emergency lighting question

[hairalgae85]

Hi all-

So for the past year, I have had an Aquatinics 48 inch fixture above my 180. It has two 400 watt radiums in in it, as well as 2 t5 bulbs.

I replaced one halide ballast back in May, and it seems the other one burned out sometime over the weekend, and I am down to one bulb.

It is an older unit, hours to take apart, and I honestly don't want to sink more time and money into it.

I would like to get t5s, ideally the 60 inch ati. However, I would need to save for it, so for the time being I have two options :

1. Their is a gentlemen near me selling a 48 inch, 6 bulb, current usa t5 for 100. The bulbs were changed 5 months ago, with ati bulbs.

2. Option 2 would be to use my buddies AI sole blue leds. He recently upgraded to ai hydra 52's, so these AI sols are not being used. Until he sets something else up, or sells them, he says I can use them. There are 3 of these units that can be used.

For the time being until I save up, which one of these would you go with.

Mostly keeping acros, some montis, millies

 

[reefwiser]

I would get a new Reefbrite MH unit it's easy to work with and with the type of corals you are keeping in the size tank you have it's the idea lighting for you. The LED light is not the same as a 400 watt Radium bulb and never will be. [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hairalgae85]

I like halides, but trying to bring electric down to. I have seen a lot of t5 lit tanks which I like.

SO between the two, do I buy the 48 inch t5 used for 100, or take the free ai sol blues?

 

[crawlerman]

I would think adjusting from MH to LED to T5 would be stressful for your corals. I have seen a lot of people having problems acclimating corals to LED. Not saying it can't be done and I'm sure it's fine when done properly. But if it were me I would go with the T5's for $100. I'm sure you could get most of that money back reselling.