DIY lighting VS new light hood

[fishin]

I am wondering if I [acronym:a04b83c02a="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:a04b83c02a] my lighting using a couple different options. 1st using the Light of America outdoor lights 65w and something else for 2 actinic bulbs. 2nd to get a ballist and set up some kind of [acronym:a04b83c02a="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:a04b83c02a] retrofit or using the bulbs the 65w bulbs that come with the LOA light as a retrofit. 3rd is to get a JEBO odyessa light kit which comes with 4x65w [acronym:a04b83c02a="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:a04b83c02a] bulbs 2x12K daylight, bulbs 2xactinic [acronym:a04b83c02a="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:a04b83c02a]'s, 2 moon lights, 2 fans, and legs. What would be the best route to go with?

The aquarium thing is kinda new to me any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Chancy

[greenmaji]

[acronym:6baa0de113="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:6baa0de113] electronic ballasts..
http://www.prolighting.com/woba.html
the caps are there too it all depends on what type of bulbs you want to use..

[mykpoz]

Originally Posted by greenmagi

[acronym:bd166c5288="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:bd166c5288] electronic ballasts..
http://www.prolighting.com/woba.html
the caps are there too it all depends on what type of bulbs you want to use..

What would you suggest for a 55gal tank? I don't want to be TOO limited on the anems that i put in there.

i was looking at a 29gal with a Coralife aqualight setup... but was told it would only let me do a few of the lower light anems
[acronym:bd166c5288="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:bd166c5288]

[greenmaji]

If you want advise on how much light and wich bulbs you need to grow something you might want to post that question in the appropriate area.. if its for reef stuff that area.. if its for [acronym:a36c4d4bcd="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:a36c4d4bcd] plants that area.. or at least give us an idea what you want to do with the lights..

If you need help picking a ballast for the type of [acronym:a36c4d4bcd="Compact Flourescent"]CF[/acronym:a36c4d4bcd] bulbs and wattages and such I could help you with that if you just post how many and what you want to build..

[greenmaji]

Did you find out what kind and size bulbs you needed for what you want to keep?
I dont know what the lighting requirements are for the high light needing anems.. Im guessing you asked in the [acronym:7ed73d5e01="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:7ed73d5e01] area? If you did then did they give you a watts per gallon and color temps you would need?.. I hope no-one would have scared you off by cost because I would be trying to find the cheapest solution to your problem in here..
Happy to Help..

[mykpoz]

well, i found out a few days ago, that I will be inheriting a tank. It is in need of some TLC and has a ballast with two fairly new lights... they havent been used much due to the fan on the canopy being broken, which is one thing i will quickly fix.

Once i have everything in order here, i will look at what i have and what i will need. I appreciate the offer for help when it comes to the lighting and I will be sure to take you up on it, as soon as i know what i am working with

Thanks, again

[greenmaji]

Ill try to keep an eye out on this thread..

[StrongBad]

I have been searching the [acronym:0c4dc0bea0="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:0c4dc0bea0] forum for a really good [acronym:0c4dc0bea0="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:0c4dc0bea0] project for a Lighting hood for my new 30 gallon [acronym:0c4dc0bea0="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:0c4dc0bea0]. It is in the middle of a fishless cycle right now so I have a bit of time. It is 12" by 24" (oh and 18" high). I would like to do metal halide so that I can have a couple of coral and some anemone's too but they are so expensive retail. I guess my question comes down to........Can I buy a regular flourescent hood and retrofit that with appropriate lighting? If so, what are the necessary parts?

[greenmaji]

I dont know if [acronym:f43426a1dc="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:f43426a1dc] is nessisary... how many watts/[acronym:f43426a1dc="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:f43426a1dc] of what [acronym:f43426a1dc="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:f43426a1dc] lighting do you need to grow the corals you want to keep? what im saying is [acronym:f43426a1dc="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:f43426a1dc] has a lumenosity of about 6500.. 4X ODNO 48"'s of it has a lumenosity of 6000.. if you put more ODNO then 48" over it you would have more lumenosity then [acronym:f43426a1dc="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:f43426a1dc] and just as much punch.. and alot less heat.. the amps it would pull would be killer though.. its about 2 amps per 48"..

[StrongBad]

I'm really not sure what kind of coral I want, in fact I didnt know that different coral needed different kinds of light (which is what I assume the [acronym:0020ee5e53="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:0020ee5e53] rating is for) I guess I would like whatever lighting penetrates 18" deep and will cover the aquarium floor at 12" by 24" and support the widest array of coral possible. I will then buy coral from within that set of species.
I liked the idea of [acronym:0020ee5e53="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:0020ee5e53] because I read that it gives a nice shimmer to the water. As an aside what is ODNO? something, something, normal output?
If [acronym:0020ee5e53="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:0020ee5e53] is not really necessary, what would be a good alternative, [acronym:0020ee5e53="Very high output fluorescent"]VHO[/acronym:0020ee5e53], [acronym:0020ee5e53="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:0020ee5e53]? And would either of those be easy to make my own lighting hood?
Thanks for the help