Help Please!! Which T5 HO Retro for a 30 Gallon?

[balticbsc3]

Hello everyone. I have a 30 gallon (36x12x18) that I would like to convert from a FOWLR to a Mixed Reef. I would like to keep SPS, LPS, a clam or two, and some softies. I have another tank that I have PC's on, but couldn't do any SPS, so I have decided that T5's would be the best rought for this other tank. I would use 4 24" 24 watt bulbs, two actinic, and two 10,000K, and I do have a canopy on this tank so I plan to do a retrofit. I have researched several different retrofit kits and I would like to know which one you guys think would be the best. Here are the kits I am Considering, but not neccessarily limited to...

http://www.aquatictech.com/internet_specials.html
FULLY ASSEMBLED HAMILTON T5 HO RETROFIT KITS â€"œ ON SALE
Each Retrofit kit comes with 420nm Actinic 03 Blue T5 HO bulbs, True 10K White T5 HO bulbs, Polish Aluminum Mirror Finish Reflector, Moisture proof T5 Sockets, and Remote Electronic Ballast

23” 2 x 24W HO T5 KIT -$81.95
23” 4 x 24W HO T5 KIT -$161.95


and From Hellolights.com
http://www.hellolights.com/24t5horekit.html
or
http://www.hellolights.com/242x24wtekli.html


I would buy two different retrofit kits so that I could control the actinics and the 10,000k's independently. I had thought about possibly trying to go to the 36" 39 watt T5's but I don't think I could get them to fit in the canopy. I have also read that 4x24 watts should be enough to keep just about anything that I would like, but I may be wrong about that. I am open to any advice that you may have about this topic including bulb selection and other retrofit kit reccommendations. Thanks for your help!

 

[nsreefer]

I am a big fan of the tek series myself... quality's great and the price is right, it's what i'll be running on my 180 when i finish it.

 

[sprite]

i have 2 2x24 tek retos over my 29 and keep sps only in the tank all the way to the bottom

 

[pheromo]

bulbs for HO

bulbs for HO

what bulbs do u use? is finnex any good?

 

[toasty23]

its ok go tek very good .

 

[balticbsc3]

Anyone Else have an opinion?

 

[finless]

I'm running 6 24" Giesemann on my 35 gal.

 

[The Reefer91]

i ordered a 6x39 watt Ice cap T-5 fixture. not sure if that helps, but that's what i weant with. i heard that the SLR reflectors were good, so i went with them.

 

[Phong33]

Any reason why you're not going with the 39w bulbs? They're 36" so it'll cover the entire tank

 

[balticbsc3]

The 36" bulbs would cover the entire tank, but won't fit in the canopy, meaning that I would have to build another canopy that stuck off the sides of the tank even more than the one that I have right now. I am going to stagger the four 24" bulbs to get nice coverage over the entire tank with the brightest spot being in the middle. I have done a lot of research and many people say that the 2 2x24 Tek Retros will be plenty of light for (almost) whatever I would like to keep in the tank. That was just my reasoning. I also went ahead and bought the Tek retros from hellolights tonight. They should be here sometime this week. Hopefully I will be able to put some pics on here after I get them installed.