Switching to t-5 ?

gm333

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I am thinking of switching to t-5's.
My current setup is 2-175wt metal halides with 20,000 xm bulbs.
The ballast is a cooltouch.com dual 175wt ballast. I have no idea if this brand is even worthwhile.
I am also running 4-72" vho with coralife bulbs and 2-430 ice cap ballasts.
Every time I mention changing over to strictly t-5's I get the question why? I personally cannot answer that question and my first response is, "so I dont have to run a chiller" other than that and I like the more colors I see out of t-5's.
At this point I am wondering if I should just keep the halides and go with t-5's and do away with the vhos.
I also dont think i have enough light in the tank with just 2-175 wt halides.

This is the unit I have been looking at if I go with strictly t-5's.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=AT-CT57200&Category_Code=Aquactinics

I was also wondering if the HQI bulbs are any better than the Moguls.
Sorry for al, the questions. I just think my tank needs more light than what I have now and want to do it right the first time around, considering the lighting came with the tank when i bought it.
 

killingseed2000

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peronal i am switching over to 2x 175x 15k plus some t5's to go with it and a set of 24in pfo parallel reflectors which i jsut picked up from one of my lfs. those Aquactinics are nice lights i will give you that. i am going this way because i am geting the parts one by one. so i am not fork out all my cash at once. i have most the stuff missing a couple things. i also plan on adding a min of 4 140mm computer fans hopping that helps with the heat.
 
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gm333

gm333

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I already have the 4-computer fans running plus a tower fan through the back of the tank.
So far this year the warmest the tank has gotten has been 82*F, but that is with the canopy doors open all the time.
 

storrisch

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have you seen any reviews as to whether the Aquactinics lights have a decent reflector. As far as I know nothing is better than the IceCap SLR reflectors currently.
 

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