So you got everything in your tank sorted out right besides your lighting. The thing is everyone is using different kinds of light. BIG SPS freaks swear MH (Metal Halide is the only way to go), while others insist T5 is the way to go and yet you see some outdated Marine dude running his marine tank of normal T8 that he buys from the hardware down the road and his corals are also living and his tank looks nice too so who do you believe and what do you choose? Then wait you still on a budget????
Now you must be thinking ok I’m just going to copy what everyone else is doing as it seems right…bad decision as everyone’s lighting requirements are different and energy is too valuable to be wasted.
1.What do you want to keep?
The average lumens per 4ft tank with a depth of not more than 600mm will be around 28000lm.This amount would sustain most corals even those with high lighting needs. If you are only going to get softies and LPS then maybe you could get away with a bit less.heres how to relate your tank:
- 3ft tank needs at least 15000lm up to around 20000lm for sps.
- 4ft tank needs at least 28000lm.
- any bigger than this then rather stick to metal halides 250w-400w or quite a few 150w.
1.METAL HALIDE-almost every brand puts out between 85/100lm per watt so not much diff in BRAND etc.colours easily available 20000k(blue) and 6500k(sunlight-yellowish white) from electrical wholesalers and other colours like 10000k(white) and 14000k(white with blue tint) from LFS.MH has the highest initial cost but globes have to be replaced only every 12-18months on average.
2.T5-this can be a bit more tricky as some brands are weak. Stick to trusted brands like geisemann, ATI, AQUA MEDIC and Reeftek range between 60/100lm per watt output. Globes like the OSRAM 880 skywhite t5 offer exceptional white light lm per watt and value for money at the low cost of like around R70 a tube.
Other colours can be purchased from LFS but at much higher costs. T5’s need to be replaced every 6months to a year max.
3.T8-this is generally low lm per watt output.Use only for fish only or soft corals tanks.
However certain globes like a PHILLIPS actinic and the range of tubes from Zoo med can hold their own against almost any T5! T8 translates into lower costs for those on a budget as globes are much much cheaper.Bear in mind though you’ll have to use more tubes than a similar t5 set-up!
ALL serious SPS keepers will not use these ONLY even though sps can survive under them. Some do however use them for supplement lighting. Replace as per t5's
The reason I posted about the Phillips 865 is because it does not fall into what I’ve just written about T8.they retain 90% of light output for three years so replace only every two years. Also they have 90lm per watt output and a ridiculously low price of like R20-00 a globe. Which means that a 36w Phillips could be used instead of white 54w t5's for those wanting to save a few bucks rather than using cheap t5 Sylvania globes.
One more thing, just to point out the lighting on say a 4ft tank that needs 28000lm.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR NEWBIES TO UNDERSTAND MY ENTIRE POST.
1. 2 X 150W VENTURE 6500K METAL HALIDE(14000lm each) = 300W
2. 6 X OSRAM 880 SKYWHITE 54W T5(4700lm each) = 324W
3. 12.2 X OSRAM BIOLUX 36W T8 (2300lm each) = 438W
4. 8,5 x Phillips T8 865 36w(3240lm each) = 306 W
All four examples above achieve the required lumens needed of 28000lm but as can be seen above the metal halide uses the least power and globes, which is $$$ in the long run. While in the long run the normal t8 uses the most power and globes to achieve the lumens. T5 is not far at all from the metal halide in efficiency and the Phillips 865's are also right at the top with the t5's and metal halides.
STANDARD T8 is clearly the looser here...too much power consumption and globes needed.
Now you must be thinking ok I’m just going to copy what everyone else is doing as it seems right…bad decision as everyone’s lighting requirements are different and energy is too valuable to be wasted.
1.What do you want to keep?
The average lumens per 4ft tank with a depth of not more than 600mm will be around 28000lm.This amount would sustain most corals even those with high lighting needs. If you are only going to get softies and LPS then maybe you could get away with a bit less.heres how to relate your tank:
- 3ft tank needs at least 15000lm up to around 20000lm for sps.
- 4ft tank needs at least 28000lm.
- any bigger than this then rather stick to metal halides 250w-400w or quite a few 150w.
1.METAL HALIDE-almost every brand puts out between 85/100lm per watt so not much diff in BRAND etc.colours easily available 20000k(blue) and 6500k(sunlight-yellowish white) from electrical wholesalers and other colours like 10000k(white) and 14000k(white with blue tint) from LFS.MH has the highest initial cost but globes have to be replaced only every 12-18months on average.
2.T5-this can be a bit more tricky as some brands are weak. Stick to trusted brands like geisemann, ATI, AQUA MEDIC and Reeftek range between 60/100lm per watt output. Globes like the OSRAM 880 skywhite t5 offer exceptional white light lm per watt and value for money at the low cost of like around R70 a tube.
Other colours can be purchased from LFS but at much higher costs. T5’s need to be replaced every 6months to a year max.
3.T8-this is generally low lm per watt output.Use only for fish only or soft corals tanks.
However certain globes like a PHILLIPS actinic and the range of tubes from Zoo med can hold their own against almost any T5! T8 translates into lower costs for those on a budget as globes are much much cheaper.Bear in mind though you’ll have to use more tubes than a similar t5 set-up!
ALL serious SPS keepers will not use these ONLY even though sps can survive under them. Some do however use them for supplement lighting. Replace as per t5's
The reason I posted about the Phillips 865 is because it does not fall into what I’ve just written about T8.they retain 90% of light output for three years so replace only every two years. Also they have 90lm per watt output and a ridiculously low price of like R20-00 a globe. Which means that a 36w Phillips could be used instead of white 54w t5's for those wanting to save a few bucks rather than using cheap t5 Sylvania globes.
One more thing, just to point out the lighting on say a 4ft tank that needs 28000lm.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR NEWBIES TO UNDERSTAND MY ENTIRE POST.
1. 2 X 150W VENTURE 6500K METAL HALIDE(14000lm each) = 300W
2. 6 X OSRAM 880 SKYWHITE 54W T5(4700lm each) = 324W
3. 12.2 X OSRAM BIOLUX 36W T8 (2300lm each) = 438W
4. 8,5 x Phillips T8 865 36w(3240lm each) = 306 W
All four examples above achieve the required lumens needed of 28000lm but as can be seen above the metal halide uses the least power and globes, which is $$$ in the long run. While in the long run the normal t8 uses the most power and globes to achieve the lumens. T5 is not far at all from the metal halide in efficiency and the Phillips 865's are also right at the top with the t5's and metal halides.
STANDARD T8 is clearly the looser here...too much power consumption and globes needed.
Last edited:
