DIY Cheap Hilades

[wildcrib]

hey guys wonting to put a couple of hilades over tank but the current costs of comercial units is a bit too much and im sure i could do this for a lot less so these are what i have found and then would need ballasts and bulbs but maybe this is a good start to a cheaper diy lighting project.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/150w-Metal-halide-lamp-reflector-fixture-R7S-socket-/160520528150?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255fc4e116


any feedback/opinions would be greatly welcome

thanx

brett

[Bradlowes]

Theres an excellent post by Kev (reefergeek) in the DIY section i think, It was a cheap halide unit that he made with bits on ebay ... worked out quite cheap as well, if you ask him he could help you out!

What tank have you got? and would you be wanting to put this into some kind of frame?

brad

[wildcrib]

I have a rio 300 and yeh would build some kind of hood/plemet with 12v fans for cooling

[Tangman]

You can buy s/h units cheap enough these days as a lot are using T5s and LEDs as Halides use to much power. Twiggy

[geordie]

I have just bought 2 4foot twin 150w arcadia (I think there arcadia) halide units, £50 each. I doubt you could make one for that?
You Just have to look around.

Dave

[reefergeek]

To be honest if its only 2 halide units by the time you have bought all the bits it would be cheaper getting a second hand unit, they go from 50 - 100 on flebay for a 2 x 150w unit, Yours will still look like a diy job and will end up costing more then you would think, Now if its 4 halide unit or 6 - 8 x t5 unit then yes diy all the way

Oh make sure any halide unit you get or make has the elec ballasts i saved around 550 watts on swapping from magnetic to electronic