Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:41 pm
I don't think it's overblown at all. The thing is that you get different kinds of light from different types of lighting. The 150w DE bulbs put out a good amount of PAR even moreso if you consider PAR/watt. Some believe that T-5 bulbs are better for your inhabitants than VHO's. This comparison was using a 54w T-5 and a 110w VHO. There is some specualtion that the method was flawed (I can't remember where I saw the study) but there has to be some merit in it. I think that if you want to keep your corals alive then lighting is not too important, if you want your corals to thrive then it is very important (probably secondary only to water quality).
1. 250w ballast: $60 a piece locally, $49.14 at http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=171 but with shipping would be about the same so $120 for 2.
2. Fulham WH7: $25 (one year ago in Birmingham) but $35.95 at http://www.reefgeek.com/products/catego ... 00103.html so $40 with shipping
3. VHO endcaps and stand offs: $15.70 at http://www.lampsnow.com/noname1.html for 2 $31.40
4. URI 110w actinics: $20.95 at http://www.lampsnow.com/superactinicr2.html for 2 $40.90
5. Mogul sockets and reflectors: $29.95 at http://www.lampsnow.com/methalparref.html for 2 $39.90
6. 250w XM 10kk bulb: $65 at
http://www.lampsnow.com/250wxm10000k.html for 2 $130
=$402 then some shipping that I didn't factor in and you would still need a breaker box from HD and two short outdoor extenion cords and some wire nuts but it would come close.
1. 250w ballast: $60 a piece locally, $49.14 at http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=171 but with shipping would be about the same so $120 for 2.
2. Fulham WH7: $25 (one year ago in Birmingham) but $35.95 at http://www.reefgeek.com/products/catego ... 00103.html so $40 with shipping
3. VHO endcaps and stand offs: $15.70 at http://www.lampsnow.com/noname1.html for 2 $31.40
4. URI 110w actinics: $20.95 at http://www.lampsnow.com/superactinicr2.html for 2 $40.90
5. Mogul sockets and reflectors: $29.95 at http://www.lampsnow.com/methalparref.html for 2 $39.90
6. 250w XM 10kk bulb: $65 at
http://www.lampsnow.com/250wxm10000k.html for 2 $130
=$402 then some shipping that I didn't factor in and you would still need a breaker box from HD and two short outdoor extenion cords and some wire nuts but it would come close.