Cheapest Metal Halide Set up?

[MoshJosh]

Just curious, what are options for entry level MH set ups? Seems like you need the fixture, ballast, and bulb, any "package deals"? What would you recommend for someone new to MH looking to get started/try it out on a budget?

 

[Jason_MrFrags]

Why do you want MH? You should be able to pick up some used LED fixtures that will use less electricity for pretty cheap.

 

[MoshJosh]

Why do you want MH? You should be able to pick up some used LED fixtures that will use less electricity for pretty cheap.

Mostly curiosity. I have more than enough lighting for my current tanks, but would be interested in trying MH and maybe running some "experiments" if I could get one cheap enough.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I think 150 watts is the lowest wattage, so you would need a pendant/fixture and a ballast. Usually a bulb is included when you buy a new system.

I replaced my system in January of this year, I think I remember it was about $450 US (It was CAD $600). Hanging or mounting kits are additional. Bulbs need replacement every 10-11 months, thats $100 per bulb.

There is no entry level, just expensive level. And of course, you gotta have a nice actinic light to supplement the MH light, I got 2 orphek bars for mine.

 

[Troylee]

Why do you want MH? You should be able to pick up some used LED fixtures that will use less electricity for pretty cheap.

Because metal halides are king! Haha!
Electricity use is a wash.. xr30 pulls close to the same as a 250w mh..

 

[Troylee]

Just curious, what are options for entry level MH set ups? Seems like you need the fixture, ballast, and bulb, any "package deals"? What would you recommend for someone new to MH looking to get started/try it out on a budget?

eBay some times has orbit fixtures new and used and is an all in one package deal.. if not I think reefbrite might be your only bet currently.

 

[mtraylor]

You may be able to find some people giving them away or dirt cheap. I would try the sells forum and craigslist and social media platforms.

 

[rtparty]

Used is your best bet. If buying new, it will be $500+ for a decent setup.

 

[rtparty]

I have my 3 sitting around that I will likely sell at some point. Switched to LEDs about 3 months ago. Seeing better color, better growth, and my consumption is going up nicely. I don't see the halides going back on again at any point

 

[Troylee]

I have my 3 sitting around that I will likely sell at some point. Switched to LEDs about 3 months ago. Seeing better color, better growth, and my consumption is going up nicely. I don't see the halides going back on again at any point

I had the opposite… great color with radions but slow growth.: put some halides on and my sticks exploded! Now I run both.. radions 12 hours a day and 4 hours of mh..

 

[rtparty]

I had the opposite… great color with radions but slow growth.: put some halides on and my sticks exploded! Now I run both.. radions 12 hours a day and 4 hours of mh..

I loved my halides but was ready to move on after seeing the AI Blades. I had good growth under both. Nothing crazy as I think flow is my biggest hurdle to better growth. 6 foot peninsula tanks actually suck IMO lol!

When I switched, I was worried about slower growth or worst case...death. Seeing my 2 part consumption go up and my pH move into the 8.3 region has been a welcome sight.

I do have more PAR with the LEDs and better spread so that definitely helps. All while using half the wattage. The less wattage is a double edge sword though since my basement is cold and the heat from halides was always welcome.

 

[Troylee]

I loved my halides but was ready to move on after seeing the AI Blades. I had good growth under both. Nothing crazy as I think flow is my biggest hurdle to better growth. 6 foot peninsula tanks actually suck IMO lol!

When I switched, I was worried about slower growth or worst case...death. Seeing my 2 part consumption go up and my pH move into the 8.3 region has been a welcome sight.

I do have more PAR with the LEDs and better spread so that definitely helps. All while using half the wattage. The less wattage is a double edge sword though since my basement is cold and the heat from halides was always welcome.

Same boat I have a 6ft peninsula myself.. I got a couple mp40’s and a 4K gyree on a wave engine for now and it’s plenty.. I don’t wanna add anything on the viewing

end but will have to once the tank fills in.

 

[rtparty]

Same boat I have a 6ft peninsula myself.. I got a couple mp40’s and a 4K gyree on a wave engine for now and it’s plenty.. I don’t wanna add anything on the viewing

end but will have to once the tank fills in.

I had to go with 2 MP60s to get flow to the one end. Like you, I am NOT about to ruin the viewing end. That is why we got peninsulas!

I would totally redo my rock though and probably skip sand if I had to do it over again. Flow would be so much easier this way

 

[Fishy888]

Actually I got my MH setup for 15 bucks. The lamp I believe was 20 bucks. I got one of those high bay lights. I took it apart, mounted the ballast remotely, and mounted the reflector to my canopy. It can be done. It’s a 400 watt halide but my DT is 25 inches deep. I found a place that still makes mh lamps in the bluer parts of the spectrum spectrum up to and including 20000K. Next month I’ll be ordering from them.

 

[56longroof]

I just picked up 2 metal halide lights with ballast for $200 on marketplace. One is 48" with 2 175watt with 2 21" 65 watt compact fluorescent. The other is 24" with a single 175 watt and 65 watt fluorescent. With everyone switching to led lighting they can be picked up for a reasonable price.

 

[Fishy888]

Because metal halides are king! Haha!
Electricity use is a wash.. xr30 pulls close to the same as a 250w mh..

Not only is it a wash but the heat from my mh lamp makes it so my 300 watts of worth of heaters rarely have to come on while the halide is on, so I actually save money over LED lights. I keep my reef at about 80 - 82.

 

[rtparty]

I used to be part of that “electricity is a wash” crowd and for some that’s very true.

My own setup and experience is I’m getting 50-50% more PAR at the top of my rocks, way better spread, and not even using half the wattage as my halides. My heaters can run all day (they don’t) and not use as much as my old lighting setup

 

[Reefing102]

As mentioned I don’t think there’s a cheap set up. ReefBrite is about the only name in the game for new systems (with the exception of eBay stock) unless you look at grow systems designed for plants vs aquariums. That said, I pieced mine together and have about $300 in it in all plus new bulbs. When the time comes, I’ll likely switch to LED mainly because metal halide is getting harder and harder to find.

 

[Fishy888]

I used to be part of that “electricity is a wash” crowd and for some that’s very true.

My own setup and experience is I’m getting 50-50% more PAR at the top of my rocks, way better spread, and not even using half the wattage as my halides. My heaters can run all day (they don’t) and not use as much as my old lighting setup

While all reefers should do their due diligence in regards to the heating and lighting they employ, in many cases it’s a wash between halides and LEDs. You also have to run T5s to get sufficient spread. For me anyway metal halides are still king. Granted this is a 6500k light but I get insane PAR even at the sand bed. I have to practically keep my mushrooms in the dark for them to fully open.

 

[Fishy888]

As mentioned I don’t think there’s a cheap set up. ReefBrite is about the only name in the game for new systems (with the exception of eBay stock) unless you look at grow systems designed for plants vs aquariums. That said, I pieced mine together and have about $300 in it in all plus new bulbs. When the time comes, I’ll likely switch to LED mainly because metal halide is getting harder and harder to find.

Marine Color lamps are still being made and they’re fairly decent according to the few people that have tried them here on R2R. The only disadvantage is that they come from China thus delivery is sssllllooooooowwww.