Better upgrade, bulbs vs. ballast

[hockyfn30]

I currently have a 40g tank with 4 x 36" T5 retrofit lighting. It has a Workhorse ballast running the bulbs that came from a Nova Extreme Compact T5 system, 2 x (1) SlimPaq 10,000°K and 2 x (1) SlimPaq 460 nm actinic bulb.

I'm looking for advice on what would be a better value upgrade. Either upgrading the ballast to a Icecap 660 to overdrive the bulbs or upgrade the bulbs themselves. I am leaning towards a bulbs set up of 3 x ATI BluePlus and 1 x ATI AquaBlue Special.

If you had to decide where to spend the cash, what do you think I should do to improve growth? Also, what are your opinions about that bulbs setup, in case I go with the ballast and decide to change the bulbs later on when they need replacing.

Thanks

 

[sruiz]

Im not really to familiar with Workhorse, but if i was to upgrade something i would go with the ballast thinking it would be the most expensive, then the bulbs that cost less.

 

[sruiz]

Got cut off. I would think that you will go through more bulbs quicker the the ballast will go out so most like after you go through 2 or 3 more bulbs you will wonder if the ballast will make a difference??

 

[hockyfn30]

bump

 

[Mark75]

The ballast are better than the bulbs, upgrade the bulbs! You will gain a lot of par with the bulb upgrade. You do know your tank will be VERY blue with that bulb combination?

 

[hockyfn30]

that was another one of my questions, any suggestions as to bulb combination? would it be better having 2 x ATI blueplus and 2x aqua blue?

 

[hockyfn30]

looking at the tank of the month from october, he uses only t5s with a 3:1 ratio of actinic to 11000k geisemann bulbs which i take it to mean 3 x actinic plus to 1 x 11000k aquablue plus. Am I thinking of the right bulbs there? any comments about this bulb combo?

 

[hockyfn30]

pmub