[Dez]

Alan...

If you want to go with halides... (I heard my name mentioned [img]smile.gif[/img] )...then a really cheap way to go is to go to the hydroponics store and buy a complete metal halide balast system (it's only $100 here in Edmonton) and use a cheap bulb. The filter I'm using is from a lighting place and they have charts to help you select what colour you want. For example, on one of the charts it says this filter will let 70% of the light through boosting a 3500K colour bulb to a 6500K bulb. If you're starting with a 4000K bulb, then your laughing. Your intensity of light goes down (only 70% of 400w), but it's cheap, and the balasts are made for those bulbs....I can't even hear any hum to the balast and it comes with the box and everything. Don't you have a 250W Metal halide already? The filters are meant to take high heat with 1000watt bulbs. I tested it on the stove, and I simply have to change the filters every 2- 3 months. But the filter costs $7 enough for 4 changes.... Are you going to be going with overdriven bulbs? On my system I've combind a whole bunch of diffent lighting, I've got the halides, I've got 4 NO bulbs 3 actinic and one daylight, and I also have a tiny PC 7200k that I found. I'm thinking of adding one of those screw in PC lights...they give off a whole bunch of light and act sort of like a point source light, giving a shimmering effect. Anyway, let me know what you decide...I always like knowing about other's systems. And I am coming on mothers day, I can bring you a frag of the pulsing stuff...One other thing is get Bob's PC light fixture and take that apart and retro fit it into your hood. That's a very easy way to fit 110w more lighting under the hood. Your tank's 4 feet right?

desmond

[ 08 May 2002, 09:00: Message edited by: Dez ]