new lighting...

[vest0830]

I got around recruiting...so we are staying here for now. Lindsay and I are going to move into town (I love my house, hate the towers, and I know some of you will tell me im crazy) so we are going to move into town. We found a place that is still in the process of being built, so we are going to move there. Im not going to run my 2 250w halides over the tank for sheer fact of electricity.

Im considering these lights:
http://www.hellolights.com/362x39wtekli.html

Now I know hellolights.com wont ship to us but I can have them shipped to my parents or something and then shipped to me.

My tank is 55g, and around 18" deep I believe, with about a 4"sandbed. The tank is mostly stocked with softies, and a few clams. Think I should run 4 bulbs, or could I get away with 2?

am I being retarded with that question?

Edit:
once I get these, I will have my halides for sale. 2;250w icecap ballasts, reflectors, wiring, everything. I will sell them cheap. They will need new bulbs though...

[vest0830]

Mike showed me this:
very tempting!
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=692

[Dastank]

I would go with 48" lights and you might consider this:
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=688

If you kept one of your IceCap 660 balast we could make you a 4 bulb system. IMO I think your going to want 4 bulbs if your going to go with a T5 only system. Might be better to sell one complete MH system if your going to get rid of it cheap anyway.

[Dastank]

With the IceCap 660 balast you already have, we could build you a four bulb 48" system for $120 to $150 plus bulbs.

The IcaCap 4 bulb 48" retro is $350.00

[vest0830]

I didnt think that my ballasts would work with T5's. I would keep them if I could! 4 bulb 48" system would rock!

[jeffb3t]

Sure it will. Mike will run a 660 on his tank. If the GOV paying for your house and elec/water?

[vest0830]

yeah, they are payin for it, in a sense....but they give me like $500 to cover utilities. in the summer...im expecting to spend that in electric alone.

[jeffb3t]

Ouch! yeah, T-5 is the way to go

[vest0830]

So that 48" system will be the key then huh? 4 bulbs, 48" system. I dont get how the ballasts will work? Am I missing something here? What else would I need to buy, the ballasts are the expensive thing....4 bulbs would run me what....$100 total, the endcaps are pretty cheap as well...

[jeffb3t]

the bulbs are wired in series which is ok but when one burns out, they are all out. Best to have spares on hand just in case.

[vest0830]

So bulbs and endcaps are all thats needed? you just wire them in series? dang, tahts going to be a few cases of beer to accomplish this.

The realtor said the place would be ready aorund beg. of Febuary, so I gotta get to ordering stuff!

Im going to order these fans as well.
http://www.windydayzz.com/
a pair of homemade icecap temp contolled fans for $25.
Well worth the $$.

[vest0830]

So what all will I need to order then?

[jeffb3t]

You will need:
endcaps (waterproof)
endcap mounts
reflectors
bulbs

wires and screws can be picked up here.

[vest0830]

My ballasts are not the 660 model :(

[jeffb3t]

What model is it?

[vest0830]

Just a straight 250w ballast. It is about 3 years old...

im just going to order a new tek t5 kit and throw this for sale, locally I think I can get a pretty decent yennie for it....not $$. ;)

[jeffb3t]

HMMM, if I can build a 5 foot tank.... I might need an extra bulb or two...

[vest0830]

I thought you already had halides?

[jeffb3t]

I do but another bulb or two wouldn't hurt if I go longer than 4 foot.

[vest0830]

so yoru gonna get rid of the tank you have now? im confused.

I'll sell this system for what it will cost me to buy my T-5 kit, which looks like its gonna be around $350- give or tank a little bit, shipped.

I think my halides are well worth that IMO.

[jeffb3t]

I haven't given up on the 75 just yet but thoughts have been running through my head about buying plate glass and building a 150gl tank. The stand will need a slight modification but won't take that long and it is build to hold a lot more that what a full 150 will weigh. Teto said he was going to check into glass for me at the shop where he got his cut. He got a great deal and I'm hoping that 1/2 inch will be somewhat affordable. We will just say that if the price for the plate glass is under $500 then there is a really good chance the 75 will never see water.

[vest0830]

:(

I Listed the halides for $400, all I want out of them is enough to cover the costs of a 4 bulb T-5 set-up.

[jeffb3t]

A good retro will cost a lot less than $400 with bulbs. You are looking at retros right and not the teklight hood?

[vest0830]

yeah, I think I can get T-5's with bulbs, shipped.....around $330-$350. Thats a bit on the steepside also.

[jeffb3t]

Maybe if Dastank is really nice, he will post some pics of the teksreflectors versus the icecap to help you decide. (you might have to call him though... he is on winter break and is probably hibernating right about now)

[vest0830]

Yeah, he was telling me. I will probably be heading over to his house to bug him on his tank... im gonna check them out tommorow.

[jeffb3t]

He told me that the icecap relectors are better than the teks but I have yet to see them in person.

[vest0830]

I saw them this afternoon. Very nice product!

[jeffb3t]

So, what are you going with?

[vest0830]

4bulb T-5. Probably Tek retro. I am going to try to get the icecap reflectors.

I really really really need to get this ordered. We went camping this weekend, pretty much all weekend, so I havent had the chance to sit down and figure it up. There is lots im going to have to do with the tank when we move. Especially if im going to make it a devider.


I'm going to have to put my car on the backburner and rebuild alot of things on the tank. Id also like to get a new return pump, oceans motions system and im going to have to rebuild the hood.