Overdriven NO (Canadian Man!)

[Dez]

"OK - hi Des - what wattage ballast do you use? What model bulb? From the same store?"

I bought my halides used but the guy told me it was from the hydroponics store and I checked it out and sure enough it's a $100. The bulb is from the same store...you can usually get cheap bulbs for under $50. I use a ballast meant for the 400 watt bulb...just a standard hydroponics one

"What kind of "lighting place?" Photo?"

It's actually a theatre lighting place. Eli should know a place in Calgary that sells em, I saw some of those charts in his baseme"nt

"Yes I do - in a spider-type reflector. How and where does the filter attach? On or near the bulb?"

The filter is just put on a piece of glass...it's just like a celophane sheet... It works very well..I have it about an inch away from the bulb. I've never had a problem with any kind of algae...so it's giving good light, and my acropora is reviving under that light. I got a really beat up acropora and it's been over a month and it's getting a nice pink colour to it now...it was brown when I got it...

"I have 2 NO overdriven 2x and 2 actinic on an e-ballast, all 48 inches. My goal is to get the most light for the least cost in the smallest space. To fit MH into the hood will require carpentry. To go with more overdriven NO's is easy and cheap, for now. To go the full meal deal (retrofitted, overdriven, colour shifted, whatever combination I settle on) will require more cash than is available at this time."

If you go with more overdriven NO's, then the ballasts are pretty expenxive right? In the almost $40 range? If you get the halide set up...it would cost you $100 plus a bulb, so maybe $150. In terms of carpentry, You need to raise the hood right? Well...talk to Eli, he runs his bulb like an inch above the water with no shield and he's never had a problem. I was surprised. Are you seriously wanting to get rid of your 250W halide system?

"So I budget and wait."

Yes Budgeting is a good thing...Be creative [img]smile.gif[/img]

"I'd be happy to greet you if you're in my end of town this weekend. Maybe save the frags for Eli, I have an offer for all the xenia I can handle from delphinus here. (Unless of course yours is white Fiji pom-pom; that's cool stuff.) Or Rob's green brain - how much do you thin he'd take for it?"

My xenia is the pom-pom type....he he. I don't know what Rob would want for the green brain. He's a really nice guy and very generous. We've helped each other out and last night I actually built him a hood with PC lighting... What end of town are you in? I'd love to meet you, but I don't know if there is time...like I said, family is always first. Consider the halide option. My hood is 6 inches tall I think only. I saw a picture of your box. I started with 6 NO bulbs and now they're just sitting in my basement because I switched to halides less than a month into the hobby. NO bulbs add up and they aren't that cheap.. Thanks Alan...

des