View Single Post
Old 05-21-2008, 12:45 PM   #1 (permalink)
NiNeX
Astrea Snail
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 33
Karma: 19
NiNeX is catching on


 
Default Retail light vs DIY

Alright so I have decided on going with 2-250 MH with 2-T5 actinics for my tank.

Now the final decision that I am stuck on, should I buy the Aquactinic MH/T5 Classic system or put together my own ballast/reflector combo?

Aquactinic light is about $1200 and runs off of a M58 for the MH, includes moonlights and looks pretty great. https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/...roducts_id=681

System that I would put together would be;
Dual PFO HQI M80s with LumenArc 3 mini reflectors, using XM 10k SE bulbs
Icecap 660 with icecap reflector driving 2-T5 actinic

So far that is about $800 but no glass covers, fans, or other things to finish it up, I'd estimate mine would be about 1000 - 1100 after completed.

I know that the M80 will outperform the M58 and I have chosen a better T5 ballast since I can overdrive the lamps, just with the price so close, I'm not sure which to go with. Also I have never seen the aquactinic light in person, only photos but it is highly rated for the price.

Well that is about it, been racking by brain over which lighting system to get for the past couple of weeks.


_________

Tank: 86g (48h 18d 23h) + 25g sump
Equipment: CPR Overflow, Mag9.5 return pump, Koralia 3 & 4, Octo PS
Lights: T8 Daylights, T10 Actinics
Fish: 2 Occelaris Clowns, 2 Barnacle Blennies, 2 Banggai Cardinals
Inverts: CuC(Snails, hermits)
Corals: Blue Xenia, Dragon Eye Zoa
NiNeX is offline   Reply With Quote
Reef Links
Click Here!