NoobtoSalt Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 So I have been holding out for a specific deal to go through and have been offered a 6 bulb T5 setup that I might end up getting but I wanted to see if anyone has a 48" MH setup that has feet to mount on the tank for sale. I have high ceilings and my wife would not be ok with the lights hanging from the ceiling so it does have to be mountable. Priced anywhere from $350 or less. There is a setup on craigslist that I have emailed on but have gotten no reply. I want to do something no later than Friday. I have already lost some of my sps corals and I'm pretty sure its because I'm running CF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanareef Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Instead of from the ceiling I did this my hanging pendant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 I like this idea. Thanks for the input. now I just need to find the fixture to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I can set you up with stainless steel marine tubing and fittings (7/8 x .065) and put professional bends in it to hang a fixture from. I can bend one up like this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 I'm interested Rick. Let me know what aprox cost is involved. I'm heading out to SWF and Seahorse in a bit to see what they have for lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I have some extra tubing from another job still so I can do a pair for $50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 So I just showed my wife the hanging option and she's not crazy about it suprise, suprise...lol So now she gets to see how much a unit will cost with feet on it.... this is going to be good. Any suggestions to keep it below $500 other than the odyssea lights? She may end up deciding it's ok to have them hang after she sees the prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 If your not in a hurry then I would just wait until one pops up for sale here. Also keep an eye on Craigslist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Someone was showing me a dual DE MH w/4-65 watt actinics on craigslist earlier today-I think it was the same fixture I have. The seller did not know the wattage of the MH, its pretty simple to tell between 150 and 250 though, they have totally different ends Anyway they wanted 175.00 I now a seller where you could get brand new bulbs for another 150.00 at he most-I think. Just an FYI PM if you are wanting info on the bulbs-I'm not subscribed to this thread Good luck with the wife-Here we have seperate bank accounts-I find that a bonus Are you handy with tools? I built my own stand and canopy for around 100.00 and could have gone cheaper-nothing to it if you have the right tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 I emailed them a few days ago and they never got back to me. I sent a friendly reminder to them again today. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 Still looking for a decent light setup. I talked to Patrick today but I got the no go from the wife for spending $800 on lights. I saw another setup on ebay that supposedly is being run by workhorse balasts with 250w MH? from what I understand from the guys at SWF they don't make a balast that will run MH properly. They were not positive but does anyone have any info about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 nwcoralfarm has a duel 175watt setup that is 36inches that he offered me but I dont think it will work for me, but it may work for you, it dosnt have feet but with the hanger system Rick can make for ya, you could center it on your 4foot tank and it may look sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 The more and more I look I think I'm going to lean towards getting the odyssea light system. It sounds like it should work for me for a year or so and I'm sure I could sell it for a decent price at that time when I can afford a nicer setup. I've already lost quite a few pieces of coral in the tank due to poor lighting and not looking forward to having the same issue for a long period of time. It sounds like enough people on the forum have these light systems and even though it's a cheaper setup it sounds like they work fine. All these decisions...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Go for it Jesse, I'm probably going to end up getting one as well, just can't decide to go with the 36" fixture or the 24" that has all the bells an whistles LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 So now the questions is do I get the one with 4 65w PC or wait for the 4 54w T5 setup? both have 250w MH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Well, I do believe the T5's are cheaper, the bulbs that is, so....... LOL it's really up to you, all they're there for is to make the corals color pop when the halides are off LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 If it were me I'd go with the "best" fixture and quality MH. I run 175/400 MH with VHO 3- Actinic and 1 Aquasun (white) and have great lighting. The T-5's will give you the same, if one fixture will control the lights individually go with that. I do blue in the am..white/MH... then white/blue late at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Well' date=' I do believe the T5's are cheaper, the bulbs that is, so....... LOL it's really up to you, all they're there for is to make the corals color pop when the halides are off LOL.[/quote'] Ah, negative on that Mick, have you bought T5's before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 nope, tahts why i said i believe :P I do stand corrected LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMiller Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Re: WTB: In desperate need of MH lighting. Pc lights are about $45 a bulb and t5's are around $20... I'd go with the t5's!!! Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 While I agree that your lighting may not be the "best" that you can get in the hobby, I think a 4 x 65w PC system with clean reflectors and less than 9 month old bulbs can keep just about any coral alive. You could even have CRAZY colored SPS under that fixture, as long as they were in the top 6" of the water colum, directly under the fixture. (laugh) Stop by the store on a Sunday sometime. Bring me a water sample. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 I'm guessing the bulbs are older than 9 months but I lost some hard corals between my tang picking at it and the lighting. I'm sure it didn't start picking at it until it saw that the coral was dying though. I think I'm going to try to sell off a few things first before I jump in and get a cheaper setup. I'd like the Sunlight Supply one that Patrick has at his shop and I think I'm leaning more towards just saving some cash and getting that one within the month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 How long did the corals last before they started to die? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 about two to two and a half weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 What are your water paramiters and what livestock do you have? Do you use purifyed water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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