Cheap MH's :D

[Tosh_Auer]

I cna get A single plug and play 150Watt 14000K Coral lights MH halide setup for $169.69 US dollars. Does this seem to cheap to be any good? Oh well im guessing because the site gives american dollars as well as AUS dollars it ships to america as well so if anyone is interested in them here's the link.

www.corallights.com.au

P.S. when you get to the site you may need to change the prices from AUS dollars to American Dollars. Theres a box in the bottom right hand corner.

[addict]

I'm not sure how that price compares to other retail prices on 150w setups, but I DIY'd each of my 250w Ushio 10K lights for about $160 each.

Of course that's with a raw ballast, bulb, socket and extension cord (for wiring), and a DIY reflector.

I'd think that international shipping would be kinda pricey too... but thanks for sharing... it's always nice to have options.

[tommyp]

That's a real good price. I am assuming it is DE correct? You could diy for close to that price. It is expensive $80 to get mag DE balllasts here. so you don't save a ton diy DE. SE you will. I am looking at a 150 watt kit from aquatic ecosystems that runs $150 for plug and play including 10k bulb.
So your definately in the ballpark

Tom

[paul]

I bought a new 175 watt, 10k pendant with a ballast for 175. including shipping on ebay

[Tosh_Auer]

Whats DE and SE?

[addict]

DE= Double Ended (i.e. HQI bulbs)
SE= Single Ended (i.e. mogul base bulbs)

HTH.

[Tosh_Auer]

yeah there DE but why does it really mater?

[tommyp]

DE is a smaller bulb and can be fit with a tighter reflector and can argueably put more light in the tank than a simmilar watted SE bulb.

So DE is a bit more effiecent. There have been a lot of wild claims and skewed testing where this is concerned and people are starting to get things straightened out with good testing now.

What are you trying to grow and how far are the lights from it? The 150's are generally okay in a shallower tank. most sps people run 250 hqi's.

HTH

Tom

[Tarasco]

I would agree, 250's should fit almost all your needs. However, it depends on the depth of your tank like Tom said.

And welcome to RS paul!

[BigReepher]

A 150W DE HQI will work well for a tank that is under 20in. deep. Over 22in. and 250's become a better option. I'll be using 2 150W DE HQI's on my 20 inch deep 75gallon. I paid $300 a piece for my 150's, but that was with Icecap ballast and Reef Optix 3 reflectors and bulbs. So yeah that's a good deal. HTH

[Tosh_Auer]

Yeah my tank is 18" deep so i was thinking that 150's would be alright. I am goin 2 of them and also some VHO's on a 5' long 90gal. I am eventually planning on keeping all sorts of corals and possibly even clams.