? about a CA MH Retro kit

[Avalanche Wolf]

I am currently using a PC 48" 4x65k Coralife hood and after visiting a few of the MARS members in town and seeing their tanks and the tanks at yourreef I would like to upgrade to a MH setup in my hood. I have about 13" from the top of the water to the top of the hood.

I found a MH retro on CA that honestly sounds too cheap to not be real cheap.



http://www.aquauniverse.com/compone...product_id,1025/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/

New 2 X 250 Watt Metal Halide Retro
$250.00

This unit is Amazing! Plug and Play ready to go upon arrival!

Unit Comes with 2 - 20,000 hr. German Style Reef Grow bulbs- 10k or 20k - Please specify the color bulbs you would like in your payment or you will be sent bulb of our choice.

Curved spider reflector makes unit 99% more reflective than normal reflectors- life with out a good reflector is very dark in your tank!

Long German Polished Aluminum reflector included as well a 36 inch or 48 inch reflector- Please specify size reflector you would like in your payment and you will receive - If not specified we will send size of our choice.

Comes with 5 year warranty m58 advance ballast- enclosed in aluminum box that is 12 inches wide and 8 inches long.

8 foot metal halide quick disconnect chords are included.

Unit is made in the United States by Catalina Aquarium - The entire unit has a 1 year warranty.

Power chord is 8 feet long- can be lengthened per custom request.

 

[raymond4133]

I have a three 175 watt MH retrofit from them and it works great...Though the bulbs aren't so great...(15K) Got to dull and just was not so bright...Maybe if it were me I'd go with their 10Ks...

But the unit itself is great...Just as good as any PFO, Hamilton standard ballast and reflector kits...

FYI the ballast is just a m57 ballast...(I learned the hard way when I bought a european type bulb that would not fire on my catalina ballast because it is only compatiable with american bulbs (usually)...

I would say get the system if you are sticking with most american bulbs...if not go electronic for sure (if you want to use pretty much all types of bulbs)

But for a starter system this ain't bad at all...

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

looking for something that I wont have to keep upgrading really. The last hood i had worked good for the 25g i had and the hood i have now has a dead area in the middle of it and still really doesnt put out the light lvl a 100 gallon tank should have. And like i said after seeing others tanks the lighting quality is so much better with MH and the tanks seem to thrive better.


Will i be fine with the clearance in the hood ?


I noticed that all these kits say to have a glass divder between the lights and the tank water but i dont see that at fish stores and member tanks. Whats the deal there ?

 

[rafael13]

I had those on my 125g and they worked great
if you want to buy used let me know
I still have them

 

[dots]

When I was considering pendants, I thought these were cool.....I like the ability to upgrade to 400w......maybe go a single over two tanks, if I had 2-250s over a long.......

I like options........
Anyone used these? http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_icecap_hqi_250_400_pendant.asp?CartId=

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

PM sent Rafael13

 

[robertloop]

I got a PFO setup from marine depot awile back. Still use it today. Double ended bulbs require a sheet of glass because of ultraviolet concerns. Single ended mogul socket bulbs have a glass shell around the arch tube so nothing is needed between the water and bulb. Perhaps some people use a glass shield just for splash/salt spray concerns. I never have. I just clean the bulbs now and then.

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Thanks for answering that question Robert ! One ? down about 982,237 to go

 

[Reefugee]

Re: ? about a CA MH Retro kit

Unit Comes with 2 - 20,000 hr. German Style Reef Grow bulbs- 10k or 20k

20,000 hr / (8hr / day * 365 day/year) = 6.85 years! :eek1:

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

yah , thought that was a awefully long life bulb as well.

 

[Unarce]

The bulbs can last that long, but there's a significant drop-off in output between 1,500-3,000 hours, depending on the bulb. This is why bulbs are replaced every 6-12 months.