Lighting opionions

[mike31154]

IMO both fluorescent (T5) & halide lighting components will become increasingly difficult to source in the future and as a result, more costly. Plenty of reasonably priced LED fixtures available these days to grow any coral you wish. My DIY LED rig has been running just short of 5 years (April 2012) & I certainly don't miss the bulb change hassles from when I ran a hybrid halide/T5HO light monstrosity. Furthermore, halides are a source of excessive heat, which you may have to mitigate with a chiller - more costly hardware adding to your hydro bill.