Is there any way...?

[sir sqarepants]

I really want to have a coral tank but I can't spare enough money for lighting so I was wondering if you can put together your own power compact or something else like that for less money.
The best deal for a power compact hood I have found so far is $536, 90 watt, without bulbs.
75 gal

 

[sir sqarepants]

***96 watt <img src="graemlins//silly.gif" border="0" alt="[silly]" />

 

[fshhub]

96 watts, for how many tubes?? i spent 150 for our 2x55w pc's and am shopping for more lighting soo we can proceed with more inverts(75 gallon too), we will probably get mh's from home depot(someone told me i can get the suppplies much cheaper there), so i am looking into that and gonna build my own set up using the pc's and 2 or 3 mh's
i do know that if i were looking at that much money, i have found 2x175 watt mh's and 2 40 watt NO actinics(bulbs included) for about that and knwo of places with lower prices in general with most lighting fixtures

 

[sir sqarepants]

4 tubes
what do you have to buy and what do you have to do to put it together when you go to home depot <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[sir sqarepants]

this sounds preaty awsome if i can find out how to do this for much cheaper.

 

[fshhub]

ballasts and bulbs and wiring and a switch, plu either dome or hood or canopy, to direct and or shield the light
i am not quite sure of the cost, yet, i am going to check into it myself
and you cna do the same with pc's too(so i am told), but if i am gona build it i will probably go with mh's and see,b/c pc's IMO just do not quite have the blues you want in actinics, but do give off good white light for your daylights
HTH and good luck

 

[sir sqarepants]

Thanks a bunch for the help. Sounds like i will be goin to home depot.
Write me up when you figure things out and get it together.

 

[fshhub]

if no one else helps out(even if they do), i will posta new thread for you, later on, and let youknow, and if you come up with something extra, could you keep me posted too

 

[chadillac]

if you guys are looking for some pretty good light deals try @ HELLOLIGHTS.COM. We just bought a 440 watt retro kit for a little over $200 w/4URI VHO bulbs and all Good luck

 

[sir sqarepants]

Awsome site chadillac. Those are great prices compared to what I could find. <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />

 

[bbreaux1]

ahsupply.com has some nice prices too on pcs i plan on starting off with 2x55 after i build myself a canpoyfor my 55long to get some coraline growing and some good light on my tank with the fish and later on adding another 2x55 and put in some corals

 

[sir sqarepants]

I'm glad I asked first before getting screwed over by the other guy trying to sell them to me.

 

[sir sqarepants]

Could you put a pc with a vho to get a good combination of the different colors or is that not to good of an idea. <img src="graemlins//evilwhorn.gif" border="0" alt="[Evil Horn]" />

 

[fshhub]

yep, yo would have to shop around, or maybe build yourself, but yes you could

 

[sir sqarepants]

Would 4-watts per gallon be alright to pack your tank with corals or would you want more?
What it the max amount of watts you could get and what kind of light would be best to get that much with? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[thewolfman777]

i have read that 6-7 watts per gallon is recommended for a reef.