Ditching the HD52, 4 lights choices, help me choose

Mastiffsrule · May 5, 2019

I have a 6 foot tank. Undergoing a total redo. Not sure what coral I am putting back in yet.

I have 2 AI Hydra 52HD I got after Xmas. I also have a burned out old hydra. I have to buy another HD52, so I was thinking of just selling my 2 HD 52 for $550 each and using it for a t5.

Which one would you get

Hybrid T5 Light 61 Inch Fixture with LED Mounting System With 4 messily or Primes

ATI
60" SUNPOWER HIGH OUTPUT T5 LIGHT FIXTURE 8x80 wt

CEBU SUN 72" 3 X MOGUL BASE METAL HALIDE +T5 LIGHTING SYSTEM BY HAMILTON TECHNOLOGY

2 3’ Fiji sun 6x30 HO T5

Or just get another HD52HD

Leadfooted · May 5, 2019

Hybrid T-5. Allows many options. I favor this one especially when paired with and RB XHO or two

jsker · May 5, 2019

Myself, I would keep the 52 HD's and mount them in the Hybrid fixture and call it a day. The 52 are a great light and will give you more light the the primes at a lower cost. I always suggest mounting the light 12 inches off the water for better spread. I like the LED hybrid's also since they are cooler to run.

Mastiffsrule · May 5, 2019

jsker said:
Myself, I would keep the 52 HD's and mount them in the Hybrid fixture and call it a day. The 52 are a great light and will give you more light the the primes at a lower cost. I always suggest mounting the light 12 inches off the water for better spread. I like the LED hybrid's also since they are cooler to run.

And this is why my wife does not let me out in public alone.

Thanks @jsker the light literally went on above my head when I read that. I ordered the 61 and once I hang it I may grab one more prime or 26hd.

Hope no one else reads this, too embarrassing.

dantimdad · May 5, 2019

Good choice.

Send me the old burned out fixture please.

Mastiffsrule · May 5, 2019

Do you really want it? It is first gen Hydra. I sent it to AI originally to see if the could fix the royal blues that were out. They could not fix it so I had them ship it back. When I plugged it back in only the deep blue, red, and green work.

dantimdad · May 5, 2019

Yep. i tinker with old lights. Another offshoot of the reefing hobby.

jda · May 5, 2019

Both the ATI and Cebu are gold-standard lights for this hobby. They both will work really well. You might not need all of that light, so this is hard not knowing what you are going to keep... if you were going to focus on acropora and other high light stuff, then either of these would be second to done. If you are going to have a simple mixed reef, then even a 6 bulb ATI would probably be more than OK.