Funkness Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 so i am helping My friend with some lights on his tank and was Thinking of making a lighting system with 4 250w hqi lights and 4 96 fluorescents aric lights what do you think? I know heat will be an issue but have a plan For that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 I'd seriously look into LEDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkness Posted October 6, 2012 Author Share Posted October 6, 2012 I agree 100% i think he has it in his head because Hes got 2 hqis Sitting around along with 4 96 watt floursent light fixture so Would only have to get two more hqi lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 In that case...carry on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 At 6W per gallon, expect heat. In setting up my 135G lagoon, I initially used 1000W MH at 12" above tank. With a 20" box fan, I maintained 81 degrees in the tank. Let us continue to follow the energy consumption. With MH, half of that energy is wasted heat. The fact that the heat needs to be removed by your house AC or a chiller means that on a 1000W light, you are required to consume 1500W of electricity to get 500W of light. Assume $0.10 per kilowatt hour and assume 12 hour light cycle. 1.5 KW times 12 hours per day times 365 days in a years times $0.10 per KWH. It cost $657 to use the MH fixture. The power company is the winner. Only you can decide how much of a savings that is. Patrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbnj Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 (edited) I run four 250W MH's and two 110W VHO's over a 135g tank. VHO's are on 12hrs and MH's are on 7hrs. Chiller goes on 3-4x a day. I would only run MHs if you plan on using used equipment (lots of great deals these days with people switching to LEDs). If you're going to buy new equipment, you might as well invest in LEDs. Edited October 6, 2012 by pbnj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarmerTy Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Agreed. I love the fact that MH equipment is so cheap right now. I run four 250W MH's and two 110W VHO's over a 135g tank. VHO's are on 12hrs and MH's are on 7hrs. Chiller goes on 3-4x a day. I would only run MHs if you plan on using used equipment (lots of great deals these days with people switching to LEDs). If you're going to buy new equipment, you might as well invest in LEDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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