Lights

Bonsaiman! · 12/22/2009, 11:40 AM

I am new to the hobby. I want add halides to my compacts. Can I use the halide fixtures at Home Depot?

Sisterlimonpot · 12/22/2009, 11:43 AM

To Reef Central short answer: NO
If you want the MH for a reef tank you're limited to the ones in the "K" rating for the hobby. stay away from the others.

jenjen · 12/23/2009, 02:37 AM

+1

Lighting available at HD will not meet the needs of a reef.

johnc43113 · 12/23/2009, 10:53 AM

Are the fixtures their selves cheaper at home depot? Could you always just buy better bulbs to put in those fixtures?

Golfnut 0570 · 12/23/2009, 11:16 AM

The only prob. w/ HD is the mh they sell are mostly the kind that mount to a wall so that might be a issue. Also wattages are also limited so if you solve those prob. and change bulb to a higher k-rating it will work.

Chi6488 · 12/23/2009, 11:46 AM

I do not believe the bulbs will match up. I looked while at lowes one day at a 250 watt MH bulb and it was a lot smaller than my 250 MH for marine.

I thinki t is b/c marine manufacturers do this to corner the market and charge a ridiculous price for the bulbs

Golfnut 0570 · 12/23/2009, 02:26 PM

True that the bulbs are different size the guts inside are the same; but by the time and money it takes it's just better to buy the rightstuff and do it right the first time.

12/22/2009, 11:40 AM	#1
Bonsaiman! Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 2	Lights I am new to the hobby. I want add halides to my compacts. Can I use the halide fixtures at Home Depot?

12/22/2009, 11:43 AM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	*To Reef Central* short answer: NO If you want the MH for a reef tank you're limited to the ones in the "K" rating for the hobby. stay away from the others. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/23/2009, 02:37 AM	#3
jenjen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Langley BC, Canada Posts: 1,710	+1 Lighting available at HD will not meet the needs of a reef. __________________ "Challenges forge the greatness in you" Current Tank Info: 180gal softy reef (Apr '09)

12/23/2009, 11:46 AM	#6
Chi6488 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 237	I do not believe the bulbs will match up. I looked while at lowes one day at a 250 watt MH bulb and it was a lot smaller than my 250 MH for marine. I thinki t is b/c marine manufacturers do this to corner the market and charge a ridiculous price for the bulbs __________________ 110 Gal 30" tall tank; 2 @ 250 Watt MH 14k ; Reef Octopus extreme 160; 1/10 jbj chiller; 4 stage ro then into dual di resin; MP40W powerhead. 20" zebra eel, yellow tang, two clowns, red hawkfish, yellow wrasse and bubble coral; carpet anemone 34 gallon red sea max with 3 sea horses for the wife 90 Gal with 4 urchins, big snail, 2 sargeant majors caught from the keys. Horseshoe crab and about 5 starfish from gulf of mexico

12/23/2009, 10:53 AM	#4
johnc43113 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Circleville, OH Posts: 109	Are the fixtures their selves cheaper at home depot? Could you always just buy better bulbs to put in those fixtures?

12/23/2009, 11:16 AM	#5
Golfnut 0570 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: glendale az Posts: 11	The only prob. w/ HD is the mh they sell are mostly the kind that mount to a wall so that might be a issue. Also wattages are also limited so if you solve those prob. and change bulb to a higher k-rating it will work.

12/23/2009, 02:26 PM	#7
Golfnut 0570 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: glendale az Posts: 11	True that the bulbs are different size the guts inside are the same; but by the time and money it takes it's just better to buy the rightstuff and do it right the first time.