Metal Halide/T5/Moon light combo units are pretty dang good for someone like me on a budget. Some online places have them at a great price!....No it's not the Odyessa brand. Put them on timers and let them work....I've had one for 8 years..still works great....Changing Halides/T5 s is the cost involved. Heat issues are solved by a clip-on fan blowing across the top. My corals are doing fine. My 2 cents worth.
I have had all lighting. I just got leds they are ok for what they are but i love t5s with ice cap 660 ballast to overdrive the bulbs. Infinite color combos and amazing par. But take it for what its worth its just my opinion
If you can handle the heat, go halide, with actinic supplements of some sort. When I was running halides the bulb replacements where my b-day present from my wife every year. I would send her the link to Hello Lights and we where both happy.
