Is this what I want??

[EWC88]

Hey guys...I was at my dads work the other day looking through some corp. booklets, when I got to lightening in one I thought hmm let me see if they have something I can use. So I'm flipping through and I see Metal Halide Ballast/Lamp Kit. Then I saw the price and was liek holy sh#$@!!!. So I'm asking you guys is this all I need for it my lighting system and what wattage.

Metal Halide Ballast/Lamp Kit
Kit Contents: Metal Halide Lamp, Multi-Tap CWA Ballast, Capacitor, Mounting Bracket, Mogul Base, Multi-Tap Voltage.

Thats what it all comes with. Now the wattages they give are:
175w, 250w, 400w, and 1000w

Its going on a 37g fish tank

 

[drummereef]

How deep is the tank? What corals are you wanting to keep?

 

[EWC88]

It is 24" from the top to the bottom....Corals...SPS, LPS, Clams

 

[drummereef]

You would need to do the 250watt fixture/bulb to keep more demanding SPS in a 24" deep tank.

 

[TomRep]

Are the lighting kits actually for aquariums? If not, you MAY need to get a different bulb. But everything else may work out for you.
tom

 

[EWC88]

It never said anything like "for fish tanks" It just said Metal Halide Ballast/Lamp Kit

I mean for $70 to $140 is a great price I thought!

( $70 for 175...$145 for 1000)

 

[snulma1]

Here is what you need to look at in the kit. If it comes with a socket, and if so, what kind of socket does it come with.

Some will only come with medium based sockets, and its hard to find a suitable bulb for reefs that isn't a Mogul based bulb.

Also look at the ballast if there is a picture of it. Its probably an industrial ballast, (which there is no problems with), its just not pleasing to look at, so you will have to find a case for it to keep it nice and protected. Plus its probably magnetic so it will get pretty hot!

 

[EWC88]

Yea the picture isn't that great to see...and all it comes with is what I said...

Think I should just get one from my LFS or online?

 

[snulma1]

I think it depends on what you are looking for, if you are handy and wanna save money then go for it! Do the mods!

If you want something that is aesthetically pleasing, then buy from a store.

If you look there is a huge thread on the Odyssea fixture from aquatraders. I bought one for 170 dollars shipped for a 250w MH with 130w of PC. Check the thread out!

 

[papagimp]

Personally, for that small of a tank, I'd just go with T5's, but your tank. I have a 250w double ended 20,000k over my 42g hex tank, cheap light fixture and the output isn't exactly what I'd want, but it does a good job with the livestock I have in there currently. Just moved a Crocea over yesterday, so we'll see how he does.

 

[EWC88]

snulma1 were is the thread?? I can't find it...please send it to me ASAP if you can

 

[snulma1]

Here it is!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1037172&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

It is veeerryyyy long. but has a lot of good info about the fixture and ways to tweak it!