www.aquaticlight.com

[michealprater]

This place has 175 watt metal halide retrofits with 4300k bulbs for 75 bucks! Has anyone dealt with them? Is there a catch? I know the kit doesnt have a reflector.

[fishfreek]

Well IMHO a light is no good unless you have a reflector. Effectivly you loose close to 1/2 of the intensity with out a reflector.

Reflectors start at $25 at that site so effectivly the entire MH solution is $100.

What is your ultimate purpose?

Below is a direct quote from their site. If your going for a SW setup a higher kelvin bulb will be more desirable.

The Base kit comes with the GE 4000 Kelvin bulb. These bulbs are great for fresh water planted tanks. While not the best bulb for marine reef tanks, they do provide good value for anyone looking to get into metal halide at a low price, as one can always upgrade to a higher Kelvin temperature bulb of the same wattage later on.

[Anemoneman]

You could supplement with 2 or 4 NO actinic to offset the yellow cast of a 4000K bulb. Spectrum becomes less of a concern when using higher intensities. You could make your own reflector out of sheet metal painted flat white. $25 for a decent polished reflector isn't too bad tho.

Mark

[CaliGal]

Interested in your previous post, Mark.

Would you suggest a white colored reflector rather than metal/silver would be more effective?

Sue

[michealprater]

i was planning on buying a reflector and 10,000k bulbs. Any recommendations on a e-tailor that sales 10,000k's. Remember i am always on a budget.

[Anemoneman]

Would you suggest a white colored reflector rather than metal/silver would be more effective?

For a DIY reflector it is often easier or cheaper to paint it flat white (or paint the entire inside of your hood) rather than make a polished metal reflector. If you have the means at your disposal to make a polished metal reflector or cover it with metallic tape to make a mirror finish, that would be preferable. I took a piece of stainless steel sheet metal and polished it at home on a buffing wheel. It works pretty good but I also painted the inside of my hood white to reflect any and all light back to the water. IMO flat white makes a pretty decent reflector.

Mark

[Anemoneman]

Any recommendations on a e-tailor that sales 10,000k's. Remember i am always on a budget.

http://www.hellolights.com/175wat10vion.html $49!

They say this one is whiter than a 6500K but not as white as a german 10000k. Sounds like a good bulb to me.

Mark

[michealprater]

Thanks. My ultimate goal is to build a hood with the two 175w halides with those bulbs (around 250$ there)from aquaticlight.com. A retrofit 2 bulb fluroesent with atnics(approx 80$)from LFS. a 12x 48 reflector from www.northcoastmarines.com ( approx 30$). and two cooling fans from radioshack. Hows that for pinchin pennies.

[Anemoneman]

I think you can do better than $80 for a 2 tube NO retrofit. Try getting the ballast and ends from HD and the tubes online. Should be less than $50 for everything.

[michealprater]

what is "HD"? couldnt find it in the common abbreviations.

[fishfreek]

Sorry I will add it when im don here.

HD probably means "Home Depot"

If you go into any hardware or home improvment store they should have a lightsection that sells florecent light kits.

I got a ballast and 4 endcaps from Lowes and wired up a dual NO florecent fixture for my freshwater planted tank.

Just make sure they are rated for your purpose.

[Anemoneman]

Home Depot. A home improvement store.