Need opinions please

[Ratpack]

After some discussion, the wife and I have decided that right now is not the time to setup the 75g tank. Just don't have a good place for it and all the back to school and falls activities will limit our time. Maybe around the first of the year when we have figured out what to do with our sunroom.

So that brings me to my question. I have a 47g tank set up and been running just over a year now. I have softies, LPS and a couple Monti caps. The lighting is PC and everything is growing great, but I have the desire to do more SPS. Hence the reason for the 75g. However, I know the PC will not sustain the SPS very well. So what I am wanting or at least think I am wanting, is a single MH over the center (tank is 20" x 20" square) and use a 20K bulb without actinics. The reason is to keep cost down. Since I know this tank is not long term, I hate to dump much more into it, but I really want some SPS.

Now with all that, what would you folks recommend to keep the cost way down and still get MH over my tank? I thought of the fixtures on Ebay but I hear they are undersized, but could you run a 150w bulb in a 250w fixture to make it a true 150w system? There is also the fire risk with those things. So I am open to any and all suggestions, just make them low cost.

[Hop]

You can't run a 150 watt bulb in a 250 watt fixture

With a 20K you will want 250 IMO. The par of the 175 and 150s in 20k are nil...

You could retro a nice unit, or buy an all encompassing MH set up with a good hood and remote ballast.

[crvz]

Agreed with Hop. The best lighting for that scenario would be a 250W MH setup, especially considering costs, and I'd probably lean towards a retrofit. I new MH setup for a single 250W bulb would probably be in the $300 range (including the ballast, wiring, reflector, and bulb), but I'd bet you could find a used one for about half that. Keep your eyes peeled on selling forums and I'm sure you'll find something by the first of the year. Be patient and persistent.

[Ratpack]

Thanks, I will definitely look into 250w. The reason for the 20K is to hopefully not have to have actinics. As I mentioned, this is just to tide me over and let me have SPS until I can get the 75g up and running. For that I have a nice brand new TEK 6x54 fixture sitting on top of the empty tank. That's why I don't won't to spend a lot on a light for this one. Once the 75g is up and running, I will in all likelyhood, sell the MH.

[crvz]

What's low cost for you? And how are you sitting on an empty 75 gallon for so long?!? I'd never make it.

[Ratpack]

Since it is not a long term tank, low cost would be about $150 give or take.

As for the 75g, it is a project and has changed designs many times. It really has become a temporary tank as well, just the next phase of the master plan. Once the housing market comes back, the wife and I are going to unload our current house and build a new one. That one will have a basement for me which will house a theater room and an in wall tank of at least 180g if not bigger. Then the 75g becomes a frag tank or fuge.

[crvz]

Ah, to have a basement. Sounds like a fun plan, I'm sure you wish it werent contingent on the economy!

[Loverotties]

Check E-Bay and craig list.