Hows this for a lighting system?

bobothewizard

bobothewizard

Member
This was a email directly from a company that will make a custom made lighting system for my 55 gallon reef. Im really thinking of going with these guys.
Jeffrey,
I would go with the
Deluxe Metal halide Fluorescent Lighting System--$485.00
2 VHO Actinic Bulbs

[hr]
$24.25 each
2 175w Hamilton German Metal Bulbs

[hr]
--$69.96 each
1 Dual lunar socket set

[hr]
--$25.95
2 Moon Bulbs

[hr]
$3.99 each
2 Fans with guards

[hr]
---$30.00 each
Canopy

[hr]
$325.00 estimated
$1092.35 total plus crating and shipping cost determined at time of
shipping.
 
bobothewizard

bobothewizard

Member
I think this might actually be a little to much. From what i understand 2 metal halide 10k bulbs would be more than enough for this 55 gallon reef.
Thats the reason this post is here, is it extremely necessary for this big of a light setup. Im reading here on the net that people are keeping clams and such in a 55 gallon tank with just those 2 bulbs..
 
twoods71

twoods71

Active Member
i could see getting off a lot cheaper then that but hey if you got the money it sounds like a nice setup.
May be a little much for a 55 as stated above though.
 
bobothewizard

bobothewizard

Member
Couldnt we just get away with 2 MH 10k's?
I dont really think the tank is big enough to put $1k down on just the lighting. If it was maybe a 250+ gallon tank then i could see it but its just not deep enough to need that kind of lighting.
What ya think?
 
sonny

sonny

Member
That sounds really expensive. If you can make it yourself, you could save some big money. All you need is some patience, and possibly some help from somebody who knows something about electrical stuff.
2 175 watt Metal halide ballasts $120.
2 mogul sockets for MH lamps 10.
2 175 watt 10,000 k lamps 130.
1 Icecap 660 VHO ballast 175.
2 48" VHO actinic lamps 50.
2 German endcaps for VHO 20.
2 Fans from Radio Shack 30.
Total for parts 535.
I have been liberal with some estimates. I found 175 watt MH ballasts at a local electrical supply house for $46 each.
You could get a local cabinet maker to make you a canopy... you could probably get that for less than $200. I believe you can buy an oak canopy at one of the big Pet store chains for $199 for a 55 gallon. You might want to add some reflector material to the inside of that. I also doubt that your quote includes an Icecap ballast for the VHO's. For a magnetic ballast for the VHO's, you could get a ballast for maybe $75. It is worth the money for the Icecap though.
The light system you've gotten a quote on, or the one I just mentioned, could run a 75 gallon, 90 gallon, or even 120 gallon tank. Any tank less than 24" tall and 4 feet long. You could also get 6500 k lamps for around $50 each if you look. The Icecap 660 will run up to 4 4' lamps, so you could add those later too. In fact, just running 2 10,000 k MH lamps would be fine for most corals. Only SPS corals might really need the extra actinic.
You can also go with 4 VHO tubes over a 55 gallon, and you'll be surprised how good it will look (and work!).
If you are handy, you could make it yourself. Or, if you're not, you could spend the money. The only thing you won't be able to build yourself is the metal enclosure for the lights. It's fine to build that out of wood. I hope I haven't confused you with so many options.
Sonny
 
bobothewizard

bobothewizard

Member
I was also looking at replacement hoods for my tank at the LFS. I think they were running $115 each not including the bulbs, they would run 2 VHO's in each wich would give me a total of 4. Im pretty sure that would give me the light needed to run a reef. One thing im not too sure about is what are the blue lights that you see for?
 
sonny

sonny

Member
The "Moon lights" are to add some blue lights at night. You don't really have to have that... just a fancy add on.
SOnny
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
if you look online you can fine the MH bulbs for quite cheap, the 10k's i found were like 40. and my 6' VHO's only cot 28 a piece not including shipping. i spent 525 on the lighting for my 135. but i did build everything myself. but i know it got done right. you system totaled out at like 325 for the MH and an extra 120 for the VHO actinic. like 450 watts. 9 watts per gallon is ALOT of light. i read on here (somewhere) that you want between 3-6 watts per gallon (however I may be wrong)
 
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