Getting into Metal Halides

[supersmile]

I am considering getting into metal halides although I am not well educated in them although I know how much better they make your tank look. I saw this fixture on ebay......wondering if it is any good. Would this be the only light you would need or do you need power compacts as well? Any help or suggestions would be great !

http://cgi.ebay.ca/36-Metal-Halide-Aquarium-Reef-Light-250W-HQI-LED-NEW_W0QQitemZ300253122166QQihZ020QQcategoryZ46314Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[sphelps]

I guess it really depends on what you're looking for. I believe you get what you pay for, I just added a another 250W halide to my system and cost me close to $500. It involved a Lumenmax III DE pendant, and ice-cap ballast and a Phoenix 14K Bulb. In the end it was good amount of money but I know I'm getting good reflection, efficient and quiet ballast, and desired color to par ratio.

For $70 I wouldn't expect much, cheap noisy refurbished ballast, crappy bulb, cheap reflector and so on. But if it works for you and your budget go for it. It will produce light, but that's all you can really be sure of.

[supersmile]

Yeah I don't want to get anything just because it is cheap. I want something that is good quality. I just don't know what I should be looking for, how many watts, etc.....

[sphelps]

What size tank and what kind of corals, perhaps I can recommend something. Also a fixture or retrofit type setup. The retrofit type is what I usually recommend if the setup permits, it is easily upgraded or downgraded or modified for any future required changes.

[supersmile]

My tank is 44 gallons. I currently just have soft corals (obviously). Do all metal halides need to hang or can you use the smae type of legs you use on a power compact fixture?

[sphelps]

If you're looking for fixture type of lighting system, you can almost always get mounting legs for them, an example of a good one:

Maristar Fixtures (http://sunlightsupply.com/product.cfm?sid=29C0C7EC922C09836161851CA62A4836&p=971&cs=products%2Ecfm%3Fsid%3D29C0C7EC922C09836161851C A62A4836%26c%3D25%26kys%3D%26pgi%3D1)

It's nice to have the combo of T5s and Halides, most people I know running just halide fixtures regret not getting the T5s as well.

[xtreme]

I bought a 72" fixture off of ebay and have since replaced two of the three ballasts. I still need to get one more new one. Wow what a difference between the brightness of the lamps with the two new ballasts. I then replaced all three lamps with new higher quality ones and again was amazed at the difference in color temp. If I was to do it over I would definitely buy something of better quality from the get go as it would be well worth it. I have ended up spending just as much as I would have on a better fixture and my corals had to wait 6 months for the proper lighting.

[hecks220]

I bought a 36" one off ebay as well. After one year both PC ballasts went, right after i bought new lights too! I replaced them with t5's, and am hoping the MH ballast keeps up. It has been a decent light for me, but....you definitely do get what you pay for in this hobby.