lighting on a budget?

[kittyhazelton]

What's the best/cheapest way to light a 125gal tank (6' X 20" X 18")
VERY open to DIY suggestions. I was kindof thinking of "building" something similar to standard light fixtures. here's my DIY Idea....

Using parts and ballasts available from Home depot...
thinking either the 300 or 150watt standard floodlight fixtures 1 for each half of the tank, and replacing the standard bulbs with higher K rating ones.
4 Compact flourescent bulbs, 2 for each end, either 65 or 96W, not sure what's available. Will pick up the 50/50 bulbs at the LFS.
Blue LED moon lights.
A total of 4 cooling fans to keep the MHs from overheating the tank/setting the hood on fire. Using the big server fan types on a thermostat.

Here's a pic of what I had in mind. Do you think this would work for basic corals? any flaws that you see? I mean, aside from name brands/warrantys/etc. is there really a huge difference between stuff that's "meant" for aquariums and what you can DIY together from the local hardware store?

 

[ar0wan]

I think I'd use T5s if I were building.
Pretty sure I have a photoshop of that exact drawing around here somewhere..

 

[kittyhazelton]

I think I'd use T5s if I were building.
Pretty sure I have a photoshop of that exact drawing around here somewhere..

I was thinking of doing T5s, but none of the local stores carry the equipment for them (LFS doesn't carry the bulbs, and the ballasts at the hardware store are ridiculously expensive compared to the PCs) And I have the patience of a 5 year old when it comes to ordering stuff online.

 

[ar0wan]

CFs it is then!

 

[BIGgourami]

sounds good in the hood


im not too handy myself otherwise i'd probably have more to say

 

[Nic]

just use T5 ho bulbs.... they will support all corals... halides are good for deeper tanks and heat...

 

[kittyhazelton]

Well, went on the shopping spree and ran the wiring last night... I was dumb enough to turn the lights on with the hood laying upside down on my coffee table... I think I got a tan! lol.
The few corals I have in the tank so far just REALLY opened up nicely, and there's some colors coming out of my lionfish that I didn't really notice before. it was about 11pm when I hooked it all up and turned the lights on, my wrasse came out of hiding/sleeping looking rather irritated cause the lights usually go out about 8:30 or so.
Now, well see how much the electric bill goes up from here.

 

[alcohologist]

pics!

 

[kittyhazelton]

pics!

I will when I get out of work tonight, maybe. I might just been mean and wait till this weekend when I pick up some more corals.
I'm really not worried about the heat these lights are gonna put out. My landlord put a limit switch on the thermostat in my apartment now (thanks to gas price going up) so I'm going to appreciate the little space heater hovering in my living room.

 

[kittyhazelton]

Oh, I did end up having to modify it slightly as well.
I ended up using 3 150watt MHs because I didn't want the bulbs sitting directly above the braces for the tank.
Used 4 65watt PCs because that's all they had available for ballasts (though I may end up replacing that within the next week or so anyway) I'm really loving the blue nightlight LEDs as well. What kind of corals do you think would be ok in the tank? Total wattage is about 660 between the MH and PCs.