Light help.. Add on, worth it.??

I have a 55 gal reef tank..
I have 260 watts of PC..

Would this added with the above help me..?
ODYSSEA 48" 216W AQUARIUM REEF LIGHT 4 x 54W HO T5 LEDs

Right now, I can do this or nothing.. My money is tight.. !!
Once I get bills paid down, etc.. I can do better..
My color isn't showing true on my Candycanes, frogspawn, hammer... etc..
I have some Candycane, frogspawn, hammer, leathers, mushrooms, misc..

This would give me a total of 476 watts..??

Would getting them with 4 antics be better, show color more.
or just with 2 daylites X 2 Antics..
Like I said want to do the best I can Right Now..

So what you think..??

Thanks Larry

 

Personally I would just go with the 4 t5's and scrap the pc's. that's what I did. youll get more bang out of the t5's then you will with the pc's. I had pc's for over a year and when I got my t5's wow what a difference in color and brightness.

 

+1 Scrap the PCs. You need better lights for those corals.

You could always move them down to a refugium if you don't have one yet.

 

Well, first, do you plan on upgrading your tank in the near future? From what you have said, it makes it sound like these new lights are just an intermediate step from what you have now and what you plan on when you have more money. I would suggest if you are planning on upgrading, wait and buy a good fixture to meets the needs of your future tank, maybe some MHs. If you are not, I would still suggest to wait and buy a fixture that will last you for years, such as a ATI fixture or Tek. Many people have jumped the gun on their lighting and gone with the cheapest one they could afford at the time, and then are disappointed down the road. Now, if your corals are not doing well, then I would suggest the addition or replacement of the fixture you are talking about, if it is just the color you are worried about, I would wait. I bought a Nova Extreme 4x54 T5 HO for my tank and am already looking forward to an upgrade when I can afford it. I cannot keep all of the corals that I want under it. I wish I would have waited and spent the money initially.

 

I agree I still kick myself for not getting a 6 bulb t5 when I had the money and settling with a 4 bulb.

 

Not to mention T5 HO will put out more than you really think, I second the T5's only, maybe try to sell the pc's on your local club forum.

 

It's going to be a while befor I can really upgrade to what I want/need ..

I may even go with a 75 gal upgrade.. But for now......
IF I did get the above lights.. Would 4 x 54W Actinic Blue T5 HO Lamps ..
Be better then 2 white X 2 Blue T5 HO Lamps....??

I'll still be useing my PC's which have 2 X65 daylights..

Thanks. Larry

This is my main tank now, but want be in the future.. Then I'll save for a real good set-up..

 

If you plan on upgrading to a 75 (or bigger, who knows what deal you'll come across) then I'd spend $100 to just replace those tired, worn out PC bulbs you got now. I changed out my PC bulbs to the UVL super actinic and UVL actinic white bulbs, because my old bulbs were almost 1 year old and I'm in the same boat as you, Larry.
I don't want to spend the dough on upgrading to a 4x54w T5 that will not fit my next tank upgrade needs, and the new UVL bulbs will last another 9 months or so, but by then I'll be ready to upgrade to what I need for the next tank.
Here's the difference, new bulbs on the right, and old bulbs on the left for comparison.

 

Also bear in mind not all T5 lighting is created equal. If your going to upgrade I would avoid Odyssea I'm sure they have resolved the whole catching on fire issue but no sence throwing good money at a inferior product.

I would recommend T5

 

Yes there is a big difference in your bulbs..
Nice tank, by the way .. !!

What I was thinking, I can get the 48" 216W AQUARIUM REEF LIGHT 4 x 54W HO T5 LEDs.
For 100.00 plus 25.00 shipping.. New..
Or buy 4 new PC bulbs for 100.00 ??
I can do this now..
I can always give these lights to another reefer starting out or something..
My upgrade will be around a year from now.. What you think..?

Thanks, Larry