Coralife Aqualight Pro vs T5's

bv_reefer · #1 04-16-2008, 03:58 AM

i can't believe i'm saying this

, but in this case i'd go with the t5's, for one reason everyone complains about coralife bulbs, saying there crap. then again think through about what you plan to keep in the long run, if clams, sps and acans interest you, they thrive under intense light with great results, i know 70-175 watt are real popular with soft coral keepers. insufficient light makes clams look pretty dull and you don't get all the full colors you can. under 400 watt mh my clams and sps look great and are growing good, but my soft corals are pretty miserable about it. clam has nice highlights and stripes, i'm sure you could get the same with a good t5 fixture though-

TJSlayer · #2 04-16-2008, 02:29 PM

So far then even though the T5 wattage is lower it will give me better saturation in a 75 gallon tank then?

I think that's the general mood I'm sensing here.....

Aquattro · #3 04-16-2008, 07:39 PM

I'd go with a 250w MH fixture. I have the 150, I'm selling it to upgrade to 250. None of those silly T5 things.

fkshiu · #4 04-16-2008, 07:55 PM

I would get neither unit.

Go with 250W MHs or a better quality T5HO unit and you'll never have to upgrade down the road.

Whether you go MH or T5 is a matter of subjective aethetics and your priorities. Better yet, do what I did and do a combination of both.

TJSlayer · #5 04-16-2008, 08:47 PM

Well that would be OK but my budget is about $450 total....

So for $450 I'm looking for the best bankg for the buck, I know there are better alternatives, but I simply don't have the cash for those alternatives.....

So once again out of the two choices what is my best bet....
Especially if anyone has experience with either....

digital-audiophile · #6 04-16-2008, 09:38 PM

With $450 you could almost get into a Tek T5 unit with bulbs. Don't go with those silly MH thingies

For that price you could only get a single MH pendant and ballast.

TJSlayer · #7 04-16-2008, 10:05 PM

Almost but not quite and the Noca Pro unit is very close......

So that's what I originally planned on ordering but I see a few of the Coralife 150Watt MH with PC lights on sale used for the same price range (Which seems like a fair price since they were $800 ish new) But I'm not really sold on the PC bulbs.....

If they were MH with T5's for the same price I'd jump on those to get the best of all worlds but the only ones I'm seeing used are the PC ones.

That's where my hesitation is.

Wife wants one hood that looks nice....

I just figure the coralife had more wattage so it may be a better choice but from the reading I have done a 96 watt PC doesn't actually put out the equivalent to a 54 watt T5 so I may just stick with the T5's and add moons in a few months....

Thanks for the info....
If anyone else has anything further to add please do....