8 bulb T5 vs 2 x 150w MH

i'm upgrading to a 4 feet tank soon and i'm torn between the above. with the same amount of money, i can get 2 4 bulb T5 fixtures, change the bulbs to 6 ati aquablues and 2 ati blue plus ( 54 w each ) , or i can get a MH fixture with 2 150w and 2 actinic tubes. ( dymax brand )

tank dimensions would be 4 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet. intending to go into sps next time, which lighting would be more ideal? ;D

 

Personally, I like the supplemental lighting setups I've seen... (MH + T5)

If you are able to control say 2 of 4 bulbs in each fixture, then I'd be torn between the two... I'd say price difference would be my deciding factor in that case.

Out of curiosity, are the MH lamps DE, or SE?
What brand are the T5 fixtures? Do you know which ballasts? Individual reflectors for each bulb, or one for all 4?

 

yes there are 2 switches for each fixture! ;D

DE or SE i'm not sure , never had halides before , the T5 fixture is aqua zonic, you guys probably have not heard of the brand before.. lol
ballast not sure, reflectros are one for all :-/

price for each is SAME!

 

Hmm, I've never heard of it either. Can't find much on google. Single reflector per bulb, that's alot of lost light. You'll be replacing all the bulbs, so that actually puts your cost higher on the t5 fixture.

I'd say go with the MH...

 

the cost after replacing all the bulbs would be same as the MH, i should still go for the MH? i think the bulbs on the MH would be rather bad though, stock bulbs ( dymax brand ) hmm

 

If you were to do MH I would get 250s over a 2' tall tank...
Problem with this question is without any of us being familiar with a product its hard to know if it is quality or will work for you. Lets say you were buying a 6 or 8 lamp Tek, ATI or Constellation, I would have no problem saying your SPS will be illuminated properly.
Same goes with the MH, if you said you had a reflector that is poor aluminum and the ballasts are garbage I would say pass, but if it was a great setup I would say buy now!

 

the T5 fixtures would be aqua zonic ( china brand ) but reasonable quality, but the bulbs will all be ATI, will that be good enough? the LFS here all uses dymax MHs though.. hmm tough decision.

this is the website for the MH lamp
Mydymax.com - DYMAX TECHNO LIGHTING
it's made in singapore

 

Do the T5s have single lamp reflectors?
I would definetly go with the 250's instead of 150's if you go MH...just to reitterate

 

Nope, he said it's one reflector per fixture on the T5's.