Want to upgrade lighting myself

[coral_diver]

Hey all hope everyone is doing well! I really want to upgrade my PC's that I have on my 37corner bow. Lenght of the unit I have now is 24. I have been looking around and am wondering is this something that I can make somehow cheap like with stuff from the hardware store? I am really handy so I think I can handle this but money is tight also as most of you know. I would love to have MH with either PC's or VHO or even just VHO's would improve my PC's....I dont know give me some ideas and how to's please thanks! :crowd:

[EmperorA]

If I were you I would check out some of the ebay auctions. I have had a lot of luck finding great deals on power compacts, halides, and VHO set-ups.

[maxwellwhothunk]

MH retro
1- M58 ballast (~$55 @ businesslights.com)
1- Lamp 250w ($60 @ hellolights.com)
1- Mogul Lamp base, edison wiring kit ($10-15 @ hellolights.com)

Optional 1 reflector (~$20 @ hellolights.com)

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/articles/DIY_MH.html I figure I might as well throw this out again... it might be down your alley!

[bigfoot]

welllllllllll i can make it alot cheaper here you go :)

http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProducts.asp?ProductFamilyID=3

[reefpaddler]

Have you bought anything from e-conolight and if so which one? Does it have the protective cover that won't burn corals?

[bigfoot]

i personaly have not you dont need to really worry about burning corals unless you are running HQI bulbs single ended bulbs are encased in uv blocking glass so you can use them directly above the tank without a uv shield

[maxwellwhothunk]

Nice find Luke, I wish you would have mentioned that before, when I did my halide retro! LOL

But actually there is still UV light that is coming out of the single ended metal halide lamps just no where near as much as there is with HQIs. So it really isn't that much of an issue.