combo or not combo

[shikhyung]

Hello,
I wonder should I use combo MH and T5 togheter, or MH alone.
Can someone advice? Thanks

[shikhyung]

I also wonder the one build in with MH ballast is good? thanks

[netboy]

This is my road map of lighting....PC--->T5--->MH---->MH/T5 combo. Definitely happy with the current setup i have. I got the aquatinincs combo and I love it.

Built in ballast as in built into the fixture? I would be worried about having that much weight over my tank, but thats just me.

[shikhyung]

thanks. Do you think the build in ballast is the same with the external?

[pjf]

So long as you have two light levels (2 ballasts & 2 power cords), it may not matter.

My first light fixture was a MH/T6 combo. I liked it because it gave me 2 light levels: T6 at dawn & dusk and MH during mid-day. Later, I implemented the same 2-tier lighting scheme using a T5 fixture with 2 ballasts and 2 power cords & 2 timers.

[shikhyung]

Pjf, you meant now your lighting is only T5, no MH.

[pjf]

Yes, my lighting is only T5 now but there is nothing wrong with a T5/MH combo. The MH produces beautiful "glitter lines" or shimmer if that is a consideration.

I replaced the MH/T5 combo because it was heavy and I was afraid that its ceiling mounts may pull out from the sheetrock. The T5 fixture is lighter.

If your fixture has mounting legs for the tank, it will not matter. If you want to suspend your fixture from the ceiling, try to secure the mounts to a joist.

[shikhyung]

I currently has 4x56. want to update so I can have some SPS.
Try to find which is better, since lighting is so expensive...just want to buy maybe just one more time :-).