Need Help with Lighting

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RyanMcLaughlin;1317751; said:
Could I make my own for less money like just buying fixtures at home depot? And what is a metal halide light? Whats so powerful about it?
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You can buy retrofit kits for metal halide lighting system online..

http://www.quickpets.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=602

Metal halide is a type of light, like T5 or power compact..Its deemed as probably the most intense lighting system that we use for marine aqauaria and one of the beautys with metal halide is that if you start off with a good fixture, you only limit on stocking coral is the size of the tank.

Niko
 
With MH, you may need a chiller. I am very happy with my T5 lights. I have 6 bulbs in a DIY canopy & I keep Clams, anemone & SPS. No chiller--just a fan in the canopy & over the sump. You cannot buy the parts for T5 from Home Depot though. Why not start with PCs ( really inexpensive thru Ebay) & keep corals that do well under them. Then save up for something you can afford later. That way you can slowly develop your coral keeping knowlage. As you get into more delicate corals like clams & SPS, you will have to learn about testing & dosing things like calcium, alkilinity, magnesium, etc. Not so, with the easier corals, like leathers, zoanthids, etc.

There are very few short-cuts in this hobby. Face it, it's expensive! Do it right or you'll be sorry...
 
I agree. Well I will look into power compacts for now since I have no way of getting that kind of lighting right now. I will just take it slow like you said and hope for the best. I am trying to get in good experience so when I turn seventeen a lfs will hire me.
 
Sure but those are the prices for just the bulbs. You need the reflectors & ballasts too.

Here's what you're looking for: Retrofit Kit
 
Ok well for now I think I will just get flourescent lights at Home Depot so that my fish will look good and colorful w/o having to spend hundreds. Can I install Actnic bulbs in basic flourescent fixtures? Also how does having MH and HO T-5 effect your electricity bill if I have enough for a 100 gallon tank. I am only 15 so it cant be too much since I am not paying for it.
 
When I brought the huge ballasts that came along with the 2 MH I bought, my hubby marched me right out the door to return them! Our electric bill is high enough.

You might want to look into finding a local reef club at Reef Central. Lots of folks are upgrading/tearing down their tanks & selling off equipment for cheap. There is also a Used Equipment forum but check the feedback there for those folks. Try Ebay & Craig's list too, for used lighting.
 
Ebay is the way to go for cheap stuff. While i know there not as good you can buy cheap shopfitting 150W metal halides with cheapo ballasts for $40 quite often on there. Buy yaself some $10-$20 10-20k globes depending on the look ya want and there you go lighting complete. I realise they arent as good as high end Aquarium ones but for the money you wont find anything more powerfull.
Otherwise as was said ya better of sticking with t5s or pc and limiting what corals you wanna try putting in there.
 
IMO MH is overkill for most corals.
 
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