off topic but I gotta ask!

[wereef]

Why in the world are MH bulbs for our reefs so blasted expensive?
Is it simply because the industry knows that the avearge hobbyist who keeps a reef has money and will pay a rediculous price for their hobby?

lets face it. Alot of items that are sold to the reef enthusiast are overpriced and we buy it because we can/need.

need an example or 2 to ponder...

Ro/Di, I can buy one of these for home for about 120.00 from a home improvement shop but if I am a reef keeper, i will buy that name brand sucker at the Fish store/Aquarium only internet site for 300.00 because I need it and thats just how much it cost for it.

South Down Sand Vs. that other brand.....nuff said

And last is the example that caused this stupid rant...

my wife wanted to grow plants indoors, I ran by lowes and bought a set of 4' HO bulbs for about 5.00 a piece (Note to self, the bulbs say aquarium bulbs! HUH??) and a shop light for 10.95. but if I want the same set up for my aquarium from the LFS/Internet, I am going to pay almost 100.00 for the dual florescent light strip and replacement bulbs will run me 20.00 or so. well....I start thinking abut the 180.00ish I just spent this week for 2 MH bulbs online (average price for my name brand reef bulbs)and then notice a sign on the shelf that says MH Bulbs 19.95 Mog base 250w 21,000 lumens/17,000 mean (yes I know thats not color temp) I look at one of the bulbs and know instantly that the bulb will NOT fit my application because the globe is to big a round but I can't get over the 19.95 price. I want answers, I want information, i want, i want...I WANT MY MOMMY!


Wereef...


P.S.

my medication finally kicked in... I'm OK now Really...OOOHHH Whats That.....

 

[LA-Lawman]

i hear ya... that is why alot of DIY'rs tinker with our stuff... I bought an R/O unit from my local water store for $140... 120gpd... 5 stage with drinking kit. I swapped out the sediment and carbon filters for .5 micron stuff. then bought a standalone canister for a DI cart... the whole thing cost me $230 tax and everything....

I buy all my stuff and put it together myself.... on the MACO course i want to build a wiz bang skimmer and a CA reactor... even though I just dropped a fortune on a korralin reactor....

so.... I hope you are handy.... it can save you the clams...

 

[Len]

I think most of the prices really is a reflection of economies of scale. When you manufacturer limited quantities for a limited market segment, you have to charge more money to yield the same profit margin due to issues like fixed costs.

How many filthy rich aquarium product manufacturers do you know of? Maybe a few big hunchos at the top of the food chain (and mostly big distributors/retailers, rarely manufacturers).

BTW, your topic is not off topic

 

[Oceans Ferevh]

Yeah, you're right Len. It is about supply and demand.

 

[Anonymous]

It goes a bit further than supply in demand. It's about mass producing, which for our hobby isn't very much. Now if you can convince all the street light/parking lot lights that use metal halides and get them to switch to 10kK bulbs then you'll see those drop in price like a rock

 

[wereef]

I see your points.

So whats we need ta do is get a petition together and contact the NFL and local high schools (tis the season) and get one of our fellow scientific guru types to explain to them that the lights they are using at the stadiums need changed over to specialized daylight bulbs because the players would perform better due to these new bulbs being scientificaly proven to be "as close to sunlight" as possible. We could jazz it up a little and say that in case studies, it has been proven that the use of these bulbs has shown a lowered mortality rate, better reflexes, and far less possibility of injury due to fatigue.
:lol:
We can have the all knowing guru explain that as a side benefit to the new lighting, the players uniforms would be far brighter in coloration which will help the players recognize fellow teamates at distances of 20 yards and beyond thus making fouled passes less likely.
Then we seal the deal by telling the cheerleaders that if the lights are changed they will be able to work on there tan even if its 30 degrees outside and snowing because the bulbs are that good.

Peace be with you this holiday season....

Wereef out.

 

[magicman76]

ahhh.. apply the smuck to all lighting and the HPS would be switched over to the right color temp..
more output per watt