Home Depot light or coralife light?

[steve]

So i found a good deal on a 48" Aqualight 56w T5 Double Linear Strip Light its $50 and comes with 2 bulbs. Is it worth getting this or should I just replace my home depot shop light that just went out for another one. Any advise is appreciated. Oh yea I have some some 6500k bulbs in it now.

[AndrewH]

:) read next one ;)

[AndrewH]

Oops, mis-read the original thread. Ignore my first reply.

The Coralife should be slightly more output, but using less wattage. Less wattage = less on your electic bill.

Comparason for the fixtures and their specs.

SL (shop light):
duel T8 - 64W - 4400 lumens

CL (coralife light):
duel T5 - 58W - 4800 lumens

The lamps should have about the same life span (T8 to T5) the basic difference is size, wattage useage, and output.

[AndrewH]

Another advantage to the Coralife, is I can change it to a T5HO pretty easily which will take the fixture from ~4800 lumens to ~10,000 lumens for about $30.

[bgbdwlf2500]

id go with the coralife, just my .02

[steve]

Another advantage to the Coralife, is I can change it to a T5HO pretty easily which will take the fixture from ~4800 lumens to ~10,000 lumens for about $30.

how do you do this?

[AndrewH]

Simple ballast change, which I happen to have sitting at home :D (I bought two ballast a while back for a T5HO project and ended up going a different direction. I sold one of the ballast to KewlKatDady and I still have the other one).

It's yours if you want/need it.

[ElijahTurtle]

Hey put me inline for that ballast too. I've got build a light system for my new SW tank.

[AndrewH]

Sure thing. If steve passes, it's all yours.