DIY Metal Halides

casey

casey

Member
Does anyone know where on the internet I can get diy metal Halide canopy and Lights or how much they cost.
 
slick

slick

Active Member
Look around for a ballast to run the MH's. You need to figure out which wattage you want to run first. Then look for your mogule sockets to screw the MH's into. Then a reflector you can buy or make one. As for a canopy have your dad or someone help you make one out of some wood. People here will help you with design. You said your 16 so you will have to save to buy all this stuff. Even though it is a lot cheaper it can still add up.
 
casey

casey

Member
Thank you so much. You just saved me $400. My mom was flipping out. Are you sure making the canopy wont be hard and wiring all these things together wont be hard?
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
A canopy is nothing more than a box with no bottom,and a hinge on the lid..They can seem complicated,but really are quite simple...
The wiring is also simple.Most MH kits only have four wires to hook up.Two that go to the wall socket,,,and two to the bulb..
 
shadow678

shadow678

Member
I am going to do a little testing on MH ballasts...there is a horticulture company that told me they would sell me 400watt MH ballasts for $99...gonna see how they work out as soon as I can get my hands on one. If I could talk a bulb manufacturer into making me a bulb for it, the hort. company also makes 1000watt and 1500watt MH ballasts. For those of you with extremely large, deep tanks(350-1650gal) who would like to have a full-blown reef without a dozen MH bulbs hanging over your tanks, this may be a good thing. Perhaps it will turn out to be a good thing.
 
jarre

jarre

Member
I just picked up a new Dual 400W Mh DIY with reflector off ---- for $227.50 - I've found ---- to be a good source of equipment if you're patient.
 
shadow678

shadow678

Member
---- is all fine and good, if you don't mind used, possibly defective equipment, or if you don't mind piecing equipment together as it becomes available. I was merely suggesting these ballasts as a basis for a custom tank setup for someone who wants to get their equipment all at the same time, for the same price.
 
jarre

jarre

Member
Shadow it sounds like you've had a bad experience with ----. I've purchased a lot of computer equipment and hobby equipment without any defects that I wasn't told about ahead of time. Most of what I've purchased has been new and is still working well. I'd also venture to say that after spending close to $10,000 this year alone it gives me a little experience with ---- sales.
There are many resources available to all of us and since I saw a mention of ---- I thought I'd offer my experience. The guy still has a few available (175, 250, and 400's) and the ballast are PFO's.
 
slick

slick

Active Member
I too have bought things from e-bay. All you have to do is buy from someone with a good rating. If you buy from someone that has only sold a few items then your taking a big change. Please don't discrimanate against people that sell things on e-bay just cause you had a bad experiance.
 
jarre

jarre

Member
Wow - Slick. My parents were raised in Muscatine and I still have some relatives there. How long have you lived there?
 
rhomer

rhomer

Member
The guy builds out of his countertop shop. You will need to email him for prices, or you can go to the next ARC meeting he's a regular there. The guy's name is Doug McIntyre. I bought all the pieces from him for a dual 175 mh for 200 this included the reflector the fans the mogul sockets and a dual 175 watt mh ballast.
I think he will sell the hood for the same price.
 
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