Metal Halide 250W worth it?

[plantmania]

Hi,

Planning to invest in a metal halide lamp for my planted tank. Making it a total of 340 Watts for my 4 feet tank( about 85 to 90 gal depending on water level).

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250 Watt MH DIY Kit - includes 250W MH unassembled magnetic ballast, MH 250W 6500K bulb, mogul socket, and mounting bracket

Cost me around.... 240 dollars . Is it worth it? Is there any missing parts?

Anyone heard of IceCap 250 Watt 6500 K Set Up Watt / Spider Light ? The spider light reflector sounds good..... However it will cost me 430 bucks.[] [:]

[gchoo]

Bro,

I think you will be better of with a 2x150W MH than with a single 250W one.
Also spider reflectors are not as effective as they seem to be.

[plantmania]

Two 150 W is much more expensive than a 250W.... In the long run, I find the Metal halides to be more economical.

Where to get them cheaply in Singapore?

[David]

actually gchoo is correct. you need to remember that Most MH light construction gives it a point source light....this means that the light beam is more or less a concentrated beam in one area.

Because of this concentration, MH light cast hard shadows and do not spread across the whole tank as much as what a FL or PL would be able to....with a 2x150...you are spreading the wattage.

[gchoo]

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On 6/29/2003 10:31:14 PM

Two 150 W is much more expensive than a 250W.... In the long run, I find the Metal halides to be more economical.

Where to get them cheaply in Singapore?

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Bro, where got more expensive? Its probably close to your DIY budget. What you looking for? bulbs is it?

[plantmania]

Same price ? where can I get them ?

4ft tank ->( 2x150W MH with ballast, socket and reflector cost around 250 bucks?)

I check with Mr Chan from NA.

[gchoo]

Bro,

you gotta PM...

[lvanilla]

Hi plantmania,can pls eleborate "IceCap 250 Watt 6500 K Set Up Watt / Spider Light ? The spider light reflector sounds good..... However it will cost me 430 bucks."soun interesting.

Any website or article abt it? Thanks.

When DIY, i think it is important to get an appropriate glass to shield the bulb. If not when water touches the hot bulb. Kapooot! Not sure what kind of glass should be used as the bulb temp is very high.

[Vican]

My friend did a DIY Metal Halide once. Initially, he used a tempered glass to prevent spillage. But soon after, the heat was so much that the tempered glass cover broke!

So, I suppose the only kind of glass cover(to prevent water spillage) is Temperature treated ones. Not too sure where you can get those though

[lvanilla]

I thought tempered glass is temperature treated...