Need Advise, small delema

[Detri]

I know its not a big deal and this topic has been beat to death with a broken stick. My problem isn't what type I need, its what I should do with the choices given to me.

I just priced out a set of MH 250w Ballasts and fixtures. As I got talking to the sales guy, he told me that a Ballast and fixture is cheaper to buy if I get a 400w set. About $100.00 cheaper. Thats a huge diffrence.

I have a 3" long x 16.5" deep tank. I want to save the coin, but don't want to hurt whats going into the tank. Should I spend the money and get the 250w or would I be ok getting the 400w, which I will definately use for the next upgraded tank in the future.

 

[Krish]

Not sure Detri as I've never tried to keep anything like you guys try to keep in my tank. The best light I've ever had was a coralife retrofit 260w pc and now I'm down to 80w 50/50 over my 90 (LOL). However, if I were to give you the extra $100, which would you go with?

 

[Detri]

Thats just it though. My first instinct would be to buy the 400w for a future, bigger tank. I am just worried that putting a 400w in a small tank might hurt my livestock. If it won't and the experienced people here say it won't. Then i will buy the 400w.

 

[Krish]

What if you suspend the lights higher above the water so that not as much light penetrates the water (ie if you are planning for an upgrade on your tank)?

 

[Detri]

Well the light will be 24" from the bottom of the tank bed. I am planning to make a new Stand and Canopy after the new year. I can always modify my design to sit higher than that aswell. hmmm....'ll let more people give there 2 cents too.

 

[Krish]

hmmm....'ll let more people give there 2 cents too.

Yeah, you should because I'm even more clueless than you are :shock: (LOL)
I was just trying to guess incase I made a good point and to keep you company until someone with some sense posted

 

[Detri]

hehe, seems we are all in goiod company here. I kinda wish I could work for this site. I have the time. Just not all the knowledge of the rest of the RF staff. Would be cool though.

 

[Krish]

LOL...I don't really have the time (ie during the day). My work is never ending and I just stop in between jobs or when I put the other guys to work to catch myself like now. I have just over 100 cars to do between this week and next week for a few of the car dealers installing between alarms, cd players, cassette players, cd changer combo's and band expanders for the japanese cars. It's a lot of work, but it pays off in the end. You are looking at an average $300 a car (for example)for just a cd player installation. Not bad for a company with only 4 employees!

 

[Kensn]

I am not sure why a 400wt would be cheaper. Did he break down the prices for you, was there different equipment in each setup?

 

[dnjan]

I would stay with the 250. You won't have as much of a heat issue (wouldn't it be a pain to save $100 on the ballast and then have to spend more than that for a chiller next summer?).

Plus, all your corals won't be on the bottom of the tank. With the 400, I would think there would be some corals you couldn't keep because there would be too much light, even at the bottom. With the 250, you will have bright light higher up, and still a chance for blastos, closed brains, etc. on the bottom.

 

[Detri]

Well, I went to a wholesale electrical supply outlet. I was reffered to this place by an electrician friend of mine. The reason the diffrence in price from them (and is about $100 dollars cheaper than the LFS or a hydroponics store for a retro kit) is, the industries sells alot more 400w systems for industrial instalations. ie, warehouses, commercial use and so on. The diffrence is $104 for 400w with ballast and $198 for the 250w with ballast. I have to have a friend of mine that is an electrician convert it for 110amp instead of 220 or 330 hook up.

Now, my friend and the sales person says there is no diffrence in the heat output from the bulb itself. Its the Ballast that makes the diffrence in heat from the 2. I'd basically get the same heat from either type of bulb. Thats what I am told, I am a noob when it comes to this type of lighting. So don't shoot the messenger Maybe I'll just get the VHO and forget the MH lights for now I'm so confused.

 

[bmtpfgh]

I would say the 400 would present a definite heat issue.Also consider the cost of the extra 150W of electricity.I am interested in what kind of 400W setup he can sell you for $100 cheaper than a 250W.You may want to look online for setups.I know Big Al's and Reef Raft are in Canada.

 

[Kensn]

Those prices seem a little steep, even in Cad. money. Pop over to http://www.hellolights.com/elbalmethal1.html and see if ya can't find a better deal even with shipping.

Ken

 

[dnjan]

The watt rating is for what the bulb is drawing. A 400-w bulb is drawing more than a 250-w bulb. And there is only two places those watts can go - either heat or light. So unless the 400-w bulb is significantly more efficient at converting watts into light, it will also be producing more heat.

Was this a lighting sales guy or an aquarium sales guy that told you that there is no more heat from a 400-w bulb than from a 250-w bulb?

 

[Detri]

I LOVE Reef Raft. They have a beautiful new store. I go there when my drooling reflex needs fixing. And the operaters are really cool guys. I am not sure I want to go into the prices I was quoted to buy a set of retro lights from Big Al's or Reef Raft. Its not pretty.

I was told by an electrician, 30 years in the trade. And the sales guy that told me that, was handed over to me because he new more about lighting than the guy I first started talking to. I don't know how indepth his experience is, but seemed knowledgable. And was basically confirmed by my electrician friend. But my thought on that would be they both have no experience with inclosed lighting like what aquariums have. So they could both be way off base

Thanks Kensn. I am headed there now. But those are the cheapest prices I could find. Unless I go used, and they are harder to find lol

 

[Detri]

Well Kensn, those ballasts are all sold seperate. The retro kits, even though they have the VHO included. you still need to buy the Ballast seperate for the MH lights. So it will cost over $200 American for the ballast with fixture. Where it would cost me $104-$198 Canadian. for both Ballast and fixture. Aw well, I think I am just going to go VHO for now and ponder this alot more. Its a $100, Thats a huge diffrence. I found a use 96w VHO Ballast used.

 

[clayswim]

As far as the heat goes, the guy didn't know what he was talking about. Stand underneath the two and you'll definitely know which is which. Since your tank is so shallow for halides, I'd go with the 250W bulb; maybe even two of them if you're putting SPS or clams. The 400W shouldn't hurt corals or clams that require strong lighting; but it's overkill on a tank that short. BTW, HelloLights is a great company to do business with; really good quality and great prices.

Clayton

 

[Detri]

Thanks, They do have great prices compared to alpt of other places I have looked at. No question. I am going to have to think about this some more. Thanks to everyone for your help.