lighting solution for a 125.

[bkent]

It seems that from shopping around this is the best option to be for reef lighting on my 125:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=PFO72HOOD&Category_Code=PFOh

I would get it with:

FL-VHO endcaps
Standard FL ballast (small ballast)
PFO 2, 4" fans
PFO 3x250 watt ballast
3 - 65 K 250 watt Halide bulbs
2 bulb standatd FL actinics

For all this lighting pre built in a hood it comes to 602.80 + S&H.

For 3 250 watt 6500K MH and 2 Actinics, this seems like the best deal I've seen. Pricing retro kits and DIY hood I think this would be much cheaper for lighting my 125.

Does anyone out their have one of these, either way do you experts see any problems with this product, would I be able to keep sps and clams with it?

 

[dmm32]

HI,


Problem I have seen with these is if you have a plastic center brace and you set this on top of the tank that middle bulb is going to get the brace hot.

It would be better to go with duel PFO and 2
400 Watt bulbs and two actinic VHO's IMO.
The price also should be cheaper and you would have more light.

do you have a hood on this tank if so,I would get the ballast and buld and build it myself

Duel PFO
2 400 watt MH
Icecap 430
2 72 inch VHO Actinic.

Champion has some good prices.

David

 

[bkent]

What do you think about this gator: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=PFO72HOOD&Category_Code=PFOh

with the bulbs/ballasts listed in my orginal post? Seems like a lot of lighting for the money, plus I assume I could hang the hood above my tank, maybe even put it on pulleys so I could raise when I wanted...

 

[Gatortailale1]

Nice hood. Similar to one I would like. However I have 2 pfo PC ballasts that run 4 96w bulbs. Jason at prem.aqu. can get me a PFO hood at small reduced price w/out PC ballasts. I went onto PFOLighting website and found the one I like, had 4 pc endcaps for bulbs and 3 MH mogls. COmes with prewiring, and tempered glass. Not sure if I would run 4 actints or 2 acts. and maybe 2 6700 daylight or 10k daylight to balance light spectrum of MH bulbs. Other issue is I like what I read about the blueline ballasts, (other than you can't put electronic monitors w/in 2 feet of them). But they burn brighter and use less electric than standard ballasts. I was hoping that PFO electronic MH ballast wiring will be similar to Blueline so I don't have to splice wires.

However, if I can find a buyer in DC area for my 3 PC ballasts, then I would probably go with a CSL hood and 1 row of PC acts. CSL comes wired to run the blueline ballasts. Although if I could get the PFO hood cheaper, I might get that since it comes with glass instead of CSL's which is acrylic lens I think.

[2 PC ballasts - each runs 2 96w bulbs and 1 ballast that runs 2 55w bulbs inside a all-glass hood.]

Bottom line, I would advise you to go onto the PFO site and write down the product # you want then contact prem. aquatic for price quote.

 

[dmm32]

Gatortailale is right the last 125 tank I had it had a center brace but most of them do have 2 braces, sorry didnt think about that. mine had a glass center brace.

David

 

[Gatortailale1]

Comment on pully system. I advise to not raise or lower when MH lamps on or hot. You may run the risk that vibrations will pop/ crack them and cost you price of replacing. (I cracked a PC bulb by moveing my lights in retro fit hood)

 

[bkent]

no hood, but I already built a DIY hood for my 55 galllon planted tank(fresh). How high should I make the hood to house the MH with distance to water level?

My goal is not to buy a single salt related item until I am absolutely sure of all hardware I want.

Also, would you put the 2 400 watt over the outside 1/3rds? 125 is partitioned into 3 sections by center brace(s).

 

[bkent]

I looked at getting the following:

2 400w 65k Iwasaki ~ $60 x2 $120
1 - 2 bulb 400w ballast part #71A4300 from Graybar.com ~ $80
Icecap 430 ballast
2 72 inch VHO actinics - 245.90 from champion

= 445.90 + s&H.

That isn't even including the DIY Hood, and countless odds and ends and trips to homedepot it building this goes anything like building my other hood. It seems to me that the prebuilt/prewired hood is looking better and better + you get 3 MH and 2 actinics for 600.

 

[Gatortailale1]

You better find out the distance B/w the MH bulbs. Remember on a 125, the top center braces are 2 feet apart. I think if you go with a 2 bulb system the bulbs will end up right above the braces. If you get custom build hood, you can hang it 8+ inches above tank no problem. If you retro kit it, better get a tall canopy or MH may be too close to surface and warm the temp of the water. (probably not much of a temp problem as long as fans run)

I also have a 125 and would get at least 250w 3 bulb system. Might even go for the 400w. (no such thing as too much light, just be slow in bringing full light time up on corals and don't put new ones directly under them or you may fry them. Take at least a week to acclimate them to your new lighting.

 

[bkent]

Would I regret in the long run getting whatever MH bulbs come with the kit as opposed to say Iwasaki???