T-5 HO Light Fixture Comparisons

Hey guys,
I've been researching a couple light fixtures, and I am undecided on which to get, figured I could get a bit of feedback from ya'll on the ones I found.

First off is the Coralife brand fixture.
Aquarium Light Fixtures: Coralife Aqualight HO T-5 Dual Lamp Aquarium Light Fixture

Second is the Wavepoint brand.
Aquarium HO T5 Florescent Light Fixtures: WavePoint HO T5 Fluorescent 2 Lamp Lighting System

Could I get a bit of info as to which would be the better choice? It will be on a 55g FOWLR set up that I will be starting up shortly. I'll be heading up to Rhinelander tomorrow to Drs. F&S to pick up all the goodies I have picked out. The light fixture is one thing I am undecided on. Also, what kind of canopy would you recommend?
I was looking at these, but it seems to me in seeing pictures of these on tanks that they would reflect a lot of the light.
Aquarium Hoods & Canopies: All-Glass Versa-Tops
I also seen a thread on here for homemade tank covers consisting of a screen with a frame around it that sits on the tank frame, which seems to me to be a better route.
Also, I know this was initially meant to be about light fixtures, but I have been looking around the net at different Protein Skimmers and have kind of zero'ed in on the Aquamaxx brand after reading some good reviews and good comments on here. Comments on that particular unit?
AquaMaxx HOB-1 Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer


Sorry for the long post,
Paul

 

i just ordered an ati 6x39 for my 40 breeder..yeah there alot of money, but they are the best..

i like the wavepoints fixtures over the coralifes, they just look all around better built, and i also think they have the hitch legs that allow you to be able to raise the fixture without taking it off the tank which is nice..

but as long as you use ati bulbs or geisseman than it doesnt really matter..

also any fixture with single reflectors gives you 3x the light output..but you can buy single reflectors off ebay for like 20$

 

Thanks Saints Fan..

Headed up to Drs. F&S today and got all my goodies. Picked up the Wavepoint Light fixture, two 200 gallon salt mix boxes, 60 Lbs of Live sand, a refractometer, and a new marineland 37 gallon tank kit that I am going to use to transfer my freshwater fish into. Will be ordering up a protein skimmer soon, and picking up some live rock shortly after I get the 55g converted over to saltwalter.
The first step of the transformation is just about complete, will start the transfer of the freshwater fish tomorrow.

 

Congrats on changing over. Our LFS here has that wavepoint @ like 36 inches above the water (I have 0 idea why they would do that) and most of their stuff is doing okay. So I'm sure with it at a normal levels above the water, and some decent bulbs (ATI/Geisseman like saints said) you'll be impressed with the results. I think of the options you made a good choice.

 

Thanks! I'm hoping everything works out good, LFS support around here is basically non-existent, so I'm going to be going off of advice I get on here for the most part. I figure I might as well get good stuff right from the get go, will save money in the long run. Can't wait to get it converted over and start cycling it in!!

 

yeah congrats on everything..

def get the right thing the first time...which is why i bought the ati fixture..some things ill cheap out but lighting is something ill never cheap...

and go slow...remember this is something you can literally have forever.. i play golf with a couple old men that have had tanks for like 30 years, which sounds crazy, but they some of biggest colonies i have ever seen..its amazing..