Hellolights

[gkimble]

I am looking to get a retrofit system or DIY system form hellolights. This is for a 72 gallon bowfront tank. I looked at the retrofit mh/t5 setup here http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1357 I would get teh phoenix bulbs, and the reef blue acintics for the t-5's. Is teh reflectors and balasts good quality?

OR>......
Should I do a DIY 2x54w t/5's with reef blue acintics.
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1369
and
2X150w pulse start medium base kit with 2 iwasaki k 50,000k or the 6,500k (WHICH WOULD BE BETTER FOR BULB CHOICE?)
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=43
How much more work would it be for the second option? If quality is teh same I will go with option one. I am just trying to get a nice lighting setup. I was going to do t-5's but I like teh shimme reffect of mh's.

[DarG]

You're basically asking whether SE or DE is better. Most people in the hobby probably prefer DE but debating which is better leads to more of an argument than any solid answers.

The combo kit in the first link is pretty nice and you will get good results. I use similiar or the same reflectors and they work really well in combination T5 + Halide set-ups.

The single ended reflector I don't know much about. I have never has SE halides. But I think that is what theyrefer to as batwing reflectors and I dont believe they are regarded very well.

I would go with the first one if it were me. The T5 reflectors are OK but if you could get the Ice Cap SLR's with that same set of parts you would be a little better off. The SLR's are considered the best still by most people.

The ARO halide ballasts are good and the Advance ballasts for the T5's are good. I've used both and am still using the advance T5 ballasts. I'm using magnetic HQI ballasts now on 250 watt halides.

[gkimble]

thank you i think I am going to with this one until I can afford led lighting. Wht type of fans should I install. I have a wooden canopy thqt is open in the back. I would prefer quiet fans. Thanks for your help.

I must say people are so knowledgable and helpfull on reefcentral. good work everyone.

[boviac]

Check out Xoxide.com for fans and get a 12V transformer from www.jameco.com. or Radio Shack.

[DarG]

I forgot to mention. I didn't like the Phoenix bulbs in the 250 watt version. Some people say that the 150 watt Phoenix bulbs are very blue, others say white with blue tint. Ballasts play a role. But the 250 watt were very blue on ARO ballasts. If you dont like alot of blue, there is a chance that the Phoenix bulbs plus the blue T5's will be very very blue.
I would ask a seperate question to get opinions and input on the Phoenix 150 watt DE bulbs. I don't have personal experience with the 150 watt version.

Some white bulbs with good par are the Aqualine Buschke 10000 and the Reeflux 10000K. The Blue T5's will blue them up and should give a nice crisp white look with a hint of blue. If you think you would like a whiter look with a hint of blue, consider those bulbs or some other whiter bulbs alonmg with the T5's. If blue is what you would prefer, then maybe you are on the right path with the phoenix + blue T5's.

Again, I would ask in a seperate thread about bulb opinions. Too expensive to trial and error with no input at all.

[gkimble]

What about XDE or hamilton bulbs?

[DarG]

Never used them but quite a few people do. I believe that the XDE 10000K is pretty much a white bulb. May have a little bit of yellow but probably could be blued up with some blue T5's.

The Hamiltons seem to be mentioned pretty frequently. I'm sure you could get some input if you post about them. The XDE's as well. I know that the Aqualine 10000's are pretty expensive.

[gkimble]

Thanks DarG I appreciate all teh advice.