Give me as many opinions as possible

[nolson]

Hey guys,
I have a question, Ive been trying to read as much as I can about lighting but for some reason just dont seem to understand it lol.
I dont really understand the difference between metal halide and Very High Ouput lights.. I thought maybe they were the same? But no.
I would really like to know the cheapest way to set up the lights I would need for things like anemonies, and some corals down the line..
I have an 80 gallon tank.
What would be the best cheapest lighting options for me.
I could probably handle DIY if that would be the cheapest..
Please give me as many opinions as possible.
Thanks, Nick

 

[gregvabch]

go to hello lights dot com, they've got a decent lighting section where you can compare prices/brands/options. if you want to have corals i would recommend a metal halide/vho combination, or a metal halide/power compact combination. many people, including myself, go with 10,000K metal halides in combination with either vho or pc actinic lights. HTH

 

[bdhough]

since you want an anemone metal halides are a must. any halide will work which you choose is up to you. to supplement the halide as greg suggested get some vho or pc's i would get an icecap ballast from swf.com the 660. it runs 4 bulbs and will allow you options. its pretty diy so youll have leway to where it goes and what type of light cycle you can run. but since you want to keep anemones you're going to spend 400 dollars at least on the light setup. its just not something you can skimp on if you wish to keep them alive. if you should decide to not keep anemones, and i would suggest researching them, then the icecap ballast alone will be enough for you to keep any coral except clams and sps. research the corals you want to keep one day and anemones and then decide on the lights you want.

 

[nolson]

What else do I need to purchase with the icecap 660 ballast?

 

[flipper263]

If you aren't in too much of a rush, 007 is going to post a 'lighting 101' soon. I am waiting for it because I don't understand this whole lighting thing either.
flip:jumping:

 

[dreeves]

go to hellolights.com and get one of their DIY setups...with an M58/H37 ballast for $51.00 you can run any 250 MH or MV. They have other wattage and types of ballast as well.
The main difference between the MH and flourescent (normal, HO, VHO and compact), the MH is a single point element which somewhat duplicates the Sun with the hid intensity discharge features...the flourescents do not have a filimant so they offer the linear lighting without the single point.
For corals in general and virtually all anemones...the MH is the way to go.

 

[sagxman]

I'm interrestd in MH lighting for my 20 long. I was thinking about a MH and a PC actenic combo. What watage and type of lamp should I use and what exactly would I need to purchase to achieve my goal?

 

[nolson]

Alright so my new question is.
If I get this:
400W Universal Magnetic M135 Ballast -Pulse Start Metal Halide
How many bulbs does it run? And what else do I need to do my lighting? Just the ballast and the bulb or what?
And im assuming I need a canopy to use it at all?
I guess im just asking what else id need with this and is this ballast any good?

 

[nolson]

Movin on up

 

[nolson]

I really do need help understanding this, And I would appreciate it.

 

[dreeves]

UNless the ballast specifically states it is for two bulbs, it is for only one bulb...You would probably want to get some sort of reflector, and the bulb socket (make sure it is the correct one)...You can look at one of their DIY kits and see what all you need.
For mine I got, ballast, bulb, socket, reflector, high temp wire nuts. I then went to home depot and bought a small 2place, 4 circuit metal box, took the insides out, punched a couple of the end punchouts for the wiring put the ballast in there. For a quick disconnect type of setup, I purchased a shorter orange extension cord, cut it in half, shortened it to length needed, wired the exposed wiring from one end to the ballast and the other to the socket for the bulb...then just plug the two into each other...instant disconnect.
As for the 20 gallon tank, I do not know what the depth of your tank is, but a good rule of thumb is up to 18 or so inches a 175watt, 18 to like 36 I think it is, a 250, 36 and deeper a 400. Linear feet, they recommend one bulb per 24 or so inches if I recall right. Mine is a 250 on a 45 gallon (13x36) and lights it fine. I also have one 95watt VHO Actinic and one day will get a second VHO.

 

[dreeves]

Nolson...the M series number is an ANSI designation for that particular size ballast and what it is for...the M is MH, an H is MV.
You will need to enclose the lighting in some sort of fixture, canopy or light hood, something to protect you from the bulb and the bulb from you and the water.