what would you buy?

katpurdy · 03/28/2007, 07:56 AM

most DIY set ups are not CSA approved(canadian!) so my hubby wants to buy a manufactured fixture for our tank. I currently have 250W 12K reeflux SE and 2 VHO actinics over the 55G tank...it is a 36" tank...20 deep and 18 front to back. I am starting to go sps dominant.

so what would you buy with a budget of $800-1000 canadian, knowing the dimensions of the tank, and what it is mainly housing.

Bring on the suggestions!!

Thanks
Kat

katpurdy · 03/28/2007, 02:30 PM

19 views and no opinions? shocking!

barbra · 03/28/2007, 02:38 PM

If your DIY setups are actually safe and your husband is merely concerned about the lack of approval from a government body then I would keep my money in my pocket. None of my lights are UL listed but that doesn't mean they aren't done correctly.

katpurdy · 03/28/2007, 02:56 PM

i have exposed wire from the flourecent ballast...he hates this...electricity is his biggest fear so he would rather spend than worry.

barbra · 03/28/2007, 03:00 PM

Bummer. Should have taped those up before he saw them

Have you checked out the new T5 fixtures? They're great and use less energy than other types of lighting.

jobob · 03/28/2007, 03:25 PM

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113352
I have something like this but its a retro fit kit from hellolights.com. http://hellolights.com/361xhqimeha21.html
The t-5 are much better as actinic sup. than power compacts. I do have one of these http://www.aquariumlight.com/product_info.php?dbid=233
and I am pretty sure they are up in canada.

katpurdy · 03/29/2007, 12:25 PM

aquarium lights is out of business...I think...i can't reach them. I had the T5 HO(helio's) and replaced them with the VHO, i just found that the T5's were too dimm.....are you pleased with the HQI bulbs? have you used SE bulbs before?

jobob · 03/30/2007, 11:06 AM

I bought my lights from aquarium lights about 2 yrs ago, but they still have their web site up? Weird? Did the Helios you had have ind. reflectors. They make the world of difference if you didnt have them. A lot of people say that VHO actinic are the best to supplment with, but I just wanted to try out t-5's. I had 2x175w SE with mag ballast and every set of bulbs I got one was different color than the other one. So thats why I got 2x250 DE with ice cap ballast, and wow want a difference. The bulbs are the exact same color, and the same brightness. If I had to do it again I would have still gotten DE. It seems that more and more companies are switching to DE. I definitely like DE over SE. They are a lot smaller and since I have a 55g I only have 13in so space is limited.

katpurdy · 03/30/2007, 11:51 AM

13 inches of space? front to back? I have a 55 too but it is tall...36x18front to back and 20 high. i think that I will end up with the PFO fixture for 2 MH's and 2 VHO's....there is a store in another province that I buy from and he might get me into the DE from the SE that I currently use, but I really don't want to go back to T5's....I have the helios that have individual reflectors...still didn't like them

CarlC · 03/30/2007, 07:50 PM

Have you priced out any of the Current Brand lights from Big Al's?

Carl

jobob · 03/30/2007, 09:33 PM

13in wide its 48 long. Yea most people like VHO actinics. I would definitely try to get DE,

DarthBaiter · 03/31/2007, 02:20 AM

Current usa's outer orbit pro.
It's 2 250w MH with 4 T5 actinics. I love mine.
Do a search on google and you should find good prices.

03/28/2007, 07:56 AM	#1
katpurdy Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Halifax,Nova Scotia Posts: 492	what would you buy? most DIY set ups are not CSA approved(canadian!) so my hubby wants to buy a manufactured fixture for our tank. I currently have 250W 12K reeflux SE and 2 VHO actinics over the 55G tank...it is a 36" tank...20 deep and 18 front to back. I am starting to go sps dominant. so what would you buy with a budget of $800-1000 canadian, knowing the dimensions of the tank, and what it is mainly housing. Bring on the suggestions!! Thanks Kat __________________ 55G tall mixed reef 30G sump,2x250W10K SPS+ 2 VHO super actinic,CsS220, 130FOWLR 60Gsump. 20g long with 10g sump mixed reef Current Tank Info: 55g tall sps dominant, 30g sump css220, 2x 250W xm10k MH plus 2x 96W VHO actinic 130g FOWLR, 60g sump

03/28/2007, 02:30 PM	#2
katpurdy Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Halifax,Nova Scotia Posts: 492	19 views and no opinions? shocking! __________________ 55G tall mixed reef 30G sump,2x250W10K SPS+ 2 VHO super actinic,CsS220, 130FOWLR 60Gsump. 20g long with 10g sump mixed reef Current Tank Info: 55g tall sps dominant, 30g sump css220, 2x 250W xm10k MH plus 2x 96W VHO actinic 130g FOWLR, 60g sump

03/28/2007, 02:56 PM	#4
katpurdy Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Halifax,Nova Scotia Posts: 492	i have exposed wire from the flourecent ballast...he hates this...electricity is his biggest fear so he would rather spend than worry. __________________ 55G tall mixed reef 30G sump,2x250W10K SPS+ 2 VHO super actinic,CsS220, 130FOWLR 60Gsump. 20g long with 10g sump mixed reef Current Tank Info: 55g tall sps dominant, 30g sump css220, 2x 250W xm10k MH plus 2x 96W VHO actinic 130g FOWLR, 60g sump

03/29/2007, 12:25 PM	#7
katpurdy Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Halifax,Nova Scotia Posts: 492	aquarium lights is out of business...I think...i can't reach them. I had the T5 HO(helio's) and replaced them with the VHO, i just found that the T5's were too dimm.....are you pleased with the HQI bulbs? have you used SE bulbs before? __________________ 55G tall mixed reef 30G sump,2x250W10K SPS+ 2 VHO super actinic,CsS220, 130FOWLR 60Gsump. 20g long with 10g sump mixed reef Current Tank Info: 55g tall sps dominant, 30g sump css220, 2x 250W xm10k MH plus 2x 96W VHO actinic 130g FOWLR, 60g sump

03/30/2007, 11:51 AM	#9
katpurdy Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Halifax,Nova Scotia Posts: 492	13 inches of space? front to back? I have a 55 too but it is tall...36x18front to back and 20 high. i think that I will end up with the PFO fixture for 2 MH's and 2 VHO's....there is a store in another province that I buy from and he might get me into the DE from the SE that I currently use, but I really don't want to go back to T5's....I have the helios that have individual reflectors...still didn't like them __________________ 55G tall mixed reef 30G sump,2x250W10K SPS+ 2 VHO super actinic,CsS220, 130FOWLR 60Gsump. 20g long with 10g sump mixed reef Current Tank Info: 55g tall sps dominant, 30g sump css220, 2x 250W xm10k MH plus 2x 96W VHO actinic 130g FOWLR, 60g sump

03/28/2007, 02:38 PM	#3
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	If your DIY setups are actually safe and your husband is merely concerned about the lack of approval from a government body then I would keep my money in my pocket. None of my lights are UL listed but that doesn't mean they aren't done correctly.

03/28/2007, 03:00 PM	#5
barbra Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 1,408	Bummer. Should have taped those up before he saw them Have you checked out the new T5 fixtures? They're great and use less energy than other types of lighting.

03/28/2007, 03:25 PM	#6
jobob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: wilkes-barre,pa Posts: 194	http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113352 I have something like this but its a retro fit kit from hellolights.com. http://hellolights.com/361xhqimeha21.html The t-5 are much better as actinic sup. than power compacts. I do have one of these http://www.aquariumlight.com/product_info.php?dbid=233 and I am pretty sure they are up in canada.

03/30/2007, 11:06 AM	#8
jobob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: wilkes-barre,pa Posts: 194	I bought my lights from aquarium lights about 2 yrs ago, but they still have their web site up? Weird? Did the Helios you had have ind. reflectors. They make the world of difference if you didnt have them. A lot of people say that VHO actinic are the best to supplment with, but I just wanted to try out t-5's. I had 2x175w SE with mag ballast and every set of bulbs I got one was different color than the other one. So thats why I got 2x250 DE with ice cap ballast, and wow want a difference. The bulbs are the exact same color, and the same brightness. If I had to do it again I would have still gotten DE. It seems that more and more companies are switching to DE. I definitely like DE over SE. They are a lot smaller and since I have a 55g I only have 13in so space is limited.

03/30/2007, 07:50 PM	#10
CarlC Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leesport, PA Posts: 1,099	Have you priced out any of the Current Brand lights from Big Al's? Carl

03/30/2007, 09:33 PM	#11
jobob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: wilkes-barre,pa Posts: 194	13in wide its 48 long. Yea most people like VHO actinics. I would definitely try to get DE,

03/31/2007, 02:20 AM	#12
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	Current usa's outer orbit pro. It's 2 250w MH with 4 T5 actinics. I love mine. Do a search on google and you should find good prices. __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.