T-5 or LED

So I have failed to make up my mind. I was thinking a marineland double bright LED system or a quad t5 fixture from odyssea. I've been set on getting the t5, but now I am worried about this "ballast" business and replacement bulbs. Which would you guys choose? I will be setting up a FOWLR that's a 40 gallon breeder.

 

If you plan on staying FOWLR go with the LED.

If you are looking at corals go with the T5. The ballast issue was on MH and was fixed years ago.

 

So nothing will catch fire? I've heard that Oddyssea lighting fixtures come with cheap bulbs.

 

Go both. Hybrid T5 & LED.

 

I'm looking around the internet now and have yet to find a fixture. (I'm new so I apologize if this is an obvious question) Is this something you make yourself? Is there another thread where someone has built/recommended a brand?

 

I have the Odyssea 4 bulb T5 fixture, works great. Price is great too, if your going fowlr just get the T5. The marineland leds have terrible coverage and spread imo, and are way overpriced.

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ups and downs for both but in my experience i would go LED. i had a oddyssea 4x t5 fixture and it was great at first but after 5 months it started falling apart. night LEDs failed one by one, t-5 bulb wouldnt light, timer wouldnt work. plus LED's are very effecient.

 

I likewise have an odyssea T5 fixture. If your operating on a budget they are hard to beat. Yes the stock lights that come with them are crap. I noticed a visable to me light quality change around 4-5 months. A quick order to Aquacave & some nice ATI bulbs took care of it though. Like mentioned the Odyssea fire hazard is a couple years old. Check the article or post review dates of that info.

 

Well if I need to replace all 4 bulbs it seems more cost effective to go LEDs. So this would double the 80 dollar price to 160(assuming I get bulbs around 20$).

 

if all you want is a FOWLR 40B, all you need is a one or two light t8 hood that you can get from any pet store. I wouldn't get anything too fancy if all you want to grow is fish.

HOWEVER, if after looking on this site you get the urge to grow corals you will want to start off with something that can handle it so you aren't wasting money by buying two light fixtures...TRUST ME ON THIS ONE