Compact Fluor. or T-5 HO?

[uscamaro]

I eventually want a reef setup and have been weighing the pros and cons from what I have read online. The only thing that gets me is from reading Drs. F&S where they say the T-5 produces a lot of heat and may require a chiller.

Does anyone use a chiller? I would like to avoid having to get one (especially since room temp in Vegas is around 78-80degrees), but I would rather do that than sacrifice lighting.

Also, which runs quieter?

[cmor1701d]

T5 lighting does not produce anywhere near the heat of MH, but it does produce more than LED. CP seems to be on the way out as T5 has now matured. In 5 years time LED will be king.

BTW, where those temps last week. I don't think it went above 50 the whole week I was there!

[uscamaro]

haha, no way! it was amazing though; there were flurries on my side of town!