10g Frag tank light????

[sambo123]

Im setting up a 10g Frag tank for zoos, softies, and some lps. What would the cheapest, best light I could get be? I would like to get MH, and not a retrokit, and use a antic spectrum bulb. Whats the best fixture, bulb, wattage for the money in MH lighting?

Also is anyone interested in trading a 14/20k 150wt HQI bulb(new) for my 150wt 10K bulb (1wk old) the bulb that comes with the aquamedic ocean light, I will pay the difference$$$!

[FatmanII]

If you dont want a retro this looks pretty good.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113352

I have a 10g with a 75 watt and its plenty, 150W imo would cook everything.

[sambo123]

I heard somewhere that the bulb and ballast for that isnt very good, do u have it? like it? a 150wt wouldnt be to bad if it was raised 16'' above the tank would it? I really want a Aquamedic oceanlight 150wt, but I cant find one with a 20K bulb. Anyone have a used one?

[nanoDude]

I have had a 150W MH with two 18W actinics over my 10 for over two years now. Everything loves it and grows like crazy. I keep a few SPS, LSP, mushrooms, and a bunch of zoanthids. Many people will say it is too much light but I have to disagree. I have the MH bulb about six inches from the water surface with a 90mm fan blowing through my hood and have never had temp problems.

[FatmanII]

Originally posted by sambo123
I heard somewhere that the bulb and ballast for that isnt very good, do u have it? like it? a 150wt wouldnt be to bad if it was raised 16'' above the tank would it? I really want a Aquamedic oceanlight 150wt, but I cant find one with a 20K bulb. Anyone have a used one?

No I have a retrofit with ballasts from hellolights.com and used a homedepot casing (20$ ) with a 75W bulb that was 50$ total cost was like 140$

[tekknoschtev]

In all seriousness, if you're looking for an inexpensive way to light your 10 gallon tank, especially with the corals you have listed, a Lights of America 65W Flourescent Flood Light (from pretty much any home improvement store) would do the trick. Heck, over a 10 gallon tank you could probably do some more light hungry corals, and last I knew it was only $40ish with the bulb. Bulb replacements are $15-20. They also have a 100W version thats a little more expensive but not by much.

Over a 10 gallon prop tank, I'd think that halides would be overkill. Thats my opinion though.

[sambo123]

FatmanII dop you have the link to that retro?, what does the casing look like?, any pics?

I want the tank to look decent, so I can take pics of corals, so thats why I would want a MH, they make everything look nice
MH also usually hang over the tank, so its easy to access the tank

Would a 70wt halide work better, any nice ones? I wouldnt mind a retro as long as u could put a casing around it easily.

thanks

anyone interested in trading a 10K halide for a 14K?

[FatmanII]

Yea, this is actually a pretty clean retro imo, as long as you can hide the ballast.

This is an idea how the housing from Home Depot looks like, notice it uses the standard double ended bulb which plops right in.
http://www.nextag.com/Bayco-500Watt-...07/prices-html

I'll try to find you more info.
Also a BIG + is that it has a built in UV Glass Filter

Originally posted by sambo123
FatmanII dop you have the link to that retro?, what does the casing look like?, any pics?

I want the tank to look decent, so I can take pics of corals, so thats why I would want a MH, they make everything look nice
MH also usually hang over the tank, so its easy to access the tank

Would a 70wt halide work better, any nice ones? I wouldnt mind a retro as long as u could put a casing around it easily.

thanks

anyone interested in trading a 10K halide for a 14K?

[FatmanII]

Here is the original poster, that I got the idea from.

http://www.captivereefing.com/showthread.php?t=1719

[sambo123]

Great thread, how do you like the light? Could you do that with a 150wt bulb and ballast? Were did you get the ballast and waterproof bow for it in the link? what are the dimensions? easy to hang?

thanks

[sambo123]

other than the above questions, would this work?

http://www.hechinger.com/web/catalog...8BB411B4058D51

does it have a UV filtering lens?

[FatmanII]

Originally posted by sambo123
Great thread, how do you like the light? Could you do that with a 150wt bulb and ballast? Were did you get the ballast and waterproof bow for it in the link? what are the dimensions? easy to hang?

thanks

The 150W is an inch longer. I like it just fine. The guy in that thread bought a more expensive ballast that came with an enclosure, I got mine from hellolights.com . If you had it in your hand in TINY print you'll read "UV Filter" in like white letters.

Let me know how it goes if you decide to do it.

[sambo123]

Ok would this ballast work ok for that?

http://www.illuming.com/catalog/prod...ca66a4bea4d9d4

I not a very good electrician, so how do you know how to wire it?
Other than the bulb, ballast listed, worklight, what else do you need to do this, any connectors, wires, ect.?

sorry for all the questions, I looking to set this up in the next few weeks.

[FatmanII]

Originally posted by sambo123
Ok would this ballast work ok for that?

http://www.illuming.com/catalog/prod...ca66a4bea4d9d4

I not a very good electrician, so how do you know how to wire it?
Other than the bulb, ballast listed, worklight, what else do you need to do this, any connectors, wires, ect.?

sorry for all the questions, I looking to set this up in the next few weeks.

Im honestly not sure, Im not to good with electrician stuff, so thats why I asked everything on that forum. Their the ones that directed me to hellolights.com too for the ballast. My friend wired it up for me =/

[sambo123]

Do you have the link to the ballast at hello lights?
Does the forum say how to wire it, cant seem to find it?
Does anyone know how to wire a ballast to a HQI DE socket?
How did you cover the ballast?

[FatmanII]

Originally posted by sambo123
Do you have the link to the ballast at hello lights?
Does the forum say how to wire it, cant seem to find it?
Does anyone know how to wire a ballast to a HQI DE socket?
How did you cover the ballast?

Here are the ballast I used.

http://www.hellolights.com/70wunmam85ba.html

THe lights I think come with a diagram if not I'd have to wait till monday to ask my friends boss.

I just made a small metal box for the balllast.

[sambo123]

Great I just ordered a Nais 70wt ballast and should be getting it along with my light in the next few weeks. I checked the website for the ballast and it shows you how to wire it, but if I have any problems Ill ask u. also do u need to rap the wire or anything that connect the ballst to the fixture? What would u use to do this? Now I just have to get a cover for the ballast and Ill be complete. oh, and I also got a Ushio 20K bulb for it.

[nUgZ]

I use the Coralife Aqualight fixture on my 10 gallon prop tank. It's got the 150w halide, 130w PC actinic and 2 lunar lights. Great fixture....so no 150w isn't too much light. Here's a link to the thread.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=987802