Home Depot Lights
- Thread starter bheron
- Start date
fishman830
Active Member
i beg to differ!
i'm currently using a metal halide garage unit. 175 watt.. i think a 10k bulb, so far i have a leather and some zoo's under it.. no problems
i'm currently using a metal halide garage unit. 175 watt.. i think a 10k bulb, so far i have a leather and some zoo's under it.. no problems
fishman830
Active Member
it raises the tank temp 1 degree.. the room my tank is in stays constant.. i havn't had a problem
and nice avatar kip
and nice avatar kip
maverick005
Member
so by what your saying kip, i could use the HD ballast with an aquarium bulb in theory? but i would have a heat and ballast placement problem potentially? just making sure im taking all this the correct way.
thanks for the help
-brandon
thanks for the help
-brandon
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by bheron
maybe a dumb question. why can't we use some of the great high wattage halogen or MH lighting in home depot for our reef tanks? for exmaple, i'll see a 500W MH light for like $60? whereas this would cost hundereds for an 500W aquarium light.
am i making any sense??
halegen is cheaper but when i checked a 150w haligen has less lumens that a single 40w 4' NO. Seems that was an equiplvant incand. wattage. So there could be a very good reason the home depot is cheaper. be sure to check how they rate the fixtures and how much lightis put ot as well as the specrum
fishman830
Active Member
Originally posted by Kip4130
is it one of those all in one units... where the ballast is enclosed in the fixture with the bulb
are you using this 175w on a 125g?
yes, you are corrdct on both, and when my tank goes inwall i'll be adding 425 w. for a total of 600
enomadra
Member
From experence I would have to say I agree with Kip4130. I have tried using cheap stuff and I got cheap results (poor extention not as bright and brilliant color). When I switched to the correct lighting I saw major imporvements, my corals got bigger and brighter and just looked heathy. For the amount that I saved on the cheaper lighting It was no were near worth it.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
bheron
Member
I had a feeling it would be a simple one or two answers why not. but, it actuallysounds like there's some debate.
to clear up what I meant, I'll see if I can get some photos of what I'm talking about.
i'm very sure these cant' be used b/c it sounds too good to be true. But either way I'll see if I can clear it up.
to clear up what I meant, I'll see if I can get some photos of what I'm talking about.
i'm very sure these cant' be used b/c it sounds too good to be true. But either way I'll see if I can clear it up.
fishman830
Active Member
Originally posted by Kip4130
so you were able to get a 10k bulb for it... any problems with it firing? any problems with it flickering? any noise/hum problems?
when you upgrade tank/lights... will you use these all-in-one fixtures for all of your lighting?
i think once you accumulate a couple of these you may see temperature problems... i guess it hasnt gotten warm in Jersey yet
how much are you paying for these homedepot fixtures... arent they like 200 bucks
looks like you could come out a little cheaper buying everything bare bones.. then you'd be sure to get a quality ballast and be able to locate the ballast a good distance from your tank
just a thought.
Not sure if it's a 10k.. i'm pretty sure it is.
no problems firing it up.. there is a hum, but it's fairly quiet.
When i upgrade, i'll strip them of t heir metal cases and mount them together.. the 175 in teh middle and 100's on the sides. i got mine all on ----.. cost about 30 bucks a pop w/ ballast bulb.. everything
and it just got warm today ... 'bout time!
fishman830
Active Member
as i said, i;m nto sure if it's 10k, but i'll check jsut for you kip
fishman830
Active Member
WOW! i am so so sorry bt there was a mis-label, it's a 100w.. but i have no clue what the K rating is
gjohnnyp
Member
bheron, i asked the same question the other day. there is a guy that replied and said he bought his unit at hd and bought the 10000 k bulb from hamilton and coravue. says its fine. Im gonna do the same. Except im going with the 300 w unit from lowes for like $20 then ill buy the bulbs online.
