T5 OR T12 supplement?

[dunk373]

I have 8 4' vho's over my tank with 30 royal blue leds as a supplement I do have great growth.
I want to switch to save some money and am building a diy led kit with 80 leds and supplement that with a 4 t5 retro driven by Ice cap ballast but now i'm thinking of using four vho's

What would you do or recommend 4 t5's or 4 vho's?

Oh tank is 4x2 150 gallon with sps that are under water 6" to 15"

 

[dunk373]

Bump

 

[sirreal63]

I would go with the T5's but I would pass on using the IceCap, it is a VHO ballast and not a spec T5 ballast. ReefGeek has some great deals on the L.E.T. retro with excellent reflectors and proper ballasts that will put a lot more light into the tank than the VHO and use a lot less wattage.

 

[dunk373]

Ok that's what I was originally thinking. But then I hear vho actinics are better than t5 actinics. So I was even thinking of mixing and matching. 2 tk 2 vho etc. I just want it to be as good or better along with energy savings, win win.

 

[sirreal63]

I prefer the look of VHO actintics, and use them on my tank but there is nothing wrong with T5 actintics. I would not say the VHO is "better", it is just my preference for mixing with MH. For main lighting it is hard to beat the T5's.

 

[dunk373]

ok cool so i ordered everything today and will start the build i'm going with two 6"x20" heat sinks leds will be cree with

28 royal blues
4 red and greens
20 cw
8 blue
6 uv semi
6 total spectrum uv
then i will supplement with t5's i think lol
all controlled by the apex
port 1 rb
port 2 cool whites
port 3 uv
port 4 reds green blues

 

[Reefvet]

If you go with T12 be sure to buy spare bulbs because they're being discontinued.

 

[dunk373]

If you go with T12 be sure to buy spare bulbs because they're being discontinued.

Really? I've heard this before. Is it really true this time?

 

[Reefvet]

Really? I've heard this before. Is it really true this time?

Yes. They're too inefficient and they're going the way of the incandescent bulb. Manufacturers have already stopped making them.

Google t12 obsolescence and you'll find the details of the law.

 

[maddmaxx]

i dont think they will be 100% phased out. i believe they will continue to make the bulbs for specialty purposes such as this hobby. alot of those articles are almost 4yrs old saying they would be phased out by 2012. many aquarium sites still sell the ballast and bulbs...

 

[dunk373]

I did notice uvl/uri is about the only one making them but thats ok since they are the best. I hope its not true because they have served me well.

Any suggestions or opinions on the diy led set i'm about to make? more, less, different colors?

 

[Reefvet]

i dont think they will be 100% phased out. i believe they will continue to make the bulbs for specialty purposes such as this hobby. alot of those articles are almost 4yrs old saying they would be phased out by 2012. many aquarium sites still sell the ballast and bulbs...

It's a Federal law. They're haven't been any made for a couple of years. They stock pilled before ending production and some are still available. You can't build a new commercial building and legally install them.