Lighting Scenarios: Which would you choose?

T

Tremelle

Membership Expired
Ok, how would you spend your lighting money, or should I say my lighting money. :)

First scenario: 3 - 250 watt MHs, Magnetic ballasts, and a chiller for $1,760 .

Second scenario: 3 250 watt MHs, Electronic ballasts for $1,680 .

I am worried about the amount of heat introduced by utilizing MHs on my new setup. The ballasts will be mounted in the stand with the sump. I am also trying to keep down the energy cost as well.
 
If you are interested in spending less on electricity than def. go with electronic ballasts and no chiller. You can lower your water temp by a larger capacity sump and fans. Are you planning on using HQI or SE metal halides?

BTW I did a build your own retrofit on hellolights and it was under a grand for 3 SE w/e-ballast with XM 10k bulbs and 2 VHO actinics with e-ballast plus 4 4.5 inch fans. Just an idea.
 
I will be using HQI bulbs. If I did go with electronic ballasts, I was going to use a fan over sump.
 
I am considering the Sunlight Supply Maristar 72" fixture with 3-250 watt DE HQI and 4-39 watt T5s, 3 Sunlight Supply Wave IV electronic ballasts, 3-14k Phoenix mh bulbs, 4- Actinic ATI T5 bulbs, and fixture stands. I know there are some cheaper fixtures out there, but this is what I am considering.
 
I have 3 175SE and 2 VHO and don't have temp issues. I set the house temp to 77 and the tank stays around 75 with a fan over the sump.

But my sump isn't under my stand next to a ballast though.
 
What kind of setup is this? I got 3, 250w electronic ballasts, with bulbs and bat wing reflectors for about $500 (SE Bulbs but the ballast is perfectly capable of running HQI's). I hope you get a nice fixture for that price...

Keep the ballasts out of the stand if you can.
 
The ballast will be have to be positioned in the stand. I don't have any other spot to place them. I don't want to use a second stand adjacent to the main stand to house any equipment.
 
@vthondaboi wrote:
I have 3 175SE and 2 VHO and don't have temp issues. I set the house temp to 77 and the tank stays around 75 with a fan over the sump. said:
Why are you running your tank at 75F? Many natural reefs are closer to 81F.
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