Lighting Options

[essexboy73]

Well ....im trying to upgrade my lighting system and i have a few diff ideas and need some opinions...never can have too many!!

As of right now im running a PC with 192w of light over my 46 gallon bowfront. Ive been thingking about diff otions of upgrades and ive got a few ideas.

1. Adding a 150w DIY metal halide and kinda fit it behind the PC and point in down as best as i can. I dont think that it would be very astheticaly pleasing but it would add alot of light for littel money!

2. Buy a second PC and just place the two side by side. This woud add another 192 watts and would look better then the retro halide. I was woundering what you guys think that i would be able to grow with this set up Vs. having a MH.

3. buy a canopy and put a DIY mh~250w in the middle. Take apart my PC and use the two fix for an added 96 atinic and 96 daylight. This would be the most expensive and the longest project.


Just wanted to know what you think would be the best. Im trying to be able to grow just about anything that i want!!

[Pappy]

I have a 260 watt pc and a 96 watt pc on my 72 gallon bowfront. I haven't been real impressed so I was thinking of adding a 175 MH. After some thought and feedback from others I decided I didn't have enough room under my hood and building a new one was more work than I care for right now. I decided on leaving my 260 watt pc toward the back of the hood and adding dual 36 inch VHO retros to the front. The VHO's will be 200 watts and I hope it will do the trick. I found what I think is a good deal on aquadirect.com. It was $114 including shipping for lamps, endcaps, bare ballast, Vari clamps and wiring harness. I'm going to use a relector from an old standard fluorescent light for now. If you want to check they have several options. If you want to see the kit I ordered its under
http://www.aquadirect.com/store/customer/home.php?cat=413
I guess I'll see next week how it looks.