About to buy MH.... please look over this.

[syano]

I found a seller on the internet offering:
2 x 250 watt 13,00k Metal Halide (magnetic ballast), and 4x55 watts PC actinic, retro fit kit, with reflector for $400 bulbs included does this sound like a good deal?
This is a new system that will be custom made for a 48" long canopy...
I talked with this guy on the phone and I beleive he said the manufacture of the Metal Halide ballast is "Advance" and the manufacture of the PCs is "Workhorse"
Any other questions I should ask him before I purchase this?
I have a chaoice between 2x96 watt PC actinic or 4x55 watt PC actinic...I choose the 4x55 watt PC.... is that a good choice?
Also I have the choice for the metal halides to be 10,000k, 13,000k, and 20,000k... I choose 13,000k.. does that sound good?
I also have the option of doing HQI ballast but the cost jumps up 300 dollars...
I also have the choice of interchanging the magnetic ballast for electronic ballast but the cost is $300 more... The seller mentioned that the electronic ballast will save around 25% on electricity cost but the dependibility of the magnetic ballast is much greater.... He mentioned he recently did a $70,000 installation for a local reef store and they opted for the magnetic ballast becasue they wanted the greater dependibility.
Wanted to consult you guys 1st on this.. thanks....
Thanks,

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by Syano
I found a seller on the internet offering:
2 x 250 watt 13,00k Metal Halide (magnetic ballast), and 4x55 watts PC actinic, retro fit kit, with reflector for $400 bulbs included does this sound like a good deal?
This is a new system that will be custom made for a 48" long canopy...
I talked with this guy on the phone and I beleive he said the manufacture of the Metal Halide ballast is "Advance" and the manufacture of the PCs is "Workhorse"
Any other questions I should ask him before I purchase this?
I have a chaoice between 2x96 watt PC actinic or 4x55 watt PC actinic...I choose the 4x55 watt PC.... is that a good choice?
Also I have the choice for the metal halides to be 10,000k, 13,000k, and 20,000k... I choose 13,000k.. does that sound good?
I also have the option of doing HQI ballast but the cost jumps up 300 dollars...
I also have the choice of interchanging the magnetic ballast for electronic ballast but the cost is $300 more... The seller mentioned that the electronic ballast will save around 25% on electricity cost but the dependibility of the magnetic ballast is much greater.... He mentioned he recently did a $70,000 installation for a local reef store and they opted for the magnetic ballast becasue they wanted the greater dependibility.
Wanted to consult you guys 1st on this.. thanks....
Thanks,
Many a question, I will go at a few if 400 bucks includes the canopy thats a pretty good deal. Just make sure he puts a few fans in there also.
the temp of the bulb is up to you and your goals. I personally like the 10k, nice white in color, the actinics add a touch of blue in my setup, I would guess the pc would do the same for you.
magnetic ballasts are what I run but not because of reliablity reason, just shear cost. They are considerably less, electronic are much more and use 10% less power not 25%. I really couldnt justify the cost difference. The one perk of an electronic ballast is that it will fire any mh bulb, magnetic ballasts wont. First time I have heard anyony say electronic ballasts are less reliable.
I would probably go with the 4x55 just because its a bit more light, more is better
If your putting this on acrylic tank id ask how tall he is making it, you need some extra space if its an acrylic tank to keep it a bit cooler, or if your tank is prone to heating up.
I might of missed it but did u say how big your tank is?

 

[woolfolkd]

I have same question. How big is your tank? Because if its a 55 (48" hood) that seems like a lot of light. 2x250 and 4x55? I may have misunderstood. But thats over 13 watts a gallon that seems like alot. What do you think msd2? And by the way if it is both MH and PC I think thats a smokin deal for 400 bucks. I think I spent more than that on my 430 watt Icecap VHO retro kit and I built the hood myself.

 

[sammiefish]

sounds like a pretty good deal... I got a similar project from diyreef. I think I would go with the 4x55W... that way you could stagger your bulb replacement schedule and shock the system less.
As far as the magnetic ballast... just be sure that the bulbs you WILL EVENTUALLY want to run will run on that ballast....

 

[golfish]

I'd go 10K on the MH's and actinics on all the PC's...if you do is this way it would probably be better to go with 96 watters..
How bigs the tank?