Potential lighting system. Is there an equal setup that is cheaper?

K

kpatrick

Guest
I am looking at the following HQI MH setup for my 125g tank. Its a little pricey but what isnt pricey in this hobby when done right

Here is what I am looking at:
(3) Sunlight Supply Galaxy 250W Electronic Ballast - $153 each
(3) Sunlight Supply Lumen Max 3 250W DE HQI Reflector - $150 each
(3) 14000K Metal Halide Bulb - Phoenix, Double-Ended - $70 each
All together it is roughly $1100. Before I buy it, I am wanting to know if there is a setup that is equally good but with a lower price tag. I would hate to find out after I spent the money!
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
There are cheaper systems with similar specs, but not that will perform as good.
If I'm not mistaken, those Lumen Max reflectors are Lumenarc knockoffs, and those babies will perform better than any off the shelf system out there.
 
rs1831

rs1831

Active Member
look around..one place in particular will give a price discount when you purchase that much. Google reef geek. Talk to Greg when you contact them. I paid around 600 for 2 of the same ballast, reflectors, and bulbs that you are interested in. That includes shipping. Good luck and I hope this helps.
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
well you can save a couple hundred using coralvue ballast with lumanbright 3 or lumanbright 3 mini's which work a little better than older designed lumanarc 3's and you can save $100-150 using the galaxy ballast and lumenmax elite shopping somewhere different than where you got those prices. I'll pm-ing you a few links. I've had good luck with sunlight supply in the past and the only coralvue product I have is skimmer but you cant go wrong either way.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I sent a PM on the phoenix 14k 250w bulbs.... but can just as well post it here. I got a 3-pack of the bulbs from bulbstock (google it) and total was 165... or 55 bucks a bulb and was VERY happy with them.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Agree on the reflectors being very good indeed, ballasts are fine, the only thing is you don't need to run (3) MH's on that size tank....Overkill.....
 
K

kpatrick

Guest
On my last tank I found that (2) pendants didnt spread the light out over the entire 6ft tank so I went with three. I know the Lumen Max reflectors are good reflectors but are they good enough that 2 of them will cover the entire 6ft length of the tank?
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
http:///forum/post/3020212
who is that? Mogul based phoenix bulbs have been out for months. rather expensive compared to the double ended bulbs.
the site mentioned above doesnt have them. sorry should have said that
 
K

kpatrick

Guest
Any other opinions on whether (2) Lumen Max pendants can cover the 6ft length of a 125g?
 
stanlalee

stanlalee

Active Member
Originally Posted by kpatrick
http:///forum/post/3021873
Any other opinions on whether (2) Lumen Max pendants can cover the 6ft length of a 125g?
1. go with reef optics batwing reflectors and use 3 halides. intensity will be just fine. I had these reflectors, 175w AB bulbs and sps grew like weeds.
2. go with two halides and lumenmax raised for 3ft coverage each. you really arent benefiting from superior intensity since you have to raise them higher but you'll end up with simular results as above. the reflectors cost 3x as much the initial cost is about the same
3. you can use 3 halides and lumenmax and get superior coverage AND intensity with the additional initial expense to go along with it.
on that note I used just two reef optic batwings over 6ft and there was no visable dark area. I could see where the beams crossed and it was in the center near the top half of the tank. probobably lacked some intensity in the middle but not visually. I had no center brace blocking light. if you have braces that make three sections you should really use 3.
 
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