29g lighting options, help me choose

[coachfraley]

I will be setting up a 29g acrylic in about a month, so I am looking into my different lighting options. The tank will be 24" in length and I will be growing mushrooms, zoas, frogspawn, sinularia, and maybe a torch.

Here is what I have found so far:

coralife 2x65 watt CF (comes with extra bulbs!) $134.95:
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current 4x24 watt HO T5 $159
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current 4x24 watt HO T5 (integrated timers, individual reflectors) $219
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The T5's are tempting because they run so much cooler than the CF's, but that coralife deal is crazy!

Let me know what you think, or if you know of something better. I expect Cocoa to come up with something interesting:c3:

Thanks in advance!

[unleashed]

I would probably go for the $159 one. However, the individual reflectors and luxury accessories (integrated timer etc) would be enough to get me to pay an extra $60.

The individual reflectors will increase output significantly, however, this increase will not be hugely noticable with the human eye.

[zackish]

What 29 gallon tank is 24 inches long? That is what I want to know first because I want one.
I am setting up my 29 for salt and I am using the current USA dual satellite fixture with 2x65 watts.

[sailor]

I would stay away from any fixtures with CF bulbs as they don't have a long life and are expensive to replace. Go with a t5 HO light as the bulbs last longer and are not as expensive to replace.

[cocoa_pleco]

personally i say if you have a small budget get the $159 T-5, if you have room in the budget get the $219 one

[coachfraley]

Thanks for the replies, I was leaning that way. After looking some more, I found this fixture last night, and it is from a local company. I just want to call and make sure that it has cooling fans. Basically, it is the same fixture, just $20 cheaper.

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The tank I am getting is a custom acrylic all-in-one Zackish. I set it up so it would fit on the Redsea Max stand.

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