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View Full Version : 250w DE retro kit - need help finding good quality and price


br3nt
10/29/2009, 10:10 AM
hey all, looking for a reflector/bulb/ballast combo online and was hoping someone with more experience could lead me in the right direction.

i would like it to be a 250w, double ended with a blue/purple-er bulb. Looking to spend under 400 if possible.

found this and was wondering if it's a good deal or are there better deals out on the net:
http://www.aquacave.com/icecap-250w-double-endedbrhqi-metal-halide-retro-kit-1204.html

So, is icecap a decent ballast for halides?
Will a 250w be enough for clams residing on sand if the tank is 30' deep?

Huge thanks in advance.
Brent

tkeracer619
10/29/2009, 10:15 AM
What are the demensions of the tank? A 250w might be enough on a good reflector at 30" but not at 30' ;). A 400w would probably be better since you are looking for more blue. Will it be supplemented?

br3nt
10/29/2009, 10:45 AM
true, i'm setting up a tank for a zoo ;) 30' deep...

30inch deep yes, and yes it will be supplemented with t5 vho's

but why would the color change going from a 250 to 400w?

tkeracer619
10/29/2009, 11:05 AM
If you want a 250 you would probably want to go with a 10k bulb. If you wanted a blueish bulb they put out less light so you will need more wattage to get proper light at the bottom. Ill post here in a few with some options.

What are the full dimensions for the tank? It's hard to suggest a reflector without them.

tkeracer619
10/29/2009, 11:13 AM
This is the setup I would probably go with depending on width of the tank. Will give a nice blue coloration but not too blue. Would grow everything well and provide plenty of light for clams at the bottom.

Reflector $100
http://www.aquacave.com/lumen-max-metal-halidebr-pendant-reflectorbr-by-sunlight-supply-1137.html

Ballast $125
http://www.aquacave.com/blue-wave-1-400w-metalbrhalide-ballast-by-sunlightbrsupply-1178.html

Bulb $90
http://www.aquacave.com/radium-400w-20000kbrsingle-ended-metal-halide-lamp-1369.html

sjfishguy
10/29/2009, 12:09 PM
Where is the subscribe button now?

br3nt
10/29/2009, 01:24 PM
Well in the meantime i went to my LFS and they explained that at 36" deep (i thought it was 30 so that makes a big difference as far as i know) 250w bulbs, unless they are 10k will not penetrate deep enough to grow anything light intensive on the sand. And since i wanted to do 14k for that blueish hue that i have to step up to a 400w. And again since the other two halides are DE i wanted to stick with all the same kind of bulbs.

The tank is 72L x 36D x 18W = 200g?...

i did pick up two 5' t5 vho blue bulbs to supplement the halides and for dawn/dusk

br3nt
10/29/2009, 01:28 PM
So yeah, my question, is the local dude correct?

Since i want to go double ended with a 14k or 20k bulb do i need to go 400w to make sure there isn't anything i can't put in that tank?
If this is true, should i go 14 or 20 to give my tank a blue/purple feel to it?
How huge is the reflectors in this situation?

gah so many questions

nanojg
10/29/2009, 01:53 PM
For what you want I think you should get 3 x 400 watt radiums on hqi ballasts... you have almost no chance of getting any where near your $400 budget unless you want total crap.

BigMike75
10/29/2009, 01:57 PM
Where is the subscribe button now?

Under tread tools......

br3nt
10/29/2009, 04:11 PM
yeah the budget is toast. should have expected exactly that to begin with though.

So if HQI ballasts are the way to go, what would be a good brand. The lfs guy told me PFO (going out of business) or blue line/wave?