Is this a good deal for a metal halide?

dionisk · 12/05/2012, 11:11 AM

"250w PFO HQI metal halide unit for saltwater reef or fish tank aquarium. It comes with a 1 month old phoenix HQI bulb. entire unit is in perfect working order and is only 1.5yrs old. well kept. package includes 250w ballast, bulb and reflector unit."

$175

Michigan Mike · 12/05/2012, 12:05 PM

Not much info, I think its high myself.
Find out what pendant/reflector it is, the Phoenix bulbs are around $50 new, pfo magnetic m-80 style ballasts can be gotten for around $70 new (hamilton reeflex cube) and pfo reflectors are cheap.

I picked up 150w Phoenix bulb (slightly used) with m-81 sunlight supply's bluewave ballast and reef optix pendant, all for $50.

dionisk · 12/05/2012, 12:49 PM

All that he is saying is that it's "pfo pendant and pfo reflector "

Here's the Craigslist

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/for/3384657827.html

sirreal63 · 12/05/2012, 12:54 PM

I think PFO officially closed the doors in early 2009 so it is questionable how it can only be 1.5 years old. It is not a bad deal but probably a little on the high side for used equipment.

dionisk · 12/05/2012, 01:02 PM

What price do you recommend I try and get it down to?

sirreal63 · 12/05/2012, 01:11 PM

I would offer $100 bucks but would not do more than $125

Michigan Mike · 12/05/2012, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirreal63

I would offer $100 bucks but would not do more than $125

Yup

dionisk · 12/05/2012, 01:37 PM

Thanks. Going to pass on this one. The guy doesn't want to go that low. Trying to slowly convert my 37gallon freshwater to a reef without breaking the bank.

Michigan Mike · 12/05/2012, 03:21 PM

That is a decent pendant but I doubt he will get what he wants for it but some people dont look around or live in a area where you find good deals. Miami,IDK,seems like there would be a lot of reefers, nut also lot of money...so..ya.
Used equipment/bulbs are a dime a dozen, if he wants to get rid of it he will come down...it just may take him time to realize it.
Observe and be patient.

moondoggy4 · 12/05/2012, 11:41 PM

Check Aqua Medic home site and Aqua Cave they have good deals on their lighting.

dionisk · 12/06/2012, 06:04 PM

Well, today I grabbed another deal. For 50 dollars is what appears to be a 24" current usa outer orbit 150watt metal halide hqi plus 2x65watt t5ho actinics. It works fine, but no legs and no hanging kit came with it. It's also a bit wider than my tank (15" vs 12"). Also not sure of if I should replace the bulbs and with what. The woman said she had the light stowed away in her closet for at least a year.

The other thing that concerns me is that so far I've had it on for ten minutes and the fan did not turn on. Does it take longer for it to? Also I turned it off and the halide bulb won't turn on. It sounds like electricity is flowing through, but no light. Did it overheat or is this something metal halide does if you try turning it on again soon after it's off? This is my first metal halide as you can see.

dionisk · 12/06/2012, 08:14 PM

http://www.directaquarium.com/Curren...in-p/10433.htm

It's that light. Not sure how to mount it, don't want to hang it due to being in an apartment. Maybe get the mounting legs and somehow right them to fit my tanks dimensions?

moondoggy4 · 12/07/2012, 11:20 AM

Halides are not suppose to turn off an on, there should be a 15 minute interval. I do have an extra hanging kit for Current, Call current and see if you can get a mount kit.

zakstrong · 12/07/2012, 01:31 PM

get aqua medic ballast for 70 bulb for 50-80 and diy reflector for 40. under 200 and completely new

dionisk · 12/07/2012, 01:42 PM

I already got something else. See above

Michigan Mike · 12/07/2012, 01:55 PM

Good deal, I got a 24" 150w HQI and two bulbs /4x24w T5 (all current 420&460nm)/ lue & white LED moonlights the legs and hanging kit for $100. The newer version had 4 T5 bulbs instead of 2 PC bulbs.

Yes you should be able to find the legs (wont help you, sorry...unless you mount it sideways as the legs are 15" apart but can slide towards the center and screw in place.) and mounting kit somewhere, there are still parts out there for these fixtures, except the moonlights...there's a different kind now, I think.

The 150w fixture should turn the fan on with the HQI , there are other models that turn the fan on with the T5's, mine turns on with the HQI.

The HQI will not turn on right away if you accidentally get a short power loss or turn it off and on right away. After 5 minutes it should turn on again, no problem.

dionisk · 12/07/2012, 02:02 PM

Could the fan be temperature dependent? Irrelevant of either being on the fan doesn't start. Though I havnt had the light on for longer than ten minutes.

I'm not sure that the feet for the fixture will work, as it's shorter length wise and fatter width wise than my tank. Hanging also wouldn't work due to living in an apartment. I'm thinking I might buy some kind of blocks and raise it off the tank with them on the corners, or maybe create some kind of legs myself.

zakstrong · 12/08/2012, 01:12 AM

i believe the fans are wired to the halides. pull the cover and see if it is hardwired or switched

12/05/2012, 11:11 AM	#1
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	Is this a good deal for a metal halide? "250w PFO HQI metal halide unit for saltwater reef or fish tank aquarium. It comes with a 1 month old phoenix HQI bulb. entire unit is in perfect working order and is only 1.5yrs old. well kept. package includes 250w ballast, bulb and reflector unit." $175

12/05/2012, 12:54 PM	#4
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I think PFO officially closed the doors in early 2009 so it is questionable how it can only be 1.5 years old. It is not a bad deal but probably a little on the high side for used equipment. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

12/05/2012, 01:11 PM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I would offer $100 bucks but would not do more than $125 __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

12/06/2012, 06:04 PM	#11
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	Well, today I grabbed another deal. For 50 dollars is what appears to be a 24" current usa outer orbit 150watt metal halide hqi plus 2x65watt t5ho actinics. It works fine, but no legs and no hanging kit came with it. It's also a bit wider than my tank (15" vs 12"). Also not sure of if I should replace the bulbs and with what. The woman said she had the light stowed away in her closet for at least a year. The other thing that concerns me is that so far I've had it on for ten minutes and the fan did not turn on. Does it take longer for it to? Also I turned it off and the halide bulb won't turn on. It sounds like electricity is flowing through, but no light. Did it overheat or is this something metal halide does if you try turning it on again soon after it's off? This is my first metal halide as you can see. Last edited by dionisk; 12/06/2012 at 06:16 PM.

12/05/2012, 12:05 PM	#2
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	Not much info, I think its high myself. Find out what pendant/reflector it is, the Phoenix bulbs are around $50 new, pfo magnetic m-80 style ballasts can be gotten for around $70 new (hamilton reeflex cube) and pfo reflectors are cheap. I picked up 150w Phoenix bulb (slightly used) with m-81 sunlight supply's bluewave ballast and reef optix pendant, all for $50.

12/05/2012, 12:49 PM	#3
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	All that he is saying is that it's "pfo pendant and pfo reflector " Here's the Craigslist http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/for/3384657827.html

12/05/2012, 01:02 PM	#5
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	What price do you recommend I try and get it down to?

12/05/2012, 01:37 PM	#8
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	Thanks. Going to pass on this one. The guy doesn't want to go that low. Trying to slowly convert my 37gallon freshwater to a reef without breaking the bank.

12/05/2012, 03:21 PM	#9
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	That is a decent pendant but I doubt he will get what he wants for it but some people dont look around or live in a area where you find good deals. Miami,IDK,seems like there would be a lot of reefers, nut also lot of money...so..ya. Used equipment/bulbs are a dime a dozen, if he wants to get rid of it he will come down...it just may take him time to realize it. Observe and be patient.

12/05/2012, 11:41 PM	#10
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Check Aqua Medic home site and Aqua Cave they have good deals on their lighting.

12/06/2012, 08:14 PM	#12
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	http://www.directaquarium.com/Curren...in-p/10433.htm It's that light. Not sure how to mount it, don't want to hang it due to being in an apartment. Maybe get the mounting legs and somehow right them to fit my tanks dimensions?

12/07/2012, 11:20 AM	#13
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Halides are not suppose to turn off an on, there should be a 15 minute interval. I do have an extra hanging kit for Current, Call current and see if you can get a mount kit.

12/07/2012, 01:31 PM	#14
zakstrong Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 357	get aqua medic ballast for 70 bulb for 50-80 and diy reflector for 40. under 200 and completely new

12/07/2012, 01:42 PM	#15
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	I already got something else. See above

12/07/2012, 01:55 PM	#16
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	Good deal, I got a 24" 150w HQI and two bulbs /4x24w T5 (all current 420&460nm)/ lue & white LED moonlights the legs and hanging kit for $100. The newer version had 4 T5 bulbs instead of 2 PC bulbs. Yes you should be able to find the legs (wont help you, sorry...unless you mount it sideways as the legs are 15" apart but can slide towards the center and screw in place.) and mounting kit somewhere, there are still parts out there for these fixtures, except the moonlights...there's a different kind now, I think. The 150w fixture should turn the fan on with the HQI , there are other models that turn the fan on with the T5's, mine turns on with the HQI. The HQI will not turn on right away if you accidentally get a short power loss or turn it off and on right away. After 5 minutes it should turn on again, no problem.

12/07/2012, 02:02 PM	#17
dionisk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 27	Could the fan be temperature dependent? Irrelevant of either being on the fan doesn't start. Though I havnt had the light on for longer than ten minutes. I'm not sure that the feet for the fixture will work, as it's shorter length wise and fatter width wise than my tank. Hanging also wouldn't work due to living in an apartment. I'm thinking I might buy some kind of blocks and raise it off the tank with them on the corners, or maybe create some kind of legs myself.

12/08/2012, 01:12 AM	#18
zakstrong Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 357	i believe the fans are wired to the halides. pull the cover and see if it is hardwired or switched