I think this site may offer a really good deal for T5 lighting, lets see if that is actually true...
Assumptions made:
1. Lighting for a 4ft long tank
2. A total of four bulbs are wanted in lighting setup
4x 6500k Lights = $13.56 * 4 = $54.24
4x 4ft reflector = $16.03 * 4 = $64.12
4x 1 pair of light sockets = $1.56 * 4 = $6.24
1x power cord = $2.74
1x 220w workhorse ballast = $31.16
Shipping(varies by location) ~= $15
Total ~= $173.50
Assuming you have some DIY skills, I think this is actually a reasonable deal.
After a little google searching, this definitely seems like a great deal. A lot of these parts, including the bulbs, you can probably find locally to minimize shipping costs.
Assumptions made:
1. Lighting for a 4ft long tank
2. A total of four bulbs are wanted in lighting setup
4x 6500k Lights = $13.56 * 4 = $54.24
4x 4ft reflector = $16.03 * 4 = $64.12
4x 1 pair of light sockets = $1.56 * 4 = $6.24
1x power cord = $2.74
1x 220w workhorse ballast = $31.16
Shipping(varies by location) ~= $15
Total ~= $173.50
Assuming you have some DIY skills, I think this is actually a reasonable deal.
After a little google searching, this definitely seems like a great deal. A lot of these parts, including the bulbs, you can probably find locally to minimize shipping costs.