Lighting (MH who is the cheapest)

[Josh_22]

Im looking to buy 2 or 3 250 watt MHs (retro Kit)for a 6 foot long 180 gallon tank. I was woundering if any of you know of a cheap place to purchase lighting or better yet a DIY plan that would cost less and still be efficent.

Also because of the lenght I know that I should have 3 MH lights but would it be possible to use 2 and still keep stoney corals(these would be placed directly under the lights and keep soft corals on the outside. Just a thought
JOSH

[Josh_22]

The tank is 6 feet long
Yeah I thought about that.
It does not have to be pretty because its all hidden.
Does it still put out the same wattage and is it effective.
Did you just buy bulbs a aquarium store after.
Do you have any pictures.
JOSH

[Dez]

I've got a 400 watt metal halide in the right side of my tank from a hydroponics store...I'm very happy with it..

Look in the pictures section.. "My first Saltwater tank"

If you can open it...there's a picture of it. It's not even an aquarium store bulb..

des

[Delphinus]

Josh, do you have one center brace or two over that 6' tank? I ask because I've seen 6' tanks with 2 bulbs, and unfortunately, the optimum position of the bulbs for the spread ends up being right over top of the braces, which results in two dramatic shadows cast into the tank. Just some food for thought... if I had two braces I'd give going to 3 bulbs some serious thought. If you only have one center brace in the middle then it's a non-issue, you're OK.

[Son Of Skyline]

Originally posted by Josh_22:
The tank is 6 feet long
Yeah I thought about that.
It does not have to be pretty because its all hidden.
Does it still put out the same wattage and is it effective.
Did you just buy bulbs a aquarium store after.
Do you have any pictures.
JOSH

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think it's the exact same type of ballast that you'd get from an aquarium store. The wattage ratings are the same. Mine's 175w, and I use a Coralife 10k bulb. I'm sure the ballast is fine, but I think the bulb isn't that great. You can make it look good if you properly mount the components behind your tank or something.

[stephane]

send me an email I have very sheap bulb and ballast + ton of good link to DIY

zapdesign@sympatico.ca

[ 19 April 2002, 23:27: Message edited by: stephane ]

[Son Of Skyline]

How long is the tank? If you really want to go cheap, I went to my local hydroponics store and got them to rig up my MH complete setup with hanging reflector for about $100 not including the bulb. It's not pretty, but it does the job well.

[Josh_22]

Just another thought.
How about Hydroponic lighting without the bulb of cource.
Would this work.
Do you know if this is cheaper then aquarium lighting.

[CHEAPREEF]

Nope, tried that. The price on a 400watt sunmaster cool deluxe (6500k) from a hydroponics shop was $135. Where i can get a 400watt Iwasaki for $112. The ballast is the same though, $60.

Clinton

[Jack]

J&L Aquatics has 400 watt Iwasaki bulbs for $109.00