Quote Originally Posted by alton View Post
Go with Buckeye field Supply on replacing your filters and Membrane. On the 300D you have to ask for them now, they are not a stock item anymore. Being a person who has one if if I was to do all over again I stay with 30" versus the 36". I am 6'4" and I hate the fact I cannot reach stuff in the back. Ace has a 250DD but since he has his as an island he can reach all the way around. Lighting big tanks the edge still goes to MH, but hey if you have the money go for it. I use 3 x 250w MH lumin bright pendants (825 watts total) with Radium lamps that average 16 months before changing.
I'm not opposed to MH's. I had two 150watt vipers on my 55gal. I had to change the bulbs about every 8 months though, because of the heat I guess. I definitely didn't get the colors that I wanted though. I tried the 10k, 14k, and 20k's. I ended up sticking with a 14k and a 20k, placing most of the orangish/reddish stuff under the 14k, and the bluish/greenish stuff under the 20k. I also had 2-48" HO t5's that spanned it, one actinic and one super actinic. The colors still never really moved me, though! But I like this. Any particular reason you give the edge to MH's over LED's...other than the money! I'm not rich, just want to do it up as perfectly as I can the first time, even if it takes a little longer to get it all together. Also, maintenance, as you all know, is a big money suck. How long do the LED bulbs last? Will I come out ahead on bulb replacements in the future if I get LED's?