When i looked at some of the t5s is had less wattage per length than the pc's or is there a trick to the t5's that i am unaware of. I would like to be able to maintain anything in the tank and versatility to upgrade would be nice as well. So would u say stay the route of 250's mh and up? What would be my best route? I would like to keep a hood if possible as well. Thanks for your time!
T-5's have several advantages:
They use less energy
The bulbs last longer and cost less to replace
They dont require as much height above the aquarium as MH's do.
However, T-5's do need individual reflectors and need good cooling fans to maximize output and bulb life.
There are several gorgeous SPS aquariums lit solely by T-5's. If I were able to do my system over, I would have most likely gone with a T-5 set up vs my 250 watt MH's.
Is there much difference between the 250s in a setup like this 2x250W HQI Metal Halide & 4X54W T5s, 48 inch or a retrofit kit besides the price difference?
The least expensive way to improve your lighting is to buy the components and do it yourself. Wiring up T-5's or any other flourescent bulb set up isnt that hard. The instructions are pretty easy to follow, I've done it myself and electrical stuff isnt something I like to do...I'd rather pay someone and know it works right and wont burst into flames...
You can do the same thing with MH's, but I've never done it.
Retro fit kits seem to the next cheapest way to go, but I've yet to find one that does what I want it to. Just me...you might have better luck than I did when I was looking.
The hood/fixture set ups are the prettiest, and the most expensive. The one you mentioned :"2x250W HQI Metal Halide & 4X54W T5s" might be a good one, might not, depends on the manufacturer. One thing I would caution you about with MH's is see to check around the local fish stores and see what variety of bulbs is commonly available. I used to run DE bulbs...but had problems replacing bulbs without going through mail order...which meant time and shipping. So I switched over to SE bulbs...this way if a bulb burns out, I can replace it without having to order it and wait for a few days.
One other thought for you to keep in mind is that when you upgrade your lighting, you want to acclimate your corals and anemone to the increased intensity. Other wise you'll stress them out and could end up losing them.
Nick