Anyone know how to diy Metal Halide?

[riddlephil]

Does anyone know if there is a way to diy metal halide because my lfs(big als) wants way tooooooooo much money for them.  They want like 500 bucks for each pendant, plus bulbs!  Can you make up ur own hood for mh?  What about the uv radiation?  thanx for you help

[dattack]

Sure.  What you need MH's for?

[riddlephil]

i want to switch over to saltwater soon and get a reef tank going.  I am doing plants right now till about sept.

[dattack]

You can look at some of the pictures in on DIY article on a MH system.  The most important thing to remember is the ballast that will run the bulb.  The link here can only run 6500K bulbs from Iwasakis.  Some reefers prefer this because this bulb can last almost 2 years and is cheap $55.  

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/rpi.html

However, people prefer the bluer appearance of 10 K and higher bulbs and you will need a Metal Halide ballast.

You can buy the ballast at http://www.bulbsa2z.com/shopping/shopdisplaysubcat.asp?id=18&cat=+Ballasts

But I think the cheapest alternative is actually waiting for someone of some board to sell their lighting for cheap.  Some sell as cheap as DIYing.

http://www.growrooms.com/ballast/



ryingsmiley*