Which lighting is better for corals overall, rank the lights?

[Kool-cat]

VHO-Very High Output

MH-metal halide

PC-power compact florescent

NO-regular florescent

T5-High out put florescent

 

Does acrylic filter radiation, why do people use uv glass when they use metal halides?

 

Rank the lights from best to worst, which type of light is best for corals?

[Samc]

It totally depends, but here is my ranking

1) Metal Halides

2)VHO

(these are close and one could be better then the other in certain situations)

3)PC

4)T5

(these really are tied, but the t5 is skinner than the pc's)

5)NO

(You would be hard pressed to kepp corals under no, especially in a nano b/c their isn't much room for multiple lights)

 

You only need UV glass with double ended (de) bulbs, b/c they have no UV filter on the bulb themselves (single ended (se)/ mogul type bulbs have a filter on the bulb and don't need a uv piece of glass)

BTW, I reconmend a 250 watt se 20,000k metal halide for the 20L (Thats what i'm getting on my 20L), if you want to keep sps and clams.

 

Sam

[theclearblue]

1. MH

2. T5

3. VHO

4. PC

5. NO - worthless

[coral reef]

i am with clearblue on this one

[Kool-cat]

o man i thought power compacts was good

[ricky1414]

1. MH

2. VHO

3. PC/T5

No reason ever to have NO bulbs

-

I have a 20H with a 250w 20K MH pendant. Couldnt be happier. No heat issues, tank temp actually dropped 1 degree.

[JIM27]

1. MH

2. PC/VHO/T5

3. NO