DIY metal halide

[jrockssvt]

I need help. I know there has to be a cheaper way to do a MH setup. I want to do a 70w retrofit in a custom canopy on my Biocube 8. Can I not just buy a bulb online and go to home depot and buy a ballast. Or should I just spend 160.00 on a full 70w setup? Thanks for the help.

[Rysam]

as long as the ballast wattage matches the bulb you're good to go.

[30mini]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12504706#post12504706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kinghokus420
as long as the ballast wattage matches the bulb you're good to go.
This is not entirely true. You also have to make sure you buying the correct ballast for the bulb. There is HPS ballasts out there, as well as MH ballasts. You do have to be careful here... the old "as long as wattage matches" trick won't work here.

[viruzjk]

check ebay im pretty sure you can get the full setup for under 160. probably for about 100.

[rescuediver]

Try hellolights.com they have a good pricing

[alpine]

I got the parts for my 70watt hqi setup off ebay for under $75.Your best bet is to use an electronic ballast. Its kind of hard finding a magnetic one that will work for a 70watt hqi bulb. I believe www.ballastwise.com has the ballast's for $29.99,all you need is a bulb & fixture after that. www.hellolights.com has a hqi fixture for 39.99 & the bulb is up to you.I personally bought one of the cheap 20k ones off of ebay for $12 shipped.

HTH

[jrockssvt]

Thanks for the help guys. I knew there would have to be a cheaper way.

[impur]

I spent about 50 bucks total on my 70w MH. Found a magnetic ballast on ebay for 20 bucks. 20 bucks for the bulb at a LFS, 7 for the fixture at HD plus a few bucks for the wiring.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6060189.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6030160.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/DIY/P6060186.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/impur/P8140195.jpg

[BlakDuc]

The bulb is the expensive part and you should really not skimp on it. The ebay bulbs suck. IMO, you should just get a 150w ballast so your choice of bulbs is much more.

[Rysam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12504796#post12504796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 30mini
This is not entirely true. You also have to make sure you buying the correct ballast for the bulb. There is HPS ballasts out there, as well as MH ballasts. You do have to be careful here... the old "as long as wattage matches" trick won't work here.

i gave him the benefit of the doubt since he was asking about MH and not HPS.
:rolleyes:

[alpine]

BlakDuc

Have you used the ebay bulbs before?I only ask because I have a 70 watt 20k that I bought to use on a frag tank.

[BlakDuc]

I had 2 of the SE 175w bulbs that were supposed to be 10K. They put out less light than a PC bulb. Both of them. I wouldn't buy another one.

[alpine]

BlakDuc
I wonder if it could of been a bad batch.The 70 watt hqi bulb I got is pretty bright and blue as heck.Not as bright as my 250 watt sunburts,but its pretty bright for a 70 watt hqi imo.

impur
Lol, I got that exact same ballast, I also got an electronic one as well.For a 70 watt ballast that sucker sure is heavy.

[Giga]

With a little elbow grease you can creat something like this for 50$. this is a 70W I made out of a 9$ halogen fixture aluminium sheets and bulb of ebay

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4677/dscn0370zi0.jpg
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/5899/dscn0369jb8.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9299/dscn0320sh3.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9584/dscn0313rb9.jpg
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3021/dscn0345zg7.jpg

[sscherin]

Don't forget to stop by the ranch & home or army surplus and pick up an ammo can to use as a ballast enclosure.

[BlakDuc]

If you are going to be keeping any corals that are very sensitive to light, get a good bulb. Otherwise, if it is SPS, you will probably just turn it brown. If they were good, do you think people would be spending $50-$150 on other bulbs? I run either Reeflux or XM bulbs that are around $60 each, I think it is well worth it for the amazing colors I get.

[impur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12509396#post12509396 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alpine
BlakDuc
I wonder if it could of been a bad batch.The 70 watt hqi bulb I got is pretty bright and blue as heck.Not as bright as my 250 watt sunburts,but its pretty bright for a 70 watt hqi imo.

impur
Lol, I got that exact same ballast, I also got an electronic one as well.For a 70 watt ballast that sucker sure is heavy.


I hear that. Its about twice as long and more than double the weight of my 250w eballast. :lol: