Metal Halide Retro question, please advice

[binlges]

Hello everyone,

I have been researching lighting this for so many months my brain is scrambled.
I was going to do a DIY LED setup but after all my "MONTHS" of research I find a bunch of people are switching back to Metal Halide. So now my research is starting over seems like. :headwally: Anyways I want to order something by thi weekend or at best tomorrow so any quick answer would be great.

My Tank
48" bow front glass about 19" deep with a home made wood hood, vented with vans. Currently I run 4 t5 HO bulbs. I need more light, and I like to try and buy something that will work for years not 6 months then find out I bought wrong thing. I need to be able to grow softies and keep one anemone. I like more BLUE lighting then a BRIGHT WHITE.

Heres where I been light window shopping:
Aquatic Connection
AquaCave
Marine Depot

Here is what I am stuck on
Matching the bulb to the ballast.
20k Radium vs 14.5K Giesemann
magnet ballast
HQI
Mogul vs double ended

If someone out there knows a good setup from personal experience on a tank about the same size tank be great. Or preferred place to buy it.
Should I go complete retro kit or buy all my stuff separate? I can do any wiring no problem, and I am not looking for cheap-o setup that might come in a "RETRO KIT" (don't know just need advice), the reflectors I can upgrade later unless someone knows a middle road here as well.

I have read so much on here that it seems to have just made me more confused, but I do want more of a BLUE and dual 250 watt retro setup with correct matching Ballasts. Plus Ballasts that can be fixed in the future if need be.
I will be putting T5 HO along the sides of the dual 250w. it will work LOL

Ok well Thanks in advance
Brian

 

[binlges]

Here is the 3 retro kits I was looking at buying. What you guys think? Or should I just do the DIY LED setup from ReefLEDlights? After reading alot on here and other places I kinda was guided back to metal halide rather then LEDs. I dont really care manufactured light asym since it will not be seen under my hood ever. And I need to make sure the light setup will fit my higher end coral needs in the future.

http://www.aquacave.com/Galaxy-DUAL-250W-Double-EndedHQI-Metal-Halide-Retro-Kit-P1891C264.aspx

http://www.aquacon.com/SunlightSupplyGalaxyDual250WMetalHalideRetroKit.html

http://www.aquacon.com/SunlightSupplyDual250WHQIRetroKit.html

 

[DownwardDawg]

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/shop/?cat=82

I just bought the 6' retrofit kit from Hamilton. I was looking at basically the same kits you are. I decided to go with the Hamilton for space reasons (I have a canopy), and for simplicity. I also liked being able to mount the fixture to the canopy with a few screws and plugging that bad boy in! I enjoy wiring things, but I loved the simplicity of the Hamilton. Dave was great to deal with and they'll pretty much build anything you want.

 

[binlges]

Thanks downwarddawg... This is how far over out there I am, i am still searching reefcentral now these china LED lights don't look that bad. cheap enough to replace them later down the road when LED makes bigger better leaps.

I dont know but I do got to order something by saturday at latest!!!

Why isnt there a easy solution! argh!

 

[moondoggy4]

http://www.aquacave.com/Aqua-Medic-...ded-HQI-Metal-Halide-Retro-Kit-P1144C266.aspx Hope this works

 

[binlges]

http://www.aquacave.com/Aqua-Medic-...ded-HQI-Metal-Halide-Retro-Kit-P1144C266.aspx Hope this works

I like it, dual 150w is probably better fit for my tank. I was drawn to the dual 250w because its about same price, was thinking maybe I dim the 250's down then if I upgrade to deep tank down road I don't have buy bigger fixture.
my tank is actually 22.5" deep not counting the deep sand bed.

 

[sirreal63]

If you want to run Radium, you will need mogul and M80 ballast (to do it correctly). Space is also a consideration, I would look at the Reef Optics reflectors and the Aqua Medic Reeflex Cube ballast. It will put the light down into the tank and is smaller in size. I believe the Reef Optics II is the mogul version. I used to use the Reef Optics III and it was a good reflector, a bit of a spotlight but you want that with your tank.