Metal Halide

[poo-tang]

i like the price but dunno if this is the right spectrum?

http/cgi.ebay.com/METAL-HALIDE-250-watt-...1QQcmdZViewItem

i'm sure its garbage but thought i'd try to get away with something here. also if its good, would i need a starter or other similar extra equipment. it would be used to light a 40 gallon long...48" i could prolly get two.

 

[Navarre]

Yeah it looks ok. It is similarto some of the halidesi have used over my system. Make sure the ballast is NOT mercury. This causes the bulbto burn inthe wrong temperature and give out hi UV which can harm inverts and fish.

Also.. I amnot sure if the bulb is correct, even though its 20k i would prefer a bulb that is commonly used in the marine trade. If you can get a good quality 10k blb it would be better for your corals too.

 

[poo-tang]

thanks Nav...would 10k work on a 20k and would you call this a good deal...based on prices i have seen from popular marine sites this looks pretty cheap? with shipping its 150. just so many options with lighting its all very confusing...and this after i have done alot of research, but having never used these different fixtures i only know what i read.
lastly i was onlyy planning on nems, sps, shrooms, more than likely no lps, would i be better off getting a 4strip T5. i could hook one of those up for around the same price? all opinions and thoughts are much appreciated. first hand experience is more help then most of the reading i have done.

 

[Navarre]

These are cheap because they are primarily designed for hydroponics and not marine trade. (Hence why i asked you to be sure its not mercury ballast). These types of halides are cheap because they are not the best looking things in the world. You pay alot of cash for the marine type ones because they are usually more pleasing to the eye and perhaps they have a slightly better reflector in them.
All the halides i have were only a fraction of the cost of the usual marine type haldies and i have had no ill effects with them at all.

10k, 14k, 20k bulbs.. these should all fit into the halide unit. just make sure you have the right fitting.. it looks like a single ended one to me.

I would recomend the halides over the other lights... if you can afford them then halides are the way to go everytime.

Here is a piccy of my old tank with similar halides to the ones you are thinking of...
2x150w halide spots with a single 400w halides in the centre

If you dont like the looks of the halides over the tank then simply build a canopy around them and hide them from view