lduncan Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Just changed my bulbs a week or two ago. I was using Venture 10k bulbs, which i'd probably rate as 12 - 14k. I was very happy with these, and they were very reasonably priced. I now have coralvue 20k's. They appear similar in colour to the ventures, but I think the light from the 20k's is distributed more at opposite ends of the spectrum. ie more Blue, and more red/yellow, with little green. They definitely make the green corals fluoresce more, without the ultra blue look that a lot of 20k bulbs. Ballasts are standard atco MH ballasts with ignitors, and cost around $140 with caps. Apparently you can get a similar ballast used for high pressure sodium and metal halides for around $120 all together in a case, from many hydroponics suppliers. Reflectors, well I can get aluminium plates from work, which I polish using a buffer and braso, then bend to create the reflector. It's too hard to find anything else suitable. All I see are the white painted hydroponics ones. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 Yeah reflectors are hard one, i think I will go for the standard multiple bent U shape reflectors for mine, similar to what you are describing. Standard DIY from RC Ballasts, yeah so hard to choose the right one, I think I will just go with hydroponic option, pre-wired, pre-configured. Unless you have a better source (or someone out there can do me a deal on 4x 400watter?). How much for the venture bulbs & where from. You obviously have had no problems with the Coralvue bulbs in your ballasts which is encourgaging as they are the bulbs I think I will use assuming I can get them in ready supply. I may also check out the radium bulbs too as its the most likley place I will get my ballasts from. I think I will try and use 4 400s, with 3foot tubes running width ways across the tank 400-tube-400-tube-400-tube-400 with 4x 5ft T5s runing center lengthways across the tank. Not 100% sure yet. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 I got the venture bulbs new off ebay. around NZ$120 each all up after shipping. Venture is a BIG US gas discharge lighting company, almost all industrial lighting places in NZ should be able to get these bulbs. They are only marked as MH400 10k. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Cheers for that. Will start looking very closely at bulbs and ballasts in about 4 weeks I guess, and want them sorted within 6 weeks if possible. pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Found this takes you back in time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 How time flies! Interesting to see the changes in just two years! I even took a bit of convincing: Barebottom is an up and coming trend in some circles in the States (if RC is anything to go by). Personally I don't like it. A thin layer of substrate is good. Many of the guys promoting barebottom tanks have come from having deep sand beds, which turned nasty. So they are going from one extreme to the other. I'll take the middle ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 he he Pies, Alois, and Steves tanks look abit different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Kinda cosy isn't it? :lol: A good laugh Fay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tel Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Found this takes you back in time and space, twillight zone :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregb Posted June 5, 2006 Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Careful you will get him addicted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 we should start other one like this, see what has changed, what new tanks are out there?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 should we change the heading to something not so big headed?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 should we change the heading to something not so big headed?? Why even comment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 cos its true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted June 6, 2006 Report Share Posted June 6, 2006 :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 I suggest: "well lets see some unreal reef tanks" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 thats more like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 He didnt say "Well lets see my tank which is the best". He invited the others in to share. We all have proud moments, and if you dont, you're doing something wrong with your own tank!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Steve, you gotta keep some of these things in your own head man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skuzza Posted June 7, 2006 Report Share Posted June 7, 2006 Actually it would be good to see the same tanks posted now.I find looking at old pics and new are like looking at family albums.You dont realy see the diff until compare the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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