please help on a new lighting buy!

Budget minded around $300
My options are:
48" ho t5'5

1 Aquaticlife $369
2 JBJ $299
3coralife $309

or go with the cheapy

4 current USA $217 and upgrade all the bulbs to 2x ATI blue plus, purple plus and whatever the other ATI blue actinic is called +80 for about $300?
Or if I'm missing a brand in that please suggest!
If i get one of the above I'll have to wait a bit to upgrade the bulbs
Thanks
Ryan

 

guess it depends on what types of features you are looking for...

 

I'm not overly concerned with the timer on the zquaticlife, I hear good things about it but not a selling point for me! Basically concerned with better quality!lol quality on a budget!

 

if i was buying another t-5 setup I'd get a Tek like this

TEK LIGHT T-5, 48" Light Fixture 6 x 54W lamps by Sunlight Supply* - AquaCave

I also have Bulbs that have less then 6 months on them if you need them I'd let them go for cheap.

 

5 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus or Fiji Purple, 2 ATI Aquablue Special and two UVL Antic's

 

I would concur on the TEK fixture...and put ATI bulbs in it...that will give you the most bang for buck IMO...T5 pure actinics are a waste IMO...I would go with ATI Aquablue special (12K white bulb) and ATI Blue Plus (60% blue 40% actinic)...the Blue Plus will give you nice blue and actinic properties without sacrificing PAR...you could trade out one bulb for a Purple Plus/Fiji Purple, but in a 4 bulb unit you may not like the color.

I assume you're looking for a four bulb, right? BRS has the TEK 4x54w for right at $250...and they offer a 25% discount on the bulbs if you order them at the same time. That would put you just a hair over $300 before shipping.

 

is t5 the only route you want to go....if not you could go with the 36 LED DIY kit and thats enough coverage for a 48" tank and that with heat sinks would come out to ~$300

 

Reefaholic, BRS? sorry brain not pulling, but it sounds like a better deal than I've found! I'm looking at $380 @ MD!

 

Bruno, my buddy just dropped 2 grand on led's and swears by them, but he has a big reef!

He had me look at a kit at reefledlights.com for $380!

where is that kit sold and whats the name!

Thx!

 

i have to admit the 10 year bulb lifespan is nice! plus the power savings!