New Lighting System - What to buy for around 300 dollars? - Page 2

iamtheone · 04/24/2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Onealjc
anyone have any comment on the Current USA Orbits are they any good?

Looking at them operate they are decent. Not exactly what I am looking for however.

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 08:04 AM

if i had your budget i would save another 100 bucks and get the aquatinics t5 fixture you can keep any kind of corals you want with it and it is very efficent.

King Nine · 04/24/2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iamtheone
Actually. Just went and looked at this one. He is 5 mins from my house. Made at the same location as Coralife. Uses the same exact bulbs and ballast as Coralife. This guy manufactures them himself and is working on a patent for them. I am no expert by any means but the construction is top notch and seeing them in operation the colors/light was beautiful!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...4318&rd=1&rd=1

That is identical to the aquatraders light. He might have better ballast. The aquatraders light might need some parts changed out but gives you a great starting place and even when all parts changed out is still MUCH cheaper than all other options. I am currently moding the unit to fit VHO's for $75 more. I would say to definatley opt for no ballast if that is the way you go. Their MH ballast is way underpowered. Here is the link to the HUMONGOUS thread on the light: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1090216

Did you say that the guy you saw builds his own ballast??? That could easily be the way to do if they are good. The key is to look and see if his stock 10k bulbs make the tank look yellow. That is what the underpowered Aquatraders bulb does. If the tank (with water in it) looks white your golden.

Onealjc · 04/24/2007, 08:28 AM

Iamtheone, Have you thought of maybe building your own canopy and retrofitting a set up Im thinking thats the route I might go seems that you can get alot better quality lights for the money retrofitting than you could buying a fixture, and most canopies seem to cost people who have built them 20 to 50 bucks.

iamtheone · 04/24/2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Did you say that the guy you saw builds his own ballast??? That could easily be the way to do if they are good. The key is to look and see if his stock 10k bulbs make the tank look yellow. That is what the underpowered Aquatraders bulb does. If the tank (with water in it) looks white your golden. [/B]

The white looked super bright and the blues, were, well, very blue. I will try and take some pics and post on here. No yellowing at all.

As far as retro-fit. I am a network admin for IBM, I am not an electrican. I'm scared to jump in and start riggin' up my own gear

Now, you want me to dismantle a Cisco 6509. No problem

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iamtheone
The white looked super bright and the blues, were, well, very blue. I will try and take some pics and post on here. No yellowing at all.

As far as retro-fit. I am a network admin for IBM, I am not an electrican. I'm scared to jump in and start riggin' up my own gear Now, you want me to dismantle a Cisco 6509. No problem

if you can build a puter you can put together a retrofit they are really easy the problem i have with those cheaper all in one fixtures is that you really can build something much better for less money or the same money, if you go with pendants or a canopy. by better i mean high quality ballasts and reflectors.

or go t5 and never worry about a chiller or anything else.

H2oH2o · 04/24/2007, 03:25 PM

I have a 48" current USA orbit 4x96, its awesome, but im thinking about upgrading to that 760 watt system for sps

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H2oH2o
I have a 48" current USA orbit 4x96, its awesome, but im thinking about upgrading to that 760 watt system for sps

actually its 540w the 760 watts is not true

H2oH2o · 04/24/2007, 05:10 PM

thats what im hearing...but my current will not let me keep sps...

King Nine · 04/24/2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H2oH2o
thats what im hearing...but my current will not let me keep sps...

It is still cheaper even if you buy better ballast. And check out the link above to the Aquavue guy on ebay. I have a dialog going with him right now that I'm updating on the Odyssea/Aquatraders thread. His ballast might be better and the Aquatraders might get fixed as he knows the guy that own Aquatraders.

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Nine
It is still cheaper even if you buy better ballast. And check out the link above to the Aquavue guy on ebay. I have a dialog going with him right now that I'm updating on the Odyssea/Aquatraders thread. His ballast might be better and the Aquatraders might get fixed as he knows the guy that own Aquatraders.

\

have you figured out totall cost yet? with all the new bulbs and ballasts you have bought?

King Nine · 04/24/2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
\

have you figured out totall cost yet? with all the new bulbs and ballasts you have bought?

Sure,
Aquatraders 48" Fixture = $359
2 Phoenix 14k bulbs (not necessary though) $45ea. = $90
VHO Mod (Again not necessary) ballast and bulbs $75
My Total = $525

Future Dual MH Ballast (mostly necessary) $170
Future Total $695

I might sell the 10k bulbs I removed or put them back after the VHO mod and sell the Phoenix. If I do that the cost would come back down close to $620ish.

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 09:26 PM

600 you could have had the aquatinics solar flare....

King Nine · 04/24/2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
600 you could have had the aquatinics solar flare....

I don't know anything about that light and google doesn't turn up any results for it. Can you post a link to it?

GSMguy · 04/24/2007, 09:37 PM

http://www.aquactinics.com/images/Solar_Flare.pdf

King Nine · 04/24/2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
http://www.aquactinics.com/images/Solar_Flare.pdf

Thanks for the link and that is a nice looking T5 fixture. I do remember looking at it when researching now. I just didn't want all T5s. I wanted MH as well and adding it to supplement that fixture was not practical.

iamtheone · 04/25/2007, 10:00 AM

Nice lights!

How much are those running for?

EDIT* Nevermind. I seen the post. 600 bucks.

GSMguy · 04/25/2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iamtheone
Nice lights!

How much are those running for?

the solar flare is actually about 900 with moonlights ballasts and bulbs but there are many options for buying it. you can get it for 499 wo ballasts moons or bulbs.

there is a constelation that is 600 and has more bulbs but doesnt overdrive the bulbs

04/24/2007, 08:04 AM	#27
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	if i had your budget i would save another 100 bucks and get the aquatinics t5 fixture you can keep any kind of corals you want with it and it is very efficent. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/24/2007, 09:26 PM	#38
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	600 you could have had the aquatinics solar flare.... __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/24/2007, 09:37 PM	#40
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	http://www.aquactinics.com/images/Solar_Flare.pdf __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/24/2007, 08:28 AM	#29
Onealjc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 24	Iamtheone, Have you thought of maybe building your own canopy and retrofitting a set up Im thinking thats the route I might go seems that you can get alot better quality lights for the money retrofitting than you could buying a fixture, and most canopies seem to cost people who have built them 20 to 50 bucks.

04/24/2007, 03:25 PM	#32
H2oH2o Grower of the Small Polyp Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 211	I have a 48" current USA orbit 4x96, its awesome, but im thinking about upgrading to that 760 watt system for sps

04/24/2007, 05:10 PM	#34
H2oH2o Grower of the Small Polyp Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 211	thats what im hearing...but my current will not let me keep sps...

04/25/2007, 10:00 AM	#42
iamtheone Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 59	Nice lights! How much are those running for? EDIT* Nevermind. I seen the post. 600 bucks.