|
Posted by Steve Heath on March 31, 2008, 9:35 am
Please log in for more thread options
>I have a 65 high reef tank, 36" long. I am currently using metal
> halide on it, however it is costing me approx $65.00 a month just to
> run the lights, The pumps are extra of course. I have a nice mix of
> hard and soft coral. The question is what can I replace the metal
> halides with that will give me the proper lighting for the reef at a
> greatly reduced electricity cost. Between the price of utilities and
> the ever increasing gasoline prices it is impossible. If I can't find
> a cheaper way to light my reef I wil have to give up on it and get rid
> of it.
> Thanks
> Rob
What are you running for lights now? Something like 2x250W? You could go
for T5HO, with 6 or 8 bulbs, but your tank is pretty tall and you won't get
as much PAR down low as you do with MH. You can make it work if you're
careful with your placement. You'll also save money on replacement bulbs
with T5HO.
Of course, the lowest overall operational cost is teh new LED lights
(Solaris, etc.) but they require a hefty up front investment.
--
Steve
| 
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap
> halide on it, however it is costing me approx $65.00 a month just to
> run the lights, The pumps are extra of course. I have a nice mix of
> hard and soft coral. The question is what can I replace the metal
> halides with that will give me the proper lighting for the reef at a
> greatly reduced electricity cost. Between the price of utilities and
> the ever increasing gasoline prices it is impossible. If I can't find
> a cheaper way to light my reef I wil have to give up on it and get rid
> of it.
> Thanks
> Rob