Making my own DIY reto kit

Mikeman · 07-04-2001, 03:04 PM

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 · 07-04-2001, 04:02 PM

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 · 07-04-2001, 04:58 PM

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 · 07-04-2001, 06:10 PM

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

thezookeeper · 07-05-2001, 12:29 AM

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 · 07-05-2001, 06:04 PM

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 · 07-06-2001, 08:19 AM

if your going to make your own reflector, then yeah

mgk65 · 07-06-2001, 09:56 AM

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 · 07-06-2001, 11:03 AM

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

mgk65 · 07-06-2001, 11:30 AM

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 · 07-06-2001, 01:37 PM

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 · 07-06-2001, 03:51 PM

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.

07-04-2001, 03:04 PM	#1
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	Making my own DIY reto kit 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

07-04-2001, 04:02 PM	#2
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	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 Last edited by chromis; 07-06-2001 at 11:04 AM.

07-04-2001, 04:58 PM	#3
Ltspd Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Arden, NC USA Posts: 2,767	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. __________________ Paul C Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

07-05-2001, 12:29 AM	#5
thezookeeper Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pittsburgh,PA, USA Posts: 992	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 __________________ "Life savings? Sure, it's that brightly lit object sitting in the livingroom."

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07-04-2001, 06:10 PM	#4
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	here is where I determined that the PFO ballasts are worth the extra money.

07-05-2001, 06:04 PM	#6
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	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

07-06-2001, 08:19 AM	#7
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	if your going to make your own reflector, then yeah

07-06-2001, 09:56 AM	#8
mgk65 Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 154	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

07-06-2001, 11:03 AM	#9
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	mgk65, is that a perpendicular reflector? Thats what comes with the premium aquatics kit.

07-06-2001, 11:30 AM	#10
mgk65 Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 154	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

07-06-2001, 01:37 PM	#11
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	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.

07-06-2001, 03:51 PM	#12
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	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.

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