T5 my tank...

[majesticangelfish]

Hey everyone, looking for some opinions...

I will be setting up a new tank, once I get the funds together! It will be a shallow (18-22") tall x 50"x29", SPS/LPS ZEO. I would like to be able to look from the top down too.

So I would need to have the lighting system highup (~20"?) from the water surface. Thankfully 3 white walls will reflect some of the spread back towards the tank. I would like to run mostly T5.

I have done hours of research, "window" shopping etc, and have concluded:
Either

2x "Lumimaster" form Germany or a DIY setup form the USA, nobody in Aus has Deltec quality bulbs/fittings.

Lumimaster- made by Aquaconnect. has 4x 54w T5+ individual reflectors.

I would probably buy from http://www.meerwasser-aquaristik.de

They sell AC and the new ATI bulb.
I would run~3x Aqua-Connect T5 BLUE, and 5x ATI Aquablue Spezial "new Generation".

The other option would be from the USA. From DIYreef.com they sell the IC reflectors, and D&D/Giesemann Bulbs.

If i go the DIY way, I would use 8x Icecap SLR reflectors, 5x 54W T5 Aquablue Plus 11K, 2x Actinic Plus, and 1x Pure Actinic. I would buy the ballasts here.

They both workout the same price after shipping... ~$750 AUD.

I would angel 3x 150w 20 MH to supplement the T5, as well as some LED spotlights w/48LEDs each (Red, UV and Blue).

What do you guys think is better? Or should I overdrive using an Icecap 660?

Any comments/suggestions are welcome.

Cheers

[fkadir]

What about the powermodules from ATI? Those are sweet and have active cooling built in now.

If you are going to DIY, Overdrive it with the ICs

[majesticangelfish]

What about the powermodules from ATI? Those are sweet and have active cooling built in now.

If you are going to DIY, Overdrive it with the ICs

Hi Jeff, thanks for your reply.

I did have a look at the ATI powermodules, one of the only places selling them, www.aquazoo24.de hasnt bothered to reply to my emails regarding if they ship to Aus, If I go through the checkout, The only info I get is: 5 euro for shipping in Germany, or pickup from the shop.

The ATI would also cost more, finishing around $1100AU for 8 bulbs. Im not sure if its worth the extra expense... (Im just a student) ??

With the IC, how often would I need to replace the bulbs? could I get one year out of them?

Cheers

[majesticangelfish]

Another point I was thinking about, Is if I do go the IC 660 route, Could i cut down on the number of bulbs running, (4-6?).