Help - can't decide!!!

[Ratpack]

I want to go ahead order the lights for my tank but I can't decide. I know I want 6 T5 bulbs, but do I go with a TEK fixture, TEKII retrofits, or Hellolights retrofits? All of these are in the same price range but I can't decide which way I want to go.

[Poseidon]

LOL! Welcome to the world of reefing....

Do you have a canopy? If so, then get the retro fits, if not, then the fixture would be easiest.

[Ratpack]

Thanks, I just ordered the fixture. Got the fixture, 6 giessmann bulbs and bracket kit for $525 shipped. Probably could have saved a little money in retrofit, but not enough to justify the time to wire them up and mount them. I don't have a canopy, nor a stand at this point so I am wide open. I may build a canopy but it will be more of a faceplate type thing since I have the fixture.

[viodea]

Thanks, I just ordered the fixture. Got the fixture, 6 giessmann bulbs and bracket kit for $525 shipped. Probably could have saved a little money in retrofit, but not enough to justify the time to wire them up and mount them. I don't have a canopy, nor a stand at this point so I am wide open. I may build a canopy but it will be more of a faceplate type thing since I have the fixture.

Where did you get it? How do you like it?

[BinaryReefer]

If you had a canopy I would have gone with the retrofit also. T5HO with individual reflectors and overdriven with an IceCap ballast can be amazing. I had 4x54w overdriven @85w each on individual reflectors and the results were amazing.

[Ratpack]

Where did you get it? How do you like it?

This is the site I got mine from. Best price I could find on the fixture. It is supposed to show up tomorrow, so I'll plug it in and see what it looks like. Then I just have to buy a tank.

CORAL REEF ECO-SYSTEMS

[Ratpack]

If you had a canopy I would have gone with the retrofit also. T5HO with individual reflectors and overdriven with an IceCap ballast can be amazing. I had 4x54w overdriven @85w each on individual reflectors and the results were amazing.

Don't have a canopy or stand or tank for that matter. JUst gathering stuff I need for my future build. Tank will be a 75g and the stand will be a complete DIY cabinet system that encloses the whole tank with only a viewing window into the tank. Having the lights seperate from the stand will allow me to remove the whole top of the cabinet and not have to unhook any lights or anything, tank can operate as normal.