DIY $100 250k MH's - Aquarium Advice

revhtree · 03-05-2005, 02:43 PM

I don't know about this but I found this link and thought it would be cool to share. They have a successful reef so................

http://www.mojosreef.com/HalideLighting.html

electrikat · 03-05-2005, 05:23 PM

I noticed that this was written 4 years ago. Do you think the prices/part numbers/vendor are still the same?

youronlysin · 03-05-2005, 06:30 PM

Premium Aquatics still has the same [acronym:d89a16c166="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:d89a16c166] bulb for the same price. Im sure you can get the ballast for a similar price as well, but I wouldnt recommend Graybar Electric unless your an electrician. Graybar is not a retailer, meaning they dont sell to the public. Grainger has the ballast recommended in the article, but its $95 now, through them. I dont recall ever seeing sheet aluminum at my local Home Depot, but maybe you can get that somewhere else. Seems to me the ballast is going to be your biggest expense. Thats the only thing you might be able to get cheaper some place else. Who knows. Noone ever said the hobby was cheap, right?

loganj · 03-05-2005, 06:41 PM

Hmm...before I'd spend $95 on a core/coil ballast, I'd come up with a little more and go electronic. [acronym:be32d90b38="Just My Humble Opinion"]JMHO[/acronym:be32d90b38].

revhtree · 03-06-2005, 06:46 PM

I may give it a try and see what happens. I have some friends and family that can get me anything electrical I want at a low price.....I'll let you know!

alarmguy66 · 03-06-2005, 10:17 PM

I already had some extra 175 bulbs and sockets. I got a ton of wiring left over from building the house. I went ahead and ordered a 175 ballast online for 60$ shipped. Figure the 175 might like having 3 - 175's instead of 2. For 60 bucks, how can I lose? Ill let you know how it works out.

alarmguy66 · 03-06-2005, 10:20 PM

By the way, I am planning on using an old florescent hanging fixture (cut down to size) for the reflector. If all this works out Ill be adding a 175 [acronym:62bdf34295="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:62bdf34295] for $60, not too shabby.

revhtree · 03-07-2005, 12:50 AM

What would be the problem with runninbg this ballast?

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=171

alarmguy66 · 03-08-2005, 06:13 PM

Correction. Just won the ebay auction for $31.50. Hee Hee. Didnt think it would come so cheap.

alarmguy66 · 03-08-2005, 06:14 PM

Those look like good choices to me. Cant see any problems with them at all.

03-05-2005, 02:43 PM	#1
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	DIY $100 250k MH's I don't know about this but I found this link and thought it would be cool to share. They have a successful reef so................ http://www.mojosreef.com/HalideLighting.html __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

03-05-2005, 05:23 PM	#2
electrikat Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: texas Posts: 1,474	I noticed that this was written 4 years ago. Do you think the prices/part numbers/vendor are still the same? __________________ Good luck! Kat 90 malawia cichlid 55 planted tropical community http://www.aquarank.com/in.php?id=fishfree

03-05-2005, 06:30 PM	#3
youronlysin Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toano, Virginia! Posts: 649 Images: 10	Premium Aquatics still has the same [acronym:d89a16c166="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:d89a16c166] bulb for the same price. Im sure you can get the ballast for a similar price as well, but I wouldnt recommend Graybar Electric unless your an electrician. Graybar is not a retailer, meaning they dont sell to the public. Grainger has the ballast recommended in the article, but its $95 now, through them. I dont recall ever seeing sheet aluminum at my local Home Depot, but maybe you can get that somewhere else. Seems to me the ballast is going to be your biggest expense. Thats the only thing you might be able to get cheaper some place else. Who knows. Noone ever said the hobby was cheap, right? __________________ I almost dated a psychic..... She left me before we met.

03-05-2005, 06:41 PM	#4
loganj Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chatsworth, GA Posts: 4,008	Hmm...before I'd spend $95 on a core/coil ballast, I'd come up with a little more and go electronic. [acronym:be32d90b38="Just My Humble Opinion"]JMHO[/acronym:be32d90b38]. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Logan J www.captiveraisedcorals.com

03-06-2005, 06:46 PM	#5
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	I may give it a try and see what happens. I have some friends and family that can get me anything electrical I want at a low price.....I'll let you know! __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

03-06-2005, 10:17 PM	#6
alarmguy66 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hood, Virginia Posts: 196	I already had some extra 175 bulbs and sockets. I got a ton of wiring left over from building the house. I went ahead and ordered a 175 ballast online for 60$ shipped. Figure the 175 might like having 3 - 175's instead of 2. For 60 bucks, how can I lose? Ill let you know how it works out.

03-06-2005, 10:20 PM	#7
alarmguy66 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hood, Virginia Posts: 196	By the way, I am planning on using an old florescent hanging fixture (cut down to size) for the reflector. If all this works out Ill be adding a 175 [acronym:62bdf34295="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:62bdf34295] for $60, not too shabby.

03-07-2005, 12:50 AM	#8
revhtree Aquarium Advice Addict Community Admin Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rossville. Ga Posts: 4,047 Images: 1	What would be the problem with runninbg this ballast? http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=171 __________________ Remember to Keep Christ First! 120G - Deltec AP601 Skimmer - Reefkeeper2 - Geo 618 - (2)Tunze 6100 - Tunze 6212 Wave Box - (2) 250w MH's w/VHO

03-08-2005, 06:13 PM	#9
alarmguy66 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hood, Virginia Posts: 196	Correction. Just won the ebay auction for $31.50. Hee Hee. Didnt think it would come so cheap.

03-08-2005, 06:14 PM	#10
alarmguy66 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hood, Virginia Posts: 196	Those look like good choices to me. Cant see any problems with them at all.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Switching MH's	acid_burn	Saltwater & Reef - Getting Started	3	12-13-2004 01:26 AM
New MH's on the way	bizzybeas	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	1	07-17-2004 06:45 AM
DIY 100 gal stand project	peterp	DIY Projects	8	10-24-2003 01:15 AM
Suggestions on the best brand of MH's	Reefaddict	Saltwater & Reef - Archive	3	09-01-2003 08:16 AM