Lighting Dilemma, Advice Needed

[jahorgos]

I have a custom wood canopy on top of my tank with 3 250W Metal Halides and 2 6foot VHOs. Due to a storm all my ballasts suffered an electrical surge and are now garbage.

Do I buy 3 of these:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Ice-halide
AND 1 of these:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Icecapvhor

Total: $682.00 Shipped

Or do I buy this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/72-1134W-Metal-Hali ... dZViewItem

Giving myself the option of getting rid of my canopy and fan noise from trying to dissipate the heat from under my canopy and probably suffer less evaporation. Or maybe just keep the canopy and save 100 bucks and have the option down the road to get rid of it.

Total: $589.00 Shipped

The difference in cash really is not a big deal I would rather end up with the best lighting option for me. I keep leaning towards the first option because I end up with some really nice lighting equipment but if the second one is equally as nice then why not save a few bucks and give myself the option to remove the canopy or keep it.

What do you think?

 

[ChrisRD]

If you have decent reflectors in the existing canopy, personally I think I would go with the first option.

I prefer VHO actinics to PCs. I'd also prefer quality/reliable ballasts like IceCaps with excellent customer service backing them...

JMO

 

[shavo]

if you have the equipment already why wouldn't you just replace what you need? I have the outer orbit extreme's and I am happy with my purchase to this point. I never had a cabinet on top of my tank and I hung the lights from the ceiling and it came out good. If I knew about hombby before I purchased I would have bought them instead most likely. but as it turned out i got the Orbits with 30% off so it was basically the same but I had to do some driving during the week, rememebr that night X? lol
good luck on your decisions jahorgos

surprised X hasn't chimed in on this one yet

 

[jahorgos]

Yeah I agree. Replacing what I have makes the most sense.

Do you need to mount the electronic icecap ballasts to any type of heat sink? Or can I use them mounted to a board?

 

[mr_X]

don't buy the ebay light! you'll want to replace the ballasts on that light as soon as you get it!

 

[rbursek]

Mr. X, Shavo. Bob here. Tuff one on the lights!!!!!!! Going to go public on the 12 hour skimming soon!!!!!!!!!!! It will be a multi page thread, doing that for what Shavo does, 9 months now and no ill effects and tank is at it's fish/bio load!!!!!!!! It will be a great one. Bob. OH **** Shavo, Bret did not come to play, sistered out. just hope NY dumbs Brady!!!!!!!!!!?????????????
Bob

 

[rbursek]

Mr. X. Shavo, chiming here, why do I not see/here from you on Reefs Central?????????? I think alot of whannabes? It is s good Rorum.
Bob

 

[shavo]

I had an argument with reef central admins, I chose not to go there anymore I didn't like the structure of the site! no offense if you like it that is cool. they got me mad and I never returned again.
I like it here.
bob as i said in an email to you. i actually went to 24 hour skimming. Not that i feel i ned to at all, but i blew out a few shafts on my skimmer from the starting and stopping. one bad part of the skimming 12 hours deal. other than that i would be in the game. I blew out 2 shafts in about 8 months. the replacements are only 13 bucks but it was a hassle to pull out the skimmer everytime to change it

go ELI!!! I hate the patriots!!!!

 

[mr_X]

i'm on RC, not as often, and under a different name. :wink:

 

[jahorgos]

I replaced all my ballasts with ice caps, 3 250W MH and 1 660 icecap for the 2 6ft blue actnics.

I am waiting on 2 more of the 250W and the lighting will be complete. I am happy with my purchase so far as they run much cooler and work much better.

Now to get the rest of my equipment to par so I can get on to stocking this tank with some real fish / coral.