MH questions

[Reggae Fish]

OK. I have cheapo PC lights but that is just what I had to do. I can barely even think about halides down the road but as everyone has always said, "do as much research as possible"

So, to give you an idea, I have a 72 bow and wouldn't mind being able to have a few sps. I am not familiar with the sizing, pricing, etc... of halides. I would prefer to be able to buy something that is just ready to go. I don't want to have to DIY because I'm not good at that stuff. Could anyone at least direct me in the direction of what I'd need so even if I don't get that specifically, I could at least see what you are saying I should get.

I don't understand the lights, ballasts, reflectors, end caps, how many I'd need, etc...
Like I said, I'd prefer to get something I could just plug in or understand.

If in the next 6 months or so, someone sees something I'd be interested in, please let me know.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Mykayel]

http://www.hellolights.com/ weather you get a ready to go system or a retro system, taht's a good place. As far as the retro systems, if you already have a hood, it basically just installing the reflector and then attaching a few wire nuts to connect the flector/socket to the ballast. Very easy and with getting a retrofit kit you'll get everything you need and it'll all be the right parts.

 

[Hobbes8017]

I have been looking at all the lighting options for the tank I am about to start setting up. My head was spinning with all the options that are out there.

There is a lighting Forum here on RC that I have done some reading it. It has been beneficial to learn from many different people and the different opinions that are out there.

I would recommend talking with Mark at TheReefStop. I was with him a few weekends ago and found it a benefit to bounce my thoughts off him. He told me about the different options I could have depending on what I wanted. JMO

 

[bjc451]

i also talked wit mark at reef stop and prices are much beter then reef geek for the exact same thing

 

[dela]

If you can build your lights, they are usually cheaper / bigger pain in the butt. I'm in the process of trying build and cram 2x250W MH + 1x90W PC on a 90G bowfront which has the same footprint as the 72g tank AND using the Oceanic canopy since it's wife friendly. I'm just waiting for the floodlights to come in so I can gut them and install the new MH lamps. If they ever get there I'll let you know how it went. Hopefully they won't melt the plastic canopy!

 

[Reggae Fish]

Thanks, I'd like to see how they turned out and what all equiptment and cost was involved. I appreciate your help!

Thanks,
Justin

 

[dela]

Well, I already had the 1x96W PC fixture. It's built like a tank, so I am using this as the structural base and mounting the MH units directly to it since I can't mount to the plastic canopy. Also, I figure one 96W PC will put out more light than one 54W T5... and that is about all I can fit.

Then, I already had one DIY MH unit I had built (This was a DIY based on a 500W quartz floodlight by Regent... Unfortunately this unit has been discontinued. Regent is owned by cooper and Lumark has since taken over this particular model, so it was very hard to track down (I spent much time at Lowes and HD looking around) but I got lucky since I know the cooper lighting rep and he mentioned Lumark had taken over some of Regent's fixtures...).

I'm sure there are other models that would work, but I have not found any that are this compact yet long enough to fit the 250W socket.

http://www.cooperlighting.com/specfiles/pdf/Lumark/ADH041085 QZ Wedge.pdf

So all I am really doing is buying one new lamp, ballast, socket, and fixture for about $200.

If I were starting from scratch, I would use 150W lamps in leu of the 250s given the tight space. Also, for you, your tank is shorter, so you don't need as much intensity to get down.

Anyway, the biggest challange will be to keep the heat from the tank since the units will be a little closer to the tank than I'd like. I'll post pics when it's finished. Hopefully in a couple of weeks.