No corals with MHs

Are there any benefits to running Metal Halides if there are no corals in the tank?
I may put some corals in the future but right now I don't have any. But I do have my Dual 175s on the tank.
I have the option of just running my 2 RO florescent and saving a ton of electric. Unless there is a reason (besides how amazing they look) to run the MH.

 

Only reason would be for looks. Other than that they'll just cost you money, and create heat.

 

They will serve you no purpose unless you are housing corals, which you stated otherwise.

 

A TON??? I think some people are afraid of what halides will cost them to run. If you do the math, you will find they are not THAT expensive in all cases. I am running 3x400w halides, and I calculated they cost me about 17.00 a month. I am not trying to evaluate your financial situation, or anyone elses. To me though, that is relatively small compared to other parts of this hobby. I mean, some people will go buy a case of beer and not think twice about it, then will worry about gas going up 2 cents a gallon. Just perspective I guess. But to answer your question...No, just for looks unless you have corals.

 

The halides will cost you more than the florescents and as stated earlier, you have the heat issue. i don't see any reason to run halides without coral.

 

How about Coraline algae?
I also noticed a while back I actually got more algea from running 40watt 10k and actinic then I did with dual 175 10k MH. Does that seem possible?

 

Sometimes coraline seems to grow better under flourescents...grows great in my fuge.

 

I run 2x250 watt halides (it was eating up 560 watts) & I calculated it out to be about $40 a month @ .10 a kwH. But PG&E is so awesome that they will increase your price up to .33 a kwH if you go over a certain amount of usage. So at $0.33 a kwH, thats over $120.00 a month to run.
Hence, why I am thinking of turning over to T5HO - so I can take my chiller off too...

 

ouch!

@Midnight_Madman - coraline is growing under my 6500K bulb in my fuge. its also growing just fine in my display under 108w of T5

imo, two T5 54 watt bulbs are more than plenty for a FOWLR tank. hell i have coral in my tank under two t5 54watt bulbs (low light intense corals obviously). plenty of light....

 

You must have a great deal on electricity. I just calculated what your lights would cost to run in my area, Philadelphia, and it would be about $40/month if you run them for 6 hours a day. We end up paying about .18/kwh after taxes and fees, but in the summer, the price goes up if you surpass a certain number of kws used.