Before I go any further.

[Reggae Fish]

I am looking to get halides in about 6 months or so and I've been researching a bit but before I go any further, I need to know.

I have an Oceanic stand and canopy. The "canopy" is made out of plastic???
I have not been looking at the "retro kits" because I'm not sure how I would do it with the plastic canopy? Am I just confused or is this a problem?

By the time you buy the fixture, ballasts, fans, etc... won't the retro kits be just as much?

Can I even put one of the fixtures (plug and go) under that canopy?

Hopefully in 6 or so months, halide prices will have dropped by 95%...ugh..

I knew they were expensive but I didn't realize they were that expensive!

 

[Reggae Fish]

Is this junk?

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=211

 

[spooda420]

personally I think your better off going with something from Hellolights.com

I have doubts about going with something from a site like aquatraders.

Goodluck

 

[Reggae Fish]

Thanks. I'm thinking about just not even going to halides now. Man, they are expensive!

I have 260watt pc
Should be fine for a 72 gallon with no SPS.

 

[MayoBoy]

What bulbs are you running now?

 

[Reggae Fish]

2-65watt 12,000k
2-65watt actinic

 

[MayoBoy]

Call Jason at Premium Aquatics and see if he can get this for you:

http://www.finnex.net/pages/product/lighting/HQI.html


You might also go all 12,000K - it will be much brighter, still with lots of blue.

 

[spooda420]

GL-4825 47 1/4" x 10 5/8" x 3 7/8" 2 1/2" 250W x 2 HQI/54W x 2 T5

thats a good one... with out knowing a price im thinking that is $600 maybe...

 

[Sk8r]

It's the ballasts that kill you, pricewise.
My light kit for my 250 MH/actinics has fans at either end, and it runs very cool, btw, so I don't have heat buildup near the canopy or rim.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Well, I think the MH went WAY back on the backburner. I didn't realize they were that much. I think I'll probably just stick to building my reef, etc... with ones that will thrive with PC and go from there. I appreciate everyones help though. Just for future reference, is it better to have internal or external ballasts?

Thanks,
Justin

 

[MayoBoy]

Call Jason at Premium Aquatics before you get scared off. He'll give you a price and you can go from there.

 

[dela]

PC ballasts are electronic devices sensitive to heat like any other electronic device.

 

[geoff72]

Why not go with T5's. As far as I know they are better than PC's and less expensive the MH. I have been thinking about switching to T5's.