were very happy. I only plan to keep LPS, softies, BTA, and a clam so a duel 70w HQI Mh setup (one Mh over each opening so there will be 12" of double illumination) should be fine. The BTA's about 6" away from the light and the clam is about 8" so I don't think they'll have a problem.
I'm sure some will argue that T5HO's can out perform Mh in nano/mini reefs but mine is brighter (yes I had an individual reflector setup), colours pop more, and corals are happier with the Mh than they were with everything else including the T5HO's headed out the door.