Upgrading my lighting...advice please

[museumgirl]

Our current lighting is pitiful...let's not go there, but we're trying to upgrade, and I wanted some opinions and answers to a couple of questions.
1. What do you think of retrofit kits (PFO) & how exactly do they work?
2. Does anybody have Hamilton brand lighting and how do you like it?
3. Any general words of advice.
P.S. The tank is at a kids science museum so needless to say the budget is limited- we're trying for some grants.
Thanks!!!!

 

[zenway9]

Johnson City!!!
ETSU Alumni here, Go Bucs!
Sorry I didn't have an answer for you, but I had to post.

 

[murph145]

retrofit kits are good!
easy to install into the top of your canopy
i have 400W of pc over my 100 gallon
4x65W day/actinics current usa lights for $220 then 2 55W jalli day/actinics and one 28W hellios T5 daylight bulb
they all fit good and looks really good when the lights are on
if you got the 4x65W that would be good for some polpys and soft corals over your 75 gallon and not be too expensive

 

[buzzword]

Museumgirl, I got the PFO retro fit 250w x2 Metal Halide kits. I am a DIY dummy but I had no problem installing them in my canopy. I have them surrounded by 4x65w Current PC's with dual daylight and dual actinics. Installed them all myself and love the lighting I get. Metal Halides do get hot and warm your tank, so I have 2 4" Ice Cap fans in the canopy to distribute the heat. HTH

 

[museumgirl]

First of all... it's a small world after all... That is so funny. I actually just moved here about a year ago, but everybody and their brother from JC goes to ETSU! I work at the Hands On! Museum.
Thanks everybody for the advice, I'll definetly atleast look into the retrofit kits. They might be a great alternative for our budget.
Any other opinions out there?

 

[jobob]

[hr]
is a good place to get lights, i got a 2x175w mh retro for like $200 with bulbs. i had the power compact for actinics. but it was only $100 so it wasnt that bad.