irishstout
Member
How much should I expect to pay for a MH lighting kit sufficient to run a 55 reef? I dont want bottom-of-the-barrel.
MH's For 55, how much$$
- Thread starter irishstout
- Start date
reefin_with_jesus
Member
Check out this site. Anyone ever purchased from here?
<a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com/retrofit.html" target="_blank">http://www.aquaticlight.com/retrofit.html</a>
<a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com/retrofit.html" target="_blank">http://www.aquaticlight.com/retrofit.html</a>
oneflysi
Member
$500....why?
<a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com" target="_blank">www.aquaticlight.com</a> has nice, quality equipment and excellent pricing. i just bought 2 175watt 5500K retrofit MH's for my 55 and paid $165 shipped. installation was easy and they definetely add ALOT of light.
but, if you want to spend $500+ its your money
good luck!
-One
<a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com" target="_blank">www.aquaticlight.com</a> has nice, quality equipment and excellent pricing. i just bought 2 175watt 5500K retrofit MH's for my 55 and paid $165 shipped. installation was easy and they definetely add ALOT of light.
but, if you want to spend $500+ its your money
good luck!
-One
richard rendos
Active Member
But like you said, $165.00 was for 5500K retro kits. You probably want to spend the extra money and get some 10000K bulbs. That will add another $200.00 to the price. Also, some people are not do-it-yourselfers, and Aquatic Lights is definitely for someone with some electrical background. You can burn your house down, or shock yourself pretty bad if you do not know how to wire properly. I think PFO retro kits are much better suited to the average joe. They are plug - and - play.
irishstout
Member
What is the average life span of the typical MH bulb, How often should they be replaced?
wamp
Active Member
golfish,
you forgot the price for the supplemental actinics.
Remember, you get what you pay for. The bulb that comes with the setup is a 4300k. That is absolutley good for nothing in your tank except algea. Even the 5500k is bad IMO. They lose spectrum as the light burns. A 5500k needs replacing more often than the higher k bulbs.
You will still need to suplement the 5500k with some actinics. Add that to the price and your starting to spend more money.
Like one fly said, it's my money. I do not want to skimp on the most important part of my reef.
p.s. the 6500k iwasaki does not last that long.. belive me I have them.. getting ready to go to a 10k
you forgot the price for the supplemental actinics.
Remember, you get what you pay for. The bulb that comes with the setup is a 4300k. That is absolutley good for nothing in your tank except algea. Even the 5500k is bad IMO. They lose spectrum as the light burns. A 5500k needs replacing more often than the higher k bulbs.
You will still need to suplement the 5500k with some actinics. Add that to the price and your starting to spend more money.
Like one fly said, it's my money. I do not want to skimp on the most important part of my reef.
p.s. the 6500k iwasaki does not last that long.. belive me I have them.. getting ready to go to a 10k
irishstout
Member
I already have 2 vho bulbs as well as a standard output bulb. Would this be sufficint for the ack up actinics, I would hope so.
wamp
Active Member
Golfish,
This argument could go on for days but I will say this, my Iwasaki (which I have always ran) 6500k did not last but around 10 months. I had one go bad and the others just started to shift their color. I noticied my corals did not do as well when around the 10 month mark. So I would change them and the corals would respond well. The ones I had looked yellow to me.
That is the reason I will be changing to the 10k. I hope I can get at least a couple more months out of them before having to chang them.
Irish,
If you already have the VHO you can use a regular halide retro and be good to go.
This argument could go on for days but I will say this, my Iwasaki (which I have always ran) 6500k did not last but around 10 months. I had one go bad and the others just started to shift their color. I noticied my corals did not do as well when around the 10 month mark. So I would change them and the corals would respond well. The ones I had looked yellow to me.
That is the reason I will be changing to the 10k. I hope I can get at least a couple more months out of them before having to chang them.
Irish,
If you already have the VHO you can use a regular halide retro and be good to go.
wamp
Active Member
I do not use the 250w. I use the 175w.
As stated earlier, this could go on for a while. Just my experience says to for me to change them every 10 months or so. Your friends may last longer but mine don't. I am not going to risk the life of my corals over 250$ worth of bulbs.
I like the 6500k with the actinics I have. I want to try the 10k to see if the corals respond better to them.
As stated earlier, this could go on for a while. Just my experience says to for me to change them every 10 months or so. Your friends may last longer but mine don't. I am not going to risk the life of my corals over 250$ worth of bulbs.
I like the 6500k with the actinics I have. I want to try the 10k to see if the corals respond better to them.
wamp
Active Member
Nope, plain white box.
I do know the diffrence between old and new bulbs however.
I have never been one to care about brands. Just that they work well for me. As far as studies on bulbs go, I don't think they are worth the paper their written on. I can pay for a good review just as the next company can. I have always liked the reports that really make it a point to say "independent review". Someone has to pay their salliries. Wonder who it could be? The advertisers? I would much rather listen to the advice of fellow hobbiest and others on this board , such as yourself, than read some "bought" review.
P.S. Thanks for the info on my bulb. At least now I know they are not.
I do know the diffrence between old and new bulbs however.
I have never been one to care about brands. Just that they work well for me. As far as studies on bulbs go, I don't think they are worth the paper their written on. I can pay for a good review just as the next company can. I have always liked the reports that really make it a point to say "independent review". Someone has to pay their salliries. Wonder who it could be? The advertisers? I would much rather listen to the advice of fellow hobbiest and others on this board , such as yourself, than read some "bought" review.
P.S. Thanks for the info on my bulb. At least now I know they are not.
oneflysi
Member
yes, you RR is correct. the aquatic lighting does have minimal electrical work involved. wiring up the ballast the the socket, the cord to the ballast, and mounting everything. yes, it requires more work than something plug and play, but the skill level needed to put it together is on a level my 10 yr old sister could do. anyway, whatever you want...save a little money and do it yourself, or spend the extra amount to have them made already. it's whatever your experience will let you do
as for the 5500K bulbs...yea, they are yellow...but so what? some people just want the "blue" look. i still think the corals will be ok with a 5500K bulb. is this not correct? as far as actinics, i already had a 96watt 50/50 PC, so i have some actinic. so mine looks ok, definetely pretty yellow, but ok for now.
and BTW, i did order 12000K bulbs with my 2 retro's from aquaticlight, but they were sold out. it was an extra $79 per kit (if i remember correctly for the 12000K's), so $160 more. still around $300 bucks, NOT $500.
to each their own, good luck with your choice
-One
as for the 5500K bulbs...yea, they are yellow...but so what? some people just want the "blue" look. i still think the corals will be ok with a 5500K bulb. is this not correct? as far as actinics, i already had a 96watt 50/50 PC, so i have some actinic. so mine looks ok, definetely pretty yellow, but ok for now.
and BTW, i did order 12000K bulbs with my 2 retro's from aquaticlight, but they were sold out. it was an extra $79 per kit (if i remember correctly for the 12000K's), so $160 more. still around $300 bucks, NOT $500.
to each their own, good luck with your choice
-One
wamp
Active Member
For the last post by me. 500$ was an estimate. I said "could be higher could be lower" did anyone else read that part?
He also said he did not want a "bottom-of-the-barrel" product. IMO that is one that has no supplemental actinics, not already wired, 2 halide ballasts instead of one to run 2 bulbs.
Maybe I intrupited the question wrong?
You can easily spend $500 on a nice halide and actinic setup. EASILY.. He did not post that he already had VHO until after the fact.
So One fly si, if you will look at the original quaestion and find me a retro fitted with reflector, NICE waterproof endcaps, One ballast to run both halides(cuts down on electricity use and minimizes space) and 2 48 VHO with ballast for 300$ let me know and I will buy it.
P.S. I mean with bulbs also!
He also said he did not want a "bottom-of-the-barrel" product. IMO that is one that has no supplemental actinics, not already wired, 2 halide ballasts instead of one to run 2 bulbs.
Maybe I intrupited the question wrong?
You can easily spend $500 on a nice halide and actinic setup. EASILY.. He did not post that he already had VHO until after the fact.
So One fly si, if you will look at the original quaestion and find me a retro fitted with reflector, NICE waterproof endcaps, One ballast to run both halides(cuts down on electricity use and minimizes space) and 2 48 VHO with ballast for 300$ let me know and I will buy it.
P.S. I mean with bulbs also!
trailer trash
Member
I kinda agree with RR
I have seen the so-called "bare-bones" lighting with just a ballast, socket and 55K bulb. Not to impressed.
I would rather spend a few $ up front and get something "nice".
Golfish has a good suggestion but I would get pendants. Not to much of a fan of halides in canopies.
My 2 cents
I have seen the so-called "bare-bones" lighting with just a ballast, socket and 55K bulb. Not to impressed.
I would rather spend a few $ up front and get something "nice".
Golfish has a good suggestion but I would get pendants. Not to much of a fan of halides in canopies.
My 2 cents
oneflysi
Member
wamp- chill out man, take your midol and relax a bit.
all i was saying is the aquatic lighting setup is nice. period. it may not be top of the fawkin line, but it doesn't have to be for the purpose its serving. its funny how people who go the cheap home depot route for their VHO's is ok, but when someone does something like that for their MH's it is ignorant.
i never said any of your info was incorrect, i was just pointing out that IMO you can get a nice retro-fitted MH kit for pretty cheap, and it do the same as any others on the market. correct? i know about 3 others who have bought the aquatic lighting halide setups and have no problems and look and do the same as your $500+ setup.
so basically, i was just telling him another way to go. he was asking for info, i gave him mine. from personal experience. if it just so happens its not the same answer you gave him i'm sorry to dissapoint you.
thanks & have a nice day
-One
all i was saying is the aquatic lighting setup is nice. period. it may not be top of the fawkin line, but it doesn't have to be for the purpose its serving. its funny how people who go the cheap home depot route for their VHO's is ok, but when someone does something like that for their MH's it is ignorant.
i never said any of your info was incorrect, i was just pointing out that IMO you can get a nice retro-fitted MH kit for pretty cheap, and it do the same as any others on the market. correct? i know about 3 others who have bought the aquatic lighting halide setups and have no problems and look and do the same as your $500+ setup.
so basically, i was just telling him another way to go. he was asking for info, i gave him mine. from personal experience. if it just so happens its not the same answer you gave him i'm sorry to dissapoint you.
thanks & have a nice day
-One
irishstout
Member
Seems I stired up a heated debate here. I appreciate all the info from everyone's posts. I was figuring on spending around 300 to 500, I just figured that is what it would take. However, this is an expensive hobby and if I can save a couple dollars and not sacrifice the quality, I'm all for it. A friend of mine says I can get away with two 175's, but the 250's wouldnt be that much more expensive, I just depends on what I want to keep in the tank.
Exactly what is an HQI ballast? And what are some of the better ballast to use. I don't figure my wife is going to let me do it all at once, so I will probably peice it together over a couple months. Any suggestions, or personal experience, with the ballasts? LET THE DEBATE BEGIN!
Exactly what is an HQI ballast? And what are some of the better ballast to use. I don't figure my wife is going to let me do it all at once, so I will probably peice it together over a couple months. Any suggestions, or personal experience, with the ballasts? LET THE DEBATE BEGIN!
oneflysi
Member
Irishstout- everyone is gonna have their own way of what they want. for what i needed, the "cheap" mh setup was perfect for me. for others, that may not be the case. didn't mean to start up an arguement, but just wanted you to know that spending $500+ is not the ONLY way to go.
as for info on ballasts. Wamp posted some good info on the post called "cheap mh look" by David S in the forum. scan down the page and you will see his comparison between electronic and magnetic ballasts. (btw, the aquaticlighting setup comes with magnetic ballasts).
good luck on your quest for a good setup...and i hope the wifey lets you go all out
-One
as for info on ballasts. Wamp posted some good info on the post called "cheap mh look" by David S in the forum. scan down the page and you will see his comparison between electronic and magnetic ballasts. (btw, the aquaticlighting setup comes with magnetic ballasts).
good luck on your quest for a good setup...and i hope the wifey lets you go all out
-One
jakob4001
Member
well like you said, if you can save some $$$ & still get what you think you want for your tank, go for it; probably that whole apples over oranges thing; to buy icecap brand VHO or an near conquorable offbrand instead...if you have the $$$ for the best, go w/ the best, if not then get what works & skip the brand name thing...far as 10 year old sister being able to put together, well kids can drive at 12 on average, but there's a reason it's not legal...but if YOU feel you can do the FIY thing w/o fear of improper wiring & causing an accident, go fo it; or maybe you know someone who can help you out that you trust is competent in such matters...
oneflysi
Member
i'm sorry, but the wiring for the ballasts is uber easy. can you follow a simple diagram of 6 wires all labeled by color? then you can do it
but i know, some people would rather not have any of the work to do...just plug and play. i just want to make it clear that anyone could wire up the ballasts.
-One
but i know, some people would rather not have any of the work to do...just plug and play. i just want to make it clear that anyone could wire up the ballasts.
-One