DIY or retrofit MH

heatdissipation · 08/30/2006, 04:20 PM

I am trying to figure out if I should just suck it up and spend the $1000 bucks and get a retrofit, or try a DIY. I want 3 250 watt 10000k MH, and 4 36 pc actinics.

https://www82.safesecureweb.com/weba...ry_Code=CAP2HL

I found this one, but 1300, damn, can anyone please help me to make up my mind. I am driving my wife crazy with indecisions in starting this tank.

Charlie Davidson · 08/30/2006, 04:28 PM

IMHO,, Again IMHO-- Stop bugging your wife

Seriously, do you have any reefclubs in the area? good LFS?

heatdissipation · 08/30/2006, 04:30 PM

not really since we moved, I just moved to Williamsport PA from philly. LFS, havent found a good one around here yet.

j_gilbert · 08/30/2006, 04:33 PM

I made my own for about half that price. I would spend that kind of money on that.

Charlie Davidson · 08/30/2006, 04:41 PM

Wait a while! Find some locals! I know there are some

Search the reef club forums! do alot of reading here on RC! then spend the money.. If its eating a hole in your pocket-- buy something cheap or used, that you can resell (normallly 1/2 what you paid new) untill you see what you what!
You looking at a SPS tank?

Charlie Davidson · 08/30/2006, 04:48 PM

Also--- do yourself a big favor!!! Buy a "good" skimmer! (first) By that, I mean the best your buget can do! buy a poor to mid-line skimmer and the best lighting can't do squat to keep corals!

heatdissipation · 08/30/2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by j_gilbert
I made my own for about half that price. I would spend that kind of money on that.

you would spend that much, or wouldnt?

I have been searching and researching for 2yrs on this tank, waiting till we moved before I turned it into a reef tank. I am getting impatient...lol, but really want to get some of this done, I still have to build my sump and fuge, buy a new skimmer, and get lights, then I will be ready to fill it up.

heatdissipation · 08/30/2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Charlie Davidson
Also--- do yourself a big favor!!! Buy a "good" skimmer! (first) By that, I mean the best your buget can do! buy a poor to mid-line skimmer and the best lighting can't do squat to keep corals!

I bought a skimmer from a lfs in Philly, they said it was a great skimmer, but after researching it after I bought it, (I know, should have done it the other way around) I found out it really isnt all that good of a skimmer.

I have to get the lighting now, as my wife is willing to gve me a good chunk of money now to buy lighting, if I buy a skimmer now and not the lighting, then later she might not give me the same budget as she is now.

And I wear the pants around this house when she isnt here.....

Charlie Davidson · 08/30/2006, 05:00 PM

Don't buy it! he gave good info! But--- please don't go off of just one persons... you have only 30 posts here on RC.. spend a week reading/ asking questions--- you will not be sorry!!!
Sorry j_gilbert you are proably "OK"--- But IMHO, Mr Welder---do not give much "weight" to those that will not give info on themselves (location, occupation)

Charlie Davidson · 08/30/2006, 05:02 PM

I am a slow typer! don't buy the lights!

jgarrison · 08/30/2006, 05:03 PM

Build your own but take your time don't rush because you will make mistakes.

mg426 · 08/30/2006, 05:28 PM

Have you tried looking here yet?? WWW.hellolights.com

heatdissipation · 08/30/2006, 06:11 PM

I am not going to buy it tonight...just trying to figure out what I want to do.... I have looked on hellolights, and know what I need to do to build one, but just wondering maybe thinking aloud that just spending the money and buying the whole setup would be one less thing I have to do to finally get my tank going.

The only thing I am having trouble with on building one is the reflector, I can make one at work, but should I use polished aluminum, or 12 gauge steel with a good coat of white paint over it, does white really reflect as good as I have read?

08/30/2006, 04:20 PM	#1
heatdissipation Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Shore PA Posts: 257	DIY or retrofit MH I am trying to figure out if I should just suck it up and spend the $1000 bucks and get a retrofit, or try a DIY. I want 3 250 watt 10000k MH, and 4 36 pc actinics. https://www82.safesecureweb.com/weba...ry_Code=CAP2HL I found this one, but 1300, damn, can anyone please help me to make up my mind. I am driving my wife crazy with indecisions in starting this tank.

08/30/2006, 04:28 PM	#2
Charlie Davidson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Deltaville , Va Posts: 10,977	IMHO,, Again IMHO-- Stop bugging your wife Seriously, do you have any reefclubs in the area? good LFS? __________________ Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :)

08/30/2006, 04:41 PM	#5
Charlie Davidson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Deltaville , Va Posts: 10,977	Wait a while! Find some locals! I know there are some Search the reef club forums! do alot of reading here on RC! then spend the money.. If its eating a hole in your pocket-- buy something cheap or used, that you can resell (normallly 1/2 what you paid new) untill you see what you what! You looking at a SPS tank? __________________ Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :)

08/30/2006, 04:48 PM	#6
Charlie Davidson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Deltaville , Va Posts: 10,977	Also--- do yourself a big favor!!! Buy a "good" skimmer! (first) By that, I mean the best your buget can do! buy a poor to mid-line skimmer and the best lighting can't do squat to keep corals! __________________ Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :)

08/30/2006, 05:00 PM	#9
Charlie Davidson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Deltaville , Va Posts: 10,977	Don't buy it! he gave good info! But--- please don't go off of just one persons... you have only 30 posts here on RC.. spend a week reading/ asking questions--- you will not be sorry!!! Sorry j_gilbert you are proably "OK"--- But IMHO, Mr Welder---do not give much "weight" to those that will not give info on themselves (location, occupation) __________________ Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :)

08/30/2006, 04:30 PM	#3
heatdissipation Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Shore PA Posts: 257	not really since we moved, I just moved to Williamsport PA from philly. LFS, havent found a good one around here yet.

08/30/2006, 04:33 PM	#4
j_gilbert Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 83	I made my own for about half that price. I would spend that kind of money on that.

08/30/2006, 05:02 PM	#10
Charlie Davidson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Deltaville , Va Posts: 10,977	I am a slow typer! don't buy the lights! __________________ Richmond Reef Club Current Tank Info: Doing without for a while :)

08/30/2006, 05:03 PM	#11
jgarrison Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany NY Posts: 231	Build your own but take your time don't rush because you will make mistakes.

08/30/2006, 05:28 PM	#12
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Have you tried looking here yet?? WWW.hellolights.com __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

08/30/2006, 06:11 PM	#13
heatdissipation Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Shore PA Posts: 257	I am not going to buy it tonight...just trying to figure out what I want to do.... I have looked on hellolights, and know what I need to do to build one, but just wondering maybe thinking aloud that just spending the money and buying the whole setup would be one less thing I have to do to finally get my tank going. The only thing I am having trouble with on building one is the reflector, I can make one at work, but should I use polished aluminum, or 12 gauge steel with a good coat of white paint over it, does white really reflect as good as I have read?