Kind of an Idiot, lighting

pnkpanther · 07-14-2005, 10:01 AM

Ok, so i've searched this forum and decided to go with VHO lighting. My problem is right now i have no canopy or anything. I'm also DIYchallenged.

Now I made the mistake of doing SOME but not Complete research when i bought my original stuff. Three months later, i'm upgrading. Just got a decent skimmer (thanks jermiah) and now onto lighting (then i hsould be set for a bit) Right now i have bear bones PC lighting, was originally get more wattage of PC..but anywho....so far my stuff is doing fine, i have a few corals that are hardy and only need moderate light, but i'm sure that'll change.

What is simplest way to set up a VHO lighting? I've found a hamliton VHO hood (i can just put that on my tank right, dont need to mount in a canopy or suspend it?) for about 300 bucks which can hold 4x95 VHO lights, so with lights and shipping it came to about 480, but i have a felling there is a cheaper way to do it.

**** lights are more then my tank/stand. Part of me might just upgrade to another PC, cause in about two years, i'll probably get a bigger tank and need whole new lights anyways, but ahh.

Just looking for ideas, and if anyone wants to help me out with DIY, that would be nice (again, i'm challenged and i own about four tools)

I'm looking to this next month (i'm fully tapped out this month already), so i got time.

pnkpanther · 07-14-2005, 10:03 AM

ooo i have 46 bowfront...it's 36x16x21

Clownnut · 07-14-2005, 10:08 AM

man 46G i will say 660Icecap. 2 36" 95W at the back the bow part use 24"75W. u can build a canopy or buy one.

jules77 · 07-14-2005, 11:02 AM

what do you currently have in the tank, and what do you plan to add in the future? If you are going to stick with softies and a few select LPS the PC's will do be just fine. If you want SPS you will definitely need to upgrade. What are you current lights? Is it one of the coralife fixtures? Hard to make a good reccomendation without having a better idea of what you have.

pnkpanther · 07-14-2005, 11:07 AM

right now i just a 96watt coralife PC fixture

was going to simply upgrade to a 2x96 and am back towards leaning towards that

jules77 · 07-14-2005, 11:22 AM

What you might think of doing is selling off your coralife fixture and upgradeing to a 2x 175w Metal Halide with 20k. I have 96 W of PC on my 30 hex tank which is quite deep. I hardly think it is adequate for that application. I have all zoas, mushrooms, and a couple of harder to keep filter feeders. I have never seen much for growth under PC's and would reccomend not relying on growth over any period of time. I could build you a hood but it woudl be rather difficult being a bowfront. You may be better off dropping the cash on a complete 36" fixture. May even think of going with T5's like David has.

JnS · 07-14-2005, 11:45 AM

2x96 will be fine over that tank, for what you want to keep in there.

David Grigor · 07-14-2005, 11:52 AM

Two key words in your original post, want VHO but plan to upgrade in 2 years. While may not be the cheapest solution but long term doing a Icecap 660 Retro would be ideal. Because it has the most flexability for when you upgrade tanks can be used for the 3' lighting today but also can be used as actinic supplementation to MH if you upgrade to MH later and can run 3',4',5',or 6' bulbs so you should always be able to find a use for it. However, the big kicker is you have to either have a canopy ( light box ) constructed for you and build it yourself. If you just go with a square light box to fix over you bowfront ( nothing fancy and not arched curves. ) all you need is to go to the hardware store pick up some 1X6s in popular or pine build a box ( providing 1 of your 4 tools includes at least a hammer or a cordless drill for screws ). Paint the box, cut a hold for a compute fan and your set. No special skills required to build a box.

pnkpanther · 07-14-2005, 12:00 PM

I think i'l just w/ a 2x96

I'm jsut going w/ hardy LPS and softies.

I"m sure i'll eventually go bigger, but and i'm sure then i'll go lesson learned, why did i blow 200 on a PC.

but for now, that seems to be my best bet.

I'll be selling my 1x96 if anyone here is interested.

David Grigor · 07-14-2005, 12:28 PM

For what you trying to accomplish, VHO will provide much beter results than the PC and can be used in just about any future configuration.

However, its your money.......PC lighting has very little resale value for when you want to replace it someday. With the Icecap you will always be able to find a use for it on a future setup becuase it is so versatile, however it you did decide to sell later the Icecap has good resale value......

pnkpanther · 07-14-2005, 12:35 PM

that is true. and did find a full VHO set up for 456.92 I'm debating it now

David Grigor · 07-14-2005, 01:05 PM

The VHO setup your looking at uses an Icecap 660 ballast ? If not then you may loose the versatility for future use.

www.oceanencounter.com usually has some of the best prices on Icecap retros. Depending on if you do with a 3 or 4 bulb setup ( depending on how much front to back room you have since the bowfront you loose some space ) runs 272-324 with free shipping includes everything you need except for the light box to install it in ( Just be sure it's the 660 and not the 430 ballast). A simple lightbox to sit on top of your tank which should cost $20 or less in materials with no special tools or skills required.

Beng · 07-14-2005, 01:27 PM

Hey what's the difference between an IceCap 660 and the IceCap 250watt Electronic Ballast - New Version:

http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/...gory_Code=ICMH

Is the new version able to run T5 bulbs, I'm looking to do 4x54 (216watts).

Thanks,

Beng

redwinger · 07-14-2005, 01:37 PM

The 250 watt only runs metal halide. The 660 will run t-5 and VHO's

Beng · 07-14-2005, 02:00 PM

Aaahhh....THANKS Red.
Any opinions/thoughts on:

Fulham 7 Workhorse Electronic Power Compact T5 Ballasts
or Workhorse Ballasts in general?

Maximum Power 220 Watts
120V - Model No. WH7Z-120-L
Maximum Current (120vac) 1.82 AMP
Black/White Wires 18 Inches
Red/Yellow Wires 36 Inches
Ballast Case Size H 1", W 1.72", L 18.50"
Ballast Weight 18 oz

I'm fix on getting myself a set of 4x54 T5 with no plans to upgrade to any other lighting in the far, far, far future. I'm sure many of you have ran the numbers and look at all the different options before, what's the best option for the most bang for my money?

Thanks,

Beng