hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Not really dennis. An Aquatinics 5x54wattT5 fixture is $350. It is about 300 watts at the outlet, and would need 5 bulbs, or about $100. So the end cost is $450.
The cost per month, assuming an 8 hour daily photoperiod, is $7.20 per month at $.10 per kwh.
The replacement cost on the bulbs is about $50-80 per year (depends on spectrum and price).
The 8x54watt Current USA is $464.95 Thats the same as the Aquatinics. But, those 5 bulbs in the Aquatinics are going to be about 3x more effective each than the Nova due to the reflectors... so like having 15 of the bulbs in the Nova.
Starting cost is the same. Overall output is less with the Current USA even with more bulbs. Long term costs will be $100-130 per year for bulbs, and $11.52 per month for electricity.
So initial startup costs are about the same, but the Current 8 bulb solution will cost about $101 more per year while producing 46% less light. None of this includes the additional factor of heat that the 3 more bulbs will produce, and its effects on the A/C in summer, the tank, etc.
Just saying, sometimes what appears to be the cheaper solution isnt. The other thing is that the bulbs that you would select with the Aquatinics would be much better (ATI's, UVL's, Giesemann's, Sfiligoi, KZ, and AquaScience) rather than the cheap chinese bulbs that the Current supplies.
Still, its a huge step up from your previous PC bulbs, Im sure. Just saying, you could have done it for less.
As for bulbs... the aquablue+ bulbs by ATI, G-man, etc... are really daylight bulbs, or 'dayactinics'... they are like a 10,000K-12,000K bulb, or a 'dayactinic'. They have blue, sure, but lots of daylight as well. The only thing they lack all together are some of the warmer spectrums... red, yellow, etc. This is where the single 3000K comes in. You could also use a single GE 6500K to suppliment this spectrum w/o being as narrow in the warm spectral output.
That list is a good 'blend' of bulbs. A little bit of each type made... except one. If you wanted, you could sub any one of the bulbs for a KZ fiji purple or ATI pro color. These are difficult bulbs to explain... but corals seem to love them. They are a 'pink' bulb... sort of a daylight bulb with a huge spike in the red spectrum. I gave you a good mix, trust me. I used 2xblue+, 2x actinic03, and 2x aquablue+ on my 40B (6x39watt) and it looked great (corals loved it too). The only thing I would have changed is to have one of the aquablues be a midday/6500K type bulb for just a little more daylight. I figured that the above combo uses every type of bulb out there, so you can play around... mix and match, and find out which combo you like the best overall. The combo also covers all spectrums well, so all corals should like it, but its still got plenty of blue so you dont have to worry about liking it.
I wouldnt steer you wrong, its from first hand experience.
The cost per month, assuming an 8 hour daily photoperiod, is $7.20 per month at $.10 per kwh.
The replacement cost on the bulbs is about $50-80 per year (depends on spectrum and price).
The 8x54watt Current USA is $464.95 Thats the same as the Aquatinics. But, those 5 bulbs in the Aquatinics are going to be about 3x more effective each than the Nova due to the reflectors... so like having 15 of the bulbs in the Nova.
Starting cost is the same. Overall output is less with the Current USA even with more bulbs. Long term costs will be $100-130 per year for bulbs, and $11.52 per month for electricity.
So initial startup costs are about the same, but the Current 8 bulb solution will cost about $101 more per year while producing 46% less light. None of this includes the additional factor of heat that the 3 more bulbs will produce, and its effects on the A/C in summer, the tank, etc.
Just saying, sometimes what appears to be the cheaper solution isnt. The other thing is that the bulbs that you would select with the Aquatinics would be much better (ATI's, UVL's, Giesemann's, Sfiligoi, KZ, and AquaScience) rather than the cheap chinese bulbs that the Current supplies.
Still, its a huge step up from your previous PC bulbs, Im sure. Just saying, you could have done it for less.
As for bulbs... the aquablue+ bulbs by ATI, G-man, etc... are really daylight bulbs, or 'dayactinics'... they are like a 10,000K-12,000K bulb, or a 'dayactinic'. They have blue, sure, but lots of daylight as well. The only thing they lack all together are some of the warmer spectrums... red, yellow, etc. This is where the single 3000K comes in. You could also use a single GE 6500K to suppliment this spectrum w/o being as narrow in the warm spectral output.
That list is a good 'blend' of bulbs. A little bit of each type made... except one. If you wanted, you could sub any one of the bulbs for a KZ fiji purple or ATI pro color. These are difficult bulbs to explain... but corals seem to love them. They are a 'pink' bulb... sort of a daylight bulb with a huge spike in the red spectrum. I gave you a good mix, trust me. I used 2xblue+, 2x actinic03, and 2x aquablue+ on my 40B (6x39watt) and it looked great (corals loved it too). The only thing I would have changed is to have one of the aquablues be a midday/6500K type bulb for just a little more daylight. I figured that the above combo uses every type of bulb out there, so you can play around... mix and match, and find out which combo you like the best overall. The combo also covers all spectrums well, so all corals should like it, but its still got plenty of blue so you dont have to worry about liking it.
I wouldnt steer you wrong, its from first hand experience.
