New Tank

[DeerHunter73]

No under that light it ask for optional upgrades to the light can you read it and see if I need any of those upgrades for the light

 

[MWSALT]

If you purchase this canopy request a actinic & 10,000 k bulb. any 250w metal halide bulb is ok. Personally I have no metal halides on my tank because the bulbs are expensive and produce alot of heat, unless a fan is built into the fixture. The rule of thumb for reef wattage lighting is 3-5 watts per gallon. Check out the Orbit compact fixtures at this site www.petsolutions.com. May save you some money.

 

[Katchupoy]

The best approach is to build your own hood then buy a retro kit? Do you do carpentry? Or do you prefer just to buy the whole thing with a price...?

Also... it would be cheaper to buy used stuff by others who are quitting the hobby. Really big saving on that part as long as you can wait.

 

[DeerHunter73]

No I suck at carpentry but I would love to buy a light where all I have to do is plug it in. Hey if someone on here wants to build me one I'm all ears on how much you charge , etc.

 

[Katchupoy]

If you go with retro.. here are my suggestions...

http://diyreef.com/shop/index.php?cPath=49

this will be the VHO side...maybe $100.00 for the whole setup of 2x48" VHO setup.

 

[Katchupoy]

and here is the MH side...

http://diyreef.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=39&products_id=102

 

[Katchupoy]

the second light option you have on ebay is good... But you need to do a research about the suppier on reefcentral. And also it is a retro kit... need to make your own hood. Petsupplyliquidator.

The third light option you have on ebay... I like it. The price is competetive. But also need to do more research on the supplier.
It is a complete hood... And like you said it is plug and behold...

I think this one also is the same one being sold on the link you gave us... but different price... "aquariumlight.com"


Also.... if you have time to read this...

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2516&highlight=light

 

[Katchupoy]

Also ask them if it icludes the MH bulb.... I cant see it anywhere on their website... Maybe thats why its cheap...

 

[bradreef]

That 2-250 retro kit will be all the light you need to grow coral. other that that you can add actinics. That looked like a good kit at a very good price. add 10 dollars more for the 10k xm. I have an xm 10k and I know mtndew man also is running these bulbs. over a 75 gallon. these should grow any type of coral you would want in a tank that deep.

 

[DeerHunter73]

building your own is definately cheaper if I knew how lol

 

[DeerHunter73]

Have to bump this back up I guess noone is writing on it anymore and I was using it to figure out the tank.

Since my last post I have added two sonic 3000 powerheads with wavemakers to my tank and I am thinking about buying sand critters as my next step.

taking one step at a time

Also some stores are trying to sell me the 20k and blue bulbs but they are the $25.00 40 watt bulbs they say that is all you need. This isn't true is it???

 

[NaH2O]

Are the bulbs VHOs, MHs?

 

[DeerHunter73]

I don't think they are either they are the bulbs in most stores on the racks