EricsNano Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'm upgrading lights, and am on about a $125 budget for it. I can get a 70 watt MH pendant, plug and play, or I can do a plug and play 96watt CFL light... What are your thoughts? It's a 10 gallon rock wall, no SPS. It's all softies and LPS. Also, as far as spectrum on the MH, I have been thinking 14k... Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 OR, I could do a 2x65watt CFL fixture, too... But it's about 4" wider than the tank, so it won't look as sleek. LOL! This option is only about $85 with bulbs. Both the others come in right at $125. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 HQI? One thing to consider is heat. I just added a 250 watt HQI to my 125 and now have heat problems. I have to say though, I LOVE the shimmer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I feel like the MH is the one I can rule out. I just found a 4x18w t5 ho that's only $60... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Don't forget to price out replacement bulbs. I have made that mistake before, not so fun a year later LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 That's really my second biggest concern. I'm finding that the MH bulb is about $50, the t5 fixture is going to be steep, too, since those are a rarer size at this point... looking at $15 a piece, so $60. The single bulb 96 watt is about $30, and the 2x65 is about $25. Leaning towards the 24" 2x65watt CFL light with separate controls/wires. I'm guessing I can hack probably at least and inch, maybe two off the housing anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Honestly, go with the T5's, you can really play with the bulbs an really customize the color you get, plus, they do tend to last longer, an they're more energy efficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I'm so torn. The bulbs in the t5 are a bit harder to find... they're the 18watt ones that go in a 20" fixture. The PC lights are always available. and less than half the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 True, but T5's will get cheaper over time as they become more popular, plus, 4 bulbs is better than 2 bulbs, especially for coming up with a color spectrum that you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 AND I live right by a facility that takes spent bulbs free to recycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Aren't t5's a thing of the past already? LOL! I figured that that is the reason why I can't find the bulbs for a reasonable price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 T5's an LED's are the wave of the future man lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Aren't t5's a thing of the past already? LOL! I figured that that is the reason why I can't find the bulbs for a reasonable price. I think CF is way under rated. The ONLY downside is the cost of the bulbs. CF bulbs last a lot longer than t5s IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I found a 4 bulb t5 fixture for $75... 4x24. And the bulbs on ebay for the CF are 4 for $35 shipped, so a total of $22.50 to change bulbs. I don't need crazy amounts of light, and I'm trying to do everything on a budget. If there was a good enough place to buy t5 from for something similar, I would go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 OK, last real option. A 150watt JBJ Viper MH. I have no idea how much heat those things put out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Personally I say go for the CF. Does the fixture have a moonlight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 OK' date=' last real option. A 150watt JBJ Viper MH. I have no idea how much heat those things put out?[/quote'] That is a lot of light for a ten gallon!!! I am no expert but I would think a 70 watt would be as much as you would want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I'm REALLY leaning towards CF. The CF and the T5 have moonlights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I'm REALLY leaning towards CF. The CF and the T5 have moonlights. Cool, moonlights aren't necessary, but they are a nice bonus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I have some great little blue leds that work nicely, too. I think CF lights. Bulbs are cheap, last a long while, and I know they work! LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 OK, so based on the cost and availability of bulbs (about $35 per change), I think I'm going to go with a 4x24w T5HO setup... Should meet me right in the middle of where I want to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Love how I'm flopping back and forth? LOL! I didn't realize that the 24watt bulbs were so easy to find... There's tons of them out there in every spectrum imaginable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 When I had my dual 70w HQI retro setup I was buying bulbs for like $16 a pair shipped from ebay. The only spendy part a DIY retro 70w hqi setup is the ballast which is only like $40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricsNano Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 The only thing against the HQI is that that's all it is, the bulb... I need some actinic in there, too. On a side note, did you run over a beaver on 12/4/10? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaticEngineer Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 The only thing against the HQI is that that's all it is' date=' the bulb... I need some actinic in there, too.[/quote'] I was running 2 24w actinic PCs with my 2 HQI 70w's also, if I had it to do again I would probably use HQI's and T-5s for the actinic. On a side note' date=' did you run over a beaver on 12/4/10?[/quote'] I didn't personally, but my DUCKS did on their way to the Pac-10 title Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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