Making my own DIY reto kit

[Mikeman]

Since I'm making my own reflector I'm wondering if its worth just ordering a ballast, socket, bulbs and the other stuff you need to get the stuff to make light. I'd like to run 2 250w metal halide bulbs on seperate sides of the tank. It it possible to do this, does it save money, should I do it? What do I need?

thanks guys

[chromis]

I knew you would go for the 250's. I would go to premium aquatics, thats where Im getting my dual retro kit. Its about $335, alot cheaper then marine depot. I saw a guy over on RC who built a hanging fixture modeled after PFO and when my dad gets back from vacation we are going to build it. Since you want to go with 2 bulbs on each side I would get the perpendicular reflectors at PA. THese will prevent a "shadow" effect and provide good coverage.

HTH
Andrew

[Ltspd]

250w mag ballast from a place liek greybar will run you around 40 each, sockets about 15 each and the wire is cheap. You would need to enclose the ballast, IMO, for safety. I would also suggest wiring a on/off switch into the enclouse to be able to shut the lights off easier. I know there is a good DIY article floating around on how and what to buy.

[chromis]

here is where I determined that the PFO ballasts are worth the extra money.

[thezookeeper]

I argued with myself over this same issue when I was deciding. In the end, I had someone who was fairly okay with wiring and some time to set it up. If you want, feel free to look on my website where I primarily posted the pics for the people who wondered how the diy project looked. If you don't know wiring, you are probably better off getting PFO. FWIW, I probably saved about $60-80 overall. I could have saved more, but I opted for the spider reflector type things. HTH


Joanne

[Mikeman]

ok is this all I need?

1 PFO Dual Metal Halide Ballast-143.10
2 250w 6700k Bulbs-119.98
2 PFO Mogule Socket Assembly w/cord-39.95

total price- 303.03 without shipping


Is this all I need? I'm making my own reflector so I dont need that?

thanks

[chromis]

if your going to make your own reflector, then yeah

[mgk65]

I think that the additional $40 for the reflectors would be worthwhile.

The PFO optimim reflector is an essential part of the lighting system and should not be skimped.

You would also save a few dollars by purchasing the items from www.reefland.com; I know that I did.

mgk

[chromis]

mgk65, is that a perpendicular reflector? Thats what comes with the premium aquatics kit.

[mgk65]

Yes, it is.

But that is not what Mikeman wants to get. He had 2 mogul sockets only, while wanting to make a reflector; which is not a good idea.

mgk

[Mikeman]

for a reflector I'm using tin foil glued in the canopy, I beleave scubadude is doing this, the only bad thing is you can shock yourself pretty bad.

[chromis]

umm, how to say this. that is really not a good reflector for your tank. It works on scubadudes because he only has a 20. Just thinking of tin foil in a canopy heated by MHs makes me shudder. I am thinking FIRE!! Not only the fire issue(which should be enough to make you buy a reflector) but it really is a poor reflective material. You will have a shadow where your center brace is. This will not spread the light but just make it bounce all over the place. The PFO optimum mgk65 is talking about is a perpendicular reflector which will spread the light lengthwise. I am sure others will have other, better reasons for not using tin foil.