70 watt halides?

[scubasteve247]

looking at new lighting system for 72 gallon bow front, want halides but most are two hot,

im thinking 2 70wt HQI and possible vho or pc's

any one know where i can get some either used or online real cheap, i dont have a large budget???

[Salamander]

Check out hellolights, champion lighting or sunlight supply for new products...there are many good online vendors.

[hahnmeister]

not worth it. The bulbs, and most of the equipment (with rare exception...www.illuming.com) are just as much in cost as 150 or 250watt bulbs/ballasts. Their output is dismal except for the Ushio...but even at that... there are only something like 4 bulbs made that are 70watts...none with outputs that are enything special...

Aqualine 20,000K
Ushio 10,000K
Aqualine 10,000K
Astralux 14,000K
(I should add the Tunze 15,000K, but its no longer available in the US)

I can get 250wattDE pheonix bulbs cheaper, and its a better bulb. Heck, the 150watter is a better bulb.

Besides, I doubt that even the Ushio would penetrate very well in a 72g bowfront. I would look at dual 150s or 250s.

[Salamander]

I agree with disco stu..er Hahnmeister...70 watts is pretty insignificant and not worth the limitations and expense when for a little more you could have more. You'd be much better off with MH 150's or 250's on your 72g with supplemental VHO, T5 or PC's.

[SCR]

Lowes has the 70 watt MH fixtures if you really want them. There about 65 each and you may have to modify them to fit your needs.

[scubasteve247]

see the problem with the the 150's or higher is the heat, i dont have enought money for a chiler. and i dont want to keep the lights high above the tank. so that kinda limits me also. the thing i like about the 70 w is they produce very very litte heat.

so im thinking about combining two of those with either pc's or vho;s

[heuerfan]

Depends on what you plan on putting in your tank. I have a 72 gallon bowfront and started out with 260 watt power compact fixture made by Current (now known as Orbit). I keep LPS and Softies and wanted to add the shimmering efect of metal halides so i retrofitted 2x70 watt halides to the fixture. Looks great and its actually very bright. I am planning on upgrading to 2x150 watts for my clams, just need to change ballast and bulbs.

Good luck,
Steven

[hahnmeister]

heuerfan, you need to change the sockets and possibly the whole reflector as well...150wattDE bulbs are longer than 70watt.

My halide lit tanks run cooler than anything else. Sure, the point at where the bulb is hotter than anything else, but thats just one concentrated point of heat. Compare this to an entire canopy of VHOs, PC, or T5. They sit closer to the water, often meaning a glass cover is used to protect the bulbs. This creates a pocket of air that reduces gas exchange and heats the water. With halide, I can run a fan or two that blows across the surface of the water...and evaporative cooling is all I need to keep the tank at 80-82 degrees...even if I let the A/C off and the room gets up to 95 degrees, a 40g tank is still just over 80 with a 250watt halide over it. Also, halides are usually mounted farther away from the water's surface. The idea that using halides = needing a chiller is a myth.

I find halides easier to cool with then other light sources, but in your case you also mentioned you want to mount them closer to the surface...something I just wouldnt do with halides.

I think you should consider going with T5s instead.

[scubasteve247]

i might, im gonna buy my lights from catalina, there bulbs arnt good but the fixtures are,

im gonna buy the 2 70watt for 220 and then either go with pcs or t5's,. ill get more wats with pcs for the same price though

[hahnmeister]

the wattage doesnt matter, 1 watt of T5 is prolly equal to 2 watts PC...they are that bright.