metel halide lighting

[arsen_36]

can you guys do me a favor and post youre 30" long metel halide lighting systems for me including price, wattage(including pc), time you run it, and what you keep under it. im praying my sister is gonnna hook me up so i want to see whats out there. thanks ***)

 

[viper_930]

Originally bought a CSL 2x65 watt PC fixture, then added my own 150 watt DE halide as a DIY project. Total cost was about $375 including bulbs.
Actinic PC: 12 hours
10k PC: 10 hours
MH: 8 hours
I keep everything from soft corals to SPS plus clams and anemones.

 

[arsen_36]

wow

! i think thats the one! any one else? was it hard to add the halide bulb? where do you keep the ballast?

 

[viper_930]

Wasn't hard at all. Just buy the seperate parts for the halide: bulb, socket, wires, and ballast.
Grab a dremel and pop a few holes in the reflector to attach the socket, solder the wires together, and stick the bulb in and that's basically it.
Honestly though, I'm not totally happy with this fixture. This is mainly because I wish I could install an individual reflector for the halide independant from the PC lights.
The ballast is kept under the tank.

 

[arsen_36]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
The ballast is kept under the tank.
does this keep the fixture cooler or does it even make a difference?

 

[viper_930]

The ballast is about 8"x8"x8" and is very heavy. There's no way to put that into the fixture.

 

[arsen_36]

WOW! thats one big ballast! i thought they were way smaller.

 

[viper_930]

Metal halide ballasts are big and that's what's under the tank. The PC ballasts are small enough to fit inside the fixture.