question about switching out lighting

cyacop · 05/11/2009, 06:19 AM

i am thinking about switching form metal halide to vho. i figure vho will use less electricity and be more functional for my tank now that it is not a reef tank. what will i need to switch this out and what cost am i looking at ? i did the metal halide set up myself so i plan on doing the vho also. the tank is 75 gallons. thanks so much

kretzkiller · 05/11/2009, 08:05 AM

why don't you use t5's instead? It depends on what you want. How many bulbs, what color, etc.?

Entropy · 05/11/2009, 08:27 AM

I would go with T5's as well. If you are just going to for general tank lighting to make the fish look pretty I would go with a 2x54w T5 setup and use one daylight and one Actinic. All you would need is a Workhorse 5 ballast (or similar), the bulbs, and a couple of good reflectors. You could probably slap it together for under $100 which you might be able to net from the sale of your halides.

Really you could also just go with 40w normal output T12's if all you need is light. You could use 2 of those for under $50 IMO.

cyacop · 05/11/2009, 06:42 PM

thanks for the help guys

05/11/2009, 06:19 AM	#1
cyacop Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: marion,arkansas Posts: 120	question about switching out lighting i am thinking about switching form metal halide to vho. i figure vho will use less electricity and be more functional for my tank now that it is not a reef tank. what will i need to switch this out and what cost am i looking at ? i did the metal halide set up myself so i plan on doing the vho also. the tank is 75 gallons. thanks so much

05/11/2009, 08:27 AM	#3
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I would go with T5's as well. If you are just going to for general tank lighting to make the fish look pretty I would go with a 2x54w T5 setup and use one daylight and one Actinic. All you would need is a Workhorse 5 ballast (or similar), the bulbs, and a couple of good reflectors. You could probably slap it together for under $100 which you might be able to net from the sale of your halides. Really you could also just go with 40w normal output T12's if all you need is light. You could use 2 of those for under $50 IMO. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

05/11/2009, 08:05 AM	#2
kretzkiller Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: KC Posts: 599	why don't you use t5's instead? It depends on what you want. How many bulbs, what color, etc.?

05/11/2009, 06:42 PM	#4
cyacop Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: marion,arkansas Posts: 120	thanks for the help guys