bmshehan's 55

Scott's got the idea. Buy low and sell high. ;D

 

Here are some pics of my metal halides I installed today! They are 2 250 watt mogul base MH, powered by 2 Blue Wave 3 ballast installed with 2 Reef Optix 2 reflectors. I am pumped about getting them going, lots of time and money involved, but well worth it in the long run. They are a little bit of overkill for a 55 gallon tank, but I am planning for the future (my 110 gallon tank!). I am trying to wait on purchases until I can buy some of the best, that way I don't "get by" with a $100 item for now, then upgrade to a $250 item, then a $400 item, etc. Buy the good stuff now, save money in the long run. The first 2 are of the reflectors with the canopy open, #3 is of the reflector with a 250w bulb, #4 is of my stand with the ever-so-cramped space w/ ballast on either side, #5 is a closer shot of one of the Blue Wave 3 ballast. Working on more pics...

 

MORE PICS! First pic is of one side with a new vent, 2nd pic is of the other side, if you look close you can see the hook I installed up top to hold the lid open. #3 is of the lid being held open with the hook, WOOOHOOO, no more holding the lid open with my head!! #7 is of the wonderful mess of wires behing my tank now, and #10 is of the other ballast, you can see my VHO actinic ballast (white box) right behind it.

 

Finally, my favorite random pickup by far. I got this surge protector at Wal-Mart of all places about a month ago. It is over 4000 joules, and has 2 lights on it that indicate if it is currently protecting and if it is being properly grounded, a very important issue. It was a home theater protector and cost $35 here. But what takes the cake is that it has FOURTEEN outlets, by far the biggest selling point for me!! You can also see the timer box for my actinics mounted behind the surge protector, gonna be picking up another for my MH. That's all the pics for tonight, enjoy!

 

Did you fix those actinics while you were in that hood???

 

Man Otty he didn't even mention his good buddy and all around best guy in the world KOgle loaning him a 250 MH bulb to test everything.

No karma for Shehan.

 

You mean he ordered the lights but no bulbs??? :-/

 

I think he ordered the bulbs yesterday so he should have them tomorrow or Thursday. I'm thinking he said he got 15k bulbs. I've never heard of 15k but it should be a good balance of blue and white...

 

Yeah, my MH halides light up the living room too
Hope you like yours as much as i love mine!

Evan.

 

I offered to send them 15 K is good bulb X-M makes them as well as s few others .. Tad to blue for my taste I always found the USHOI 10 K where thet better with the URI VHO actincs I just switched to the sPS 14K after I saw how good they where . I don't make changes easily with Light and or salt's If it ain't broke I don't try ti fix it..