Lighting Guru's Need Opinions!!

[hillbillyreefer]

Newb here again. I've been reading about lights forever, the more I read the more confusion ensues. I think what I want to buy are t5ho lights. Don't want to go halide. I know I need individual reflectors and personally I like colors more in the blue spectrum. Thinking one 10k and one 14k bulb. Might even go with a 4 bulb setup I'll listen to your recommendations first.

The tanks this light will go over are first a 24lx17wx12h then it will be moved to a 33 gal, 36lx12wx18h. Soooo, probably 36" fixture,or 30" if recommended by members, overlap will be fine until I get the larger tank setup. Now for the best part, stocking, yup you guessed it, SPS.

Next question where to buy, what brand. If I'm really good the SWMBO said I can make a road trip to Edmonton on the weekend.

Let the discussion begin!!!

Thanks for the help,

Brad

[jasond]

Hi Brad. I am by no means a Guru, but I can offer my two cents. I just recently set up my 60 Gallon (36in wide) and went the T5 route. This is the light I have:

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...a101a31460a6ab

I am really happy with it so far. I dont have any SPS right now, but from what I have read people do successfully keep SPS with T5. I like this light for the following reasons: Fans for cooling (which are fairly quiet), acrylic lens cover, looks clean, and cheaper to run than MH.

If you are going to keep strictly SPS though, I would imagine it will be suggested to go the MH route. The water shimmer MH gives is awesome, you just have to deal with heat & higher electricity cost. Either way you have a ton of options!

I would go 36in and have some overlapping till you move to your bigger tank.

Anyways thats my experience, hope that helps,

Jason

[sharuq1]

Tagging along. What light people?

[mark]

if you have the patience to read through this thread, it has a couple of opinions on T5 bulb combos

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by mark

if you have the patience to read through this thread, it has a couple of opinions on T5 bulb combos

Sorry, any chance I could get the 'Cliff Notes'???

[Reefer Rob]

ATI Powermodule

[nikon187]

36" 4 or 6 bulb Tek light

[jasond]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

ATI Powermodule

These lights look awesome, pricey but awesome. If I was to upgrade, that would be the road I would head down!

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by jasond

These lights look awesome, pricey but awesome. If I was to upgrade, that would be the road I would head down!

Too bad they are a myth :P

[Nicole8ca]

Originally Posted by jasond

I like this light for the following reasons: Fans for cooling (which are fairly quiet), acrylic lens cover, looks clean, and cheaper to run than MH.

Jason

I often here people say how much cheaper T5's are to run than MH. Is it significant? If anyones able to quantify that for me it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Nicole