sonny
Member
I am working on setting up my 135 gallon reef tank, and am planning the lighting system. I have decided to go with three 400 watt metal halides with two VHO actinics. I want to be able to keep the really colorful acroporas and other sps corals.
I found a core and coil MH ballast at a local electrical supply for $66 and I have ordered a 6500K lamp to make sure it works okay before I buy the rest of the ballasts and lamps. I just thought I'd share that I had found the ballast at a local store. That's really good because shipping a MH ballast can be expensive. If you want to try this, you have to ask for a metal halide ballast, and it is really do-it-yourself. I will have to make a box to house the ballasts, and I'm thinking about putting the ballasts in the attic to help with heat problems. I have read that the 400 watt MH ballasts can get to 180 degrees! I don't think I want that much heat INSIDE the house.
Sonny
I found a core and coil MH ballast at a local electrical supply for $66 and I have ordered a 6500K lamp to make sure it works okay before I buy the rest of the ballasts and lamps. I just thought I'd share that I had found the ballast at a local store. That's really good because shipping a MH ballast can be expensive. If you want to try this, you have to ask for a metal halide ballast, and it is really do-it-yourself. I will have to make a box to house the ballasts, and I'm thinking about putting the ballasts in the attic to help with heat problems. I have read that the 400 watt MH ballasts can get to 180 degrees! I don't think I want that much heat INSIDE the house.
Sonny