Please help metal halide lighting

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

AussieMonster

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 1, 2009
109
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Sydney, Australia
hey guys im looking at getting metal halide lighting got a quote from my lfs $1600 2x 150w 2x 54w t5ho Aqua medic unit
then went to my local electric shop.
$250 2x 250w flood lights

what would the difference be i cant understand what would you do...

can you use flood lights as aquarium MH lighting?

please explain
 
MH is MH. Go with the least expensive as long as they mount the way you need them to.
 
but what is the cause of the massive cost increase? will one rust out, produce more heat, set fire to my house, cost more to run i cant understand how one from an aquarium store cost 2 grand and a flood light cost $100? there must be something that seperates them?
 
Check to make sure that the guy at the electric store is selling you a ballast. Thats usually the reason for a price increase like that. You are also getting T5s with that lighting setup, and probably moonlights. These are nice, and pleasing to the eye, geared towards aquariums. Thats the reason. T5s are good because you can run them at 20k giving that nice blue light, and then have the halides at 6800k for maximum coral growth. Best of both worlds. Cant do that just with metal halides. Also LFS are usually not the best place to buy the machinery. Try online.
 
Knowdafish;3488562; said:
MH is MH. Go with the least expensive as long as they mount the way you need them to.
Click to expand...


Dissagree...the MH units sold in shops for commercial use cannot take the bulbs that are needed for marine life...unless you want to go with a very yellow light and have algae issues...Reason? bulbs available for these units are in the red color range, which is a color that promotes algae..

Just my opinion of course...
 
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