Swapping out PCs for VHO in a CSL hood

[aggie05]

Here are some pics of the retro I did in my CSL moonlight PC hood. I decided to switch over to 2 24" VHO bulbs for a total of 150 watts. That is 20 more than the stock lighting, and the coloration is significantly better. Anyways, here is a shot of the hood before I did anything to it.

 

[aggie05]

Now here is a shot after removing the reflector and bulbs from the hood.

 

[aggie05]

Pulled the PC ballast out and put the VHO ballast in the same location.

 

[aggie05]

Now put the endcaps on the reflector and put the reflector back in the hood.

 

[aggie05]

Now the completed hood. The stock fan is still hooked up and while I don't have the moonlights hooked up right now, you don't even touch them so they would remain intact.

 

[smoothounds]

That.....is......awesome! I considered that But I think what I am going to do with mine is retro a 150w DE metal halide in between my pc's to give it a total of 280watts. Yours is awesome! Good job!

 

[aggie05]

I too considered that, but decided I didn't really need MH, plus I like the VHO coloration better.

 

[sagxman]

Thanks Aggie,
I also think I'm going to go with either a 70w or 150w MH instead of the VHO and keep my PC's probably changing the 10,000K to another actinic. Thanks for all your suggestions.
David

 

[redhot13]

Can u post a pic before and after with the VHO's? I would love to see the difference!

 

[aggie05]

Originally posted by SaGxMAN
Thanks Aggie,
I also think I'm going to go with either a 70w or 150w MH instead of the VHO and keep my PC's probably changing the 10,000K to another actinic. Thanks for all your suggestions.
David
If you really wanted to dish out some cash, there is room for a HQI MH bulb in there. But then you would also have to figure out how to shield it with UV glass.

 

[aggie05]

Here is a before and after shot. It is hard to show the color difference because I used auto settings on my camera, but I can tell you that the VHO is a lot pinker, although not too bad, and the greens really glow under the VHO actinic. I absolutely hated the CSL PC actinic. It was more green than blue and barely made the corals glow. The VHO was well worth it.
Before
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...24722640MIuPFV
After
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...40034364uxygcz

 

[jeepboy]

Sano installation. I have a 48" CSL light and I don't mind the PC's that much but I would like to add MH. If I added MH to this hood, wouldn't the bulbs be too close to the water since I use the CSL hood stands? Would I need a uv sheild if I use a single end MH bulb (I though only DE MH bulbs needed shielding)?

 

[redhot13]

Very nice improvement!!!

 

[sagxman]

Originally posted by Aggie05
If you really wanted to dish out some cash, there is room for a HQI MH bulb in there. But then you would also have to figure out how to shield it with UV glass.
Already found some specs from someone who did it on that other message board that I won't name here.
It really won't be much more expensive. $60-70 for the HQI bulb, they used a socket from a worklite at Home Depot, a ballast for around $70. UV glass can be purchased and cut at Michaels craft store for about $30, but my sister-in-law works for a picture company that does framing and can get me a good deal on the glass.
I'll try to post pics after I start working on it. May be a while though.

 

[aggie05]

Cool, I'm glad you found the site.

 

[aggie05]

Originally posted by Jeepboy
Sano installation. I have a 48" CSL light and I don't mind the PC's that much but I would like to add MH. If I added MH to this hood, wouldn't the bulbs be too close to the water since I use the CSL hood stands? Would I need a uv sheild if I use a single end MH bulb (I though only DE MH bulbs needed shielding)?

Any HQI MH bulb needs UV shielding. I don't think it would be too close because several people are already doing it. Heat is the only issue.

 

[meloco14]

Has anyone tried HO's in there instead of VHO or Halides? I wonder how many watts of T-5's you could fit in there...