Lighting: DIY or Ready Made?

[Marcosreef]

Greetings:

It seems the more research you do on tank lighting, the more choices you come up with.

I have narrowed down to these choices (75 Reef Ready Tank):

1. 2 x 250w 10,000K AB (SE) bulbs with a 250w HQI PFO ballast or

2. 2 x 250w Aquastarlight Future hanging fixture w/ Moonlight.

Pros and Cons:

For DIY, you need building materials (wood, nails, screws, powertools, etc.), fans for canopy, paint or stains, a good design, ballasts, reflectors, skills and time.

For Ready Made, you have neat well polished fixture, everything included, no excess heat buildup, cool moonlight feature, adj. height, great tank acsess, able to look over corals/clams, etc.

As you can see, I lean towards the Aqua unit. The only thing I see as a problem is fish jumping out.

Can anyone here provide some insight on any other pro and cons?

 

[Syris]

Just my personal opinion but

DIY

Pro - the pride and sense of accomplishment when you're done, not to mention to be able to match it to the stand design. Also I feel it is cheaper than most pre-mades I've seen. Another thought came to me, you can also modify as needed(extra fans, more bulbs later, ect.)

Con - Takes longer and can be frustrating to people not comfortable with working with wood.

 

[Marcosreef]

DIY:

AB Bulbs: 250w x 2 = $170.00
PFO HQI Ballast Dual = $225.00
Reflectors: $100.00
IceCap Fans x 2 = $100.00
Wood & Materials = $75.00
---------------------------------Total Price = $670.00

AB Aquaspacelight or Aquastarlight 2 x 250 DE Setup:

---------------------------------Total Price = $700.00

Tough choices. Plus there is the never ending debate over which is better or most intense: Double Ended HQI or Single Ended Mogul base lighting. I would think that a 250w x 2 DE HQI with the appropriate reflectors would output substantially more light than a SE setup of similar wattage. (IMO)

The above prices are approximate and using the best components. I happen to like the IceCap fans very much. (Shipping not included).

Anyone care to correct or comment on this? The only info I have to go by is what I read here and in my reef literature. So I am always up for suggestions from my reefer friends! :mrgreen:

Thanks, Marco

 

[danmhippo]

DIY can save you loads of $$$, but for people like me that can't hit a nail straight and doesn't want to buy a nail gun just for this, I'd rather go ready made. Also, depends on where your tank will end up, you don't want a piece of sh*t in your living room, whether you made it or not.

 

[dattack]

Why does your DIY setup need to be HQI? You can just run the bulbs on a standard ballast.

 

[Marcosreef]

Dattack,

The DIY will use single ended 10,000K AB bulbs. I heard they run better on the HQI ballasts.

Marco

 

[wombat1]

The cheapest DIY MH I've found so far is by using a MV ballast (around 60 bucks ) with an Iwasaki 250W 6500K ( around 70 bucks). After wiring, socket, etc. total cost is below $150. Wiring diagrams should be online.

 

[esmithiii]

I am not convinced that the HQI ballast makes any difference. See this link:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b ... rison.html

FWIW- The initial cost (and bulb replacement cost) is so nearly the same for 400W mogul as it is for 250W mogul that I can't see the benefit of 250W over 400W, except the electricity costs. Your corals will love you so much more for the 400s, too!

Ernie

 

[Marcosreef]

FWIW- The initial cost (and bulb replacement cost) is so nearly the same for 400W mogul as it is for 250W mogul that I can't see the benefit of 250W over 400W, except the electricity costs. Your corals will love you so much more for the 400s, too!

Ernie

Are 250's over a 75 not enough to keep SPS and Clams?

I have no prob. with DIY, plus I can add VHO actinics, but probably won't need them with the 10.000K AB bulbs.

I worry most about heat with the 400 watters in a completely enclosed canopy with fans.

Marco

 

[esmithiii]

Heat may be an issue. Yes, 250s are enough, but you will see better growth, IMO with 400s. I have an enclosed canopy with fans, and my temp is stable at 82F (I use a temp controller to turn the fans on and off.) The back of my canopy is open, however.

Ernie

 

[reefland]

When I priced out DIY for HQI lighting it wasn't much cheaper than buying. I'd recommend the AB Aquaspace unit over any of the little pendant and remote ballast solutions. It's a fantastic clutter free solution and looks sweet! -- something a DIY usually doesn't offer.

 

[Marcosreef]

Thanks Rich,

Great website BTW. I am seriously leaning toward the AB units. I hear so many great posts about them.

The latest pics on your site are exactly what I'm looking for. The colors on the corals are awesome.

The money I am saving by building my stand, getting the AB unit should be no prob.

Thanks again everyone!

Marco

 

[DK]

I have done both. DIY is theoretically less expensive and of course more work. If you want to do something special or are looking to match the decor of the room - as in living space that the significant other will continually comment on, go with DIY. If you do not possess carpentry skills, then you have no choice.
If money is no object, I would go with those new european anodized aluminum fixtures (I don't remember the names) they look good...

 

[reefland]

The latest pics on your site are exactly what I'm looking for. The colors on the corals are awesome.

Thanks.... the corals are doing better under 250w HQI at 10 inches off the water surface than they ever did with 400w Ushio at 6 inches off the surface. Color and growth of the clams & sps have really taken off.

 

[esmithiii]

Rich- Do you have the DE bulbs?

Ernie

 

[reefland]

Yes, AB 250w HQI DE bulbs.

 

[esmithiii]

Cool. I have heard good things about these bulbs. I plan on running my 3x400W iwasakis for a while longer.

Ernie

 

[reefland]

I plan on running my 3x400W iwasakis for a while longer.

It's an excellent bulb, hard to justify switching away from it if you already use it.