Halide's vs VHO's

[xmenx2dad]

Hi there wanting to get peoples input on my current and possible future lighting system. I currently have a standard 55 mixed reef with 3-175 halides and two 40 watt actinics. Brand is Hamilton technologies. The main problems with this system is it has a poor reflector only on one of the halides and none on the actinics. Bulbs are older. Also have an issues with the tank overheating, have put a fan on the sump, it helps some. I have someone who is interested in this system for a 75 gallon tank and wants to give me his vho system. 4-110 watt bulbs, 2 white, 2 actinic with the built in reflectors powered by an icecap ballast. I believe that this ballast would also power t5's would this be a better or viable 3rd option? The pros to this system i think are that i would not need external reflectors?, the light is continous throughout the tank and less of a heat generated issues. Downside the pop or shimmer of the halides. He is giving me some cash plus the lights for my halide system. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated

 

[nycbob]

thats a lot of lights for a 55! the 5 bulbs 110w system u r getting is probably a power compact fixture, which is major downgrade from what u r currently running. if u r having heat issue and dont want to run a chiller or fan ro cool thing down, t5 is ur best bet. u wont get the shimmering effect, but u can mix and match to get the desire colors u want. over a 55, get at least a
4-bulb t5 system with individual reflectors. tek and aquatinics make very good fixture.