can someone explain retro mh setups to me please?

dwd5813 · 06/30/2007, 09:52 PM

i get that it doesnt come all prepackaged like something along this line , but how does this compare to just buying a pendant in terms of complexity in set up? whats the difference between that retro kit and buying a premade pendant? please note that i am only asking about set up and not looking for product reviews, and the products linked to are for reference purposes only. just curious about what assembly is required. (although i hear great things about the lumenarcs

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smcdonn · 06/30/2007, 10:08 PM

retro kits just come with ballasts and relfectors so you can mount the reflectors in a canopy setup or wherever else will work for you. Other setup's are just plug and play for people that don't like to DIY

dwd5813 · 06/30/2007, 10:24 PM

so i could basically hang the reflector over the tank and it would be good like that right?
and you do the wiring yourself with a retro kit right?

snulma1 · 06/30/2007, 10:42 PM

You could hang the reflector, but you need to figure out a way to hang it, plus it won't look pretty as just a reflector and will spill alot of light around your room. You could build a simple box to the dimensions of your tank and mount the retro kit in there!

marioensf · 06/30/2007, 11:43 PM

Any retrofit is like an upgrade, more likely an improvement over an existing item, just like computers, you have an old computer and update the motherboard or cpu, same with a retro MH kit, you upgrade/adapt your current lighting on something existing, If you replace the whole part (lights, canopy, enclosure) that's more of an upgrade.... tomato, tomatoe or how does it go?

Nano Chris · 07/01/2007, 09:23 AM

This is what i bought for my 90 gallon with canopy:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=ES53516

06/30/2007, 09:52 PM	#1
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	can someone explain retro mh setups to me please? i get that it doesnt come all prepackaged like something along this line , but how does this compare to just buying a pendant in terms of complexity in set up? whats the difference between that retro kit and buying a premade pendant? please note that i am only asking about set up and not looking for product reviews, and the products linked to are for reference purposes only. just curious about what assembly is required. (although i hear great things about the lumenarcs )

06/30/2007, 10:08 PM	#2
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	retro kits just come with ballasts and relfectors so you can mount the reflectors in a canopy setup or wherever else will work for you. Other setup's are just plug and play for people that don't like to DIY __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

06/30/2007, 10:24 PM	#3
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	so i could basically hang the reflector over the tank and it would be good like that right? and you do the wiring yourself with a retro kit right? __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

07/01/2007, 09:23 AM	#6
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	This is what i bought for my 90 gallon with canopy: http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...roduct=ES53516 __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

06/30/2007, 10:42 PM	#4
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	You could hang the reflector, but you need to figure out a way to hang it, plus it won't look pretty as just a reflector and will spill alot of light around your room. You could build a simple box to the dimensions of your tank and mount the retro kit in there!

06/30/2007, 11:43 PM	#5
marioensf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,502	Any retrofit is like an upgrade, more likely an improvement over an existing item, just like computers, you have an old computer and update the motherboard or cpu, same with a retro MH kit, you upgrade/adapt your current lighting on something existing, If you replace the whole part (lights, canopy, enclosure) that's more of an upgrade.... tomato, tomatoe or how does it go?