Maybe an upgrade to MH...

[The Marmot]

Haven't ordered it, but I was pondering....

70W HQI Socket Pair -Deluxe $14.95

70W 10,000K HQI "Double Ended" -Ushio $79.95

70W Universal Magnetic M85 Ballast -MH HQI
Shipping: Overweight (+$5) $71.00

Subtotal for HelloLights.com: $165.90

I already have 2 X 28 Watt PC, its Actinic on half/ 10,000K on the other half right now, but could go 2 X Actinic on it. I could add the MH, but it would involve a little woodworking(which I can do).
I am in the final stages of re-building the tank right now, so it would be a good time to do this. I do plan on keeping SPS: M. Digi, and M. Cap for now(with PC only I mean...), would adding the 70 watts of MH allow for Acro in the future? Should I just go for 150 watts? Is this getting ridiculous for an 8 gallon?
So many questions running thru my head!! Help me!!!

[randt122]

$165 for a 70w retrofit epecially with a magnetic ballast seems pretty expensive. You can usually buy an electronic ballast for around 60. There is a guy name lampdr over at nr.com and I heard his price for a 70w retrofit is around 120 with an aro electronic ballast, endcap,and a 10k bulb alll wired. You might wanna send an email to him. I would personally go with a 150w system cuz I had some acros brown out using a 70w system in my 5.5. You will probably have to use a fan to keep the temp steady around 80. hth

[mokujin22]

yeah, i'd go with the 150W as well. as long as you incorperate a couple of fans, you'll be ok. i was talked into putting a 250 W instead of a 150 W over my 26 gal and am now glad that i did. right now, i'm considering adding a couple of VHO tubes (i too, have to overcome some woodworking issues with the bowed front).

tony

[phenom5]

yeah, i'd go with the 150W as well. here's (http://www.illuming.com/) where i got my MH retro (LampDr's site).

[surfnvb7]

OR you can get a 175w Single Ended retro setup, plus bulb for $140. you don't need any UV glass with these. http://www.hellolights.com/arocu17rekit.html

but, IMO any of these MH's are overkill with an 8g tank. you'd have to raise up the light so far (2feet over the tank), to where its just a waste of electricity. you may as well spend another couple bucks for a larger tank, like 15g or 20g.

[The Marmot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6459624#post6459624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by surfnvb7


but, IMO any of these MH's are overkill with an 8g tank. you'd have to raise up the light so far (2feet over the tank), to where its just a waste of electricity. you may as well spend another couple bucks for a larger tank, like 15g or 20g.

Thats what I wanted to know...I saw pics on another post of what SPS looked like with PC, and then what it looked like after 5 months of MH, and it got me going...i don't really have room to put the lights so far above the tank. If i get a larger tank, its not just the cost of the tank...its the extra rock, sand, flow, etc... that i would need that would stop me...I think I'm gonna stick with PC for now. If it doesn't work out, I'll re-visit the MH idea then.

[duec22]

yeah, stay with the PC untill you decide to get a bigger tank..You could use the money to instead buy more lords that you can frag off for me... :)

[The Marmot]

OOOOOHHHH!!! more Lords...now theres an idea!