Joe Posted July 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 If you want to buy Arcadia from HFF, triple the price. I just had a thought. Would it be cheaper to buy something that's around $600 from that overseas website and pay about $100 shipping cost instead of buying it triple price from Hollywood Fish Farm? Or would that not really work? (Like, would I have to go through some sort of really complicated buisness or something?) If you can fit T5HOs, do it. Cool, but what if I go and spend a fortune on ADA and T5's don't fit? Would it be possible to replace the PC ballasts in the ADA hood with T5 ballasts? Would a T5 fit in a PC ballast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 3, 2010 Report Share Posted July 3, 2010 make a hood then your lighting can be as ugly as you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2010 make a hood then your lighting can be as ugly as you like :lol: You mean as awesome as I like! How do I make a hood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 4, 2010 Report Share Posted July 4, 2010 I just had a thought. Would it be cheaper to buy something that's around $600 from that overseas website and pay about $100 shipping cost instead of buying it triple price from Hollywood Fish Farm? Or would that not really work? (Like, would I have to go through some sort of really complicated buisness or something?) sometimes buying from overseas works and sometimes it doesnt low nz$ doesnt help when buying from overseas shipping can cost as much as the unit due to size and weight and you will be paying shipping in their currency you might get hit with tax's when entering the country..ie import tax, GST... no warranty on the unit if it breaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Ouch! shipping can cost as much as the unit due to size and weight I just asssumed that it would be around $100. Gosh. So would it be better to buy from Hollywood fish farm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Ouch! I just asssumed that it would be around $100. Gosh. So would it be better to buy from Hollywood fish farm? what site are you thinking to buy from? have you rung hollywood to get a price on the light you want? i personally shipped a light from oversea about 10kg in weight, costed me $80nz and that was sea shipping, the slowest and cheapest option there is...takes about 2 months to get here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 I'm not thinking of getting the light right now. I was thinking I could save up my money and get it at Christmas. So I am just trying to find out what would be best for my tank. So far, I really like Arcadia and ADA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Just get the hagen / GLO units. It is more than enough for what you will need, and all the parts, tubes etc are available locally. maybe by xmas there might be a sale on them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Ok. I'll think about that. I want 4 T5 tubes though, so I really don't fancy getting 2 Glo Units. 2 Glo units would be quite bulky and take up a lot of space. Another reason that I like the Arcadia and ADA lightinghoods is that they fit 4 tubes, and they aren't bulky. If I wait until next Christmas and save up my money I might be able to get Arcadia or ADA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 2 glo units are not bulky. have a look at some of them. I have 2 on top of my tank and there is plenty space in the front for feeding fish etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 do you want to hang your light or sit it on top? one more thing i need to add is the cost of tubes, light tubes/bulbs needs to be replaced every year. T5's aint cheap a 2ft (24watt) power glo are about $40each....$160 a year for 4 tubes a single MH bulb (150watt) is about $50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 one more thing i need to add is the cost of tubes, light tubes/bulbs needs to be replaced every year. T5's aint cheap a 2ft (24watt) power glo are about $40each....$160 a year for 4 tubes a single MH bulb (150watt) is about $50 That is a really good point. Do metal halide lights use quite a lot of power? Are the hoods and fixtures more expensive than T5 to start of with? I might have to change my mind about T5 then... do you want to hang your light or sit it on top? I was thinking of hanging it (actually I better not, because I might be sent to prison :lol: ) have a look at some of them. I have. They have them for sale at the local pet shop. I just prefer Arcadia. It looks nicer. It would be good though if there was a lightinghood that work as good as the Glos and looked as nice as the Arcadia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 MH hoods does cost more but if you are looking at a descent branded T5 unit then its about the same...for MH you have to hang it above the tank at least 20cm or more MH does use more power but its not that much more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Ok. So for metal halide, you need an open-top tank, an I right? I've decided then that metal halide will probably be best for me then, as T5 is expensive to replace. How do I deal to the problem of dust/scum in an open-top tank? Would an overflow be good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 in your order thread, it sounds like you want a high tech ADA tank 90x45x45 i would recommend a 90cm 2x150w MH unit....with this light you would be able to grow anything as long has you have good ferts and pressurized co2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 what size tank and what type of tank do you want? ADA 90x45x45cm Cube Garden Clear, OptiWhite Glass, 8mm thick. I want like a nature-type tank. Read the top part of this page about the lighting information: http://www.adana.com.my/products/lightingsystem.htm I've been looking at some Arcadia Metal Halide lights. http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... e_lighting I like the 70cm Single Slimline Pendant. There are two types - 150watt and 250watt. Which one is best? Plus they have two T5 fittings. Which T5 lights are best? http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... t_tubes/t5 I like the High-Lite tubes, and the Arcadia Freshwater tubes. Are these both good? The Hagen Glo tubes are like 18,000K, and from what I've read this is only good for tanks with tonnes of plants like stem plants and red plants, so I'm not sure about them, although a lot of people recommend them. I want Bolbitis, Java fern varieties, a few grasses and some moss in my tank. Like this one: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... -45-a.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 ADA 90x45x45cm Cube Garden Clear, OptiWhite Glass, 8mm thick. I want like a nature-type tank. Read the top part of this page about the lighting information: http://www.adana.com.my/products/lightingsystem.htm I've been looking at some Arcadia Metal Halide lights. http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... e_lighting I like the 70cm Single Slimline Pendant. There are two types - 150watt and 250watt. Which one is best? Plus they have two T5 fittings. Which T5 lights are best? http://www.hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz/prod ... t_tubes/t5 I like the High-Lite tubes, and the Arcadia Freshwater tubes. Are these both good? The Hagen Glo tubes are like 18,000K, and from what I've read this is only good for tanks with tonnes of plants like stem plants and red plants, so I'm not sure about them, although a lot of people recommend them. I want Bolbitis, Java fern varieties, a few grasses and some moss in my tank. Like this one: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... -45-a.html go for the arcadia twin 150MH with 2xt5 but change the T5's to powerglo or life glo arcadia's t5 for growing plants are pretty ugly and high-lite are only for juwel tanks...they have a odd sizing tube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 two 150W halides seems like a lot of overkill for a 90x45x45 tank. I had a single 150W halide over a 90x45x40 and it was plenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 two 150W halides seems like a lot of overkill for a 90x45x45 tank. I had a single 150W halide over a 90x45x40 and it was plenty. my ada wannable 75x45x45 has a 150w MH on it now and it doesnt seem enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 two 150W halides seems like a lot of overkill for a 90x45x45 tank. There is just one halide lamp in the hood. There are 2 T5 fittings as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 It comes with 2x Arcadia T5 Marine Blue Lamps. Would it be possible to swap these for Hagen Power-Glo? Also, is the halide lamp that it comes with a Marine Lamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 MH bulbs are cheap on ebay i wouldnt worry too much about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 Yeah my 70W 6500K DE only costed me like $30 delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil_elmo Posted July 6, 2010 Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 There is just one halide lamp in the hood. There are 2 T5 fittings as well. i was more thinking the 110cm unit with 2x150MH as a single 150w isnt enough spread for a 90cm tank even with the two 24w T5 ADA head office in japan runs two 150w MH Solar 1 units over their 90p (90x45x45) tank and we all know they are the plant gods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted July 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2010 i was more thinking the 110cm unit with 2x150MH as a single 150w isnt enough spread for a 90cm tank even with the two 24w T5 But that is too long for my tank. Also, I'm getting confused now, because you are saying that 1 isn't enough, but: I had a single 150W halide over a 90x45x40 and it was plenty. Then there's 2x Power-Glos that I can fit in the hood. Sorry if I'm sounding a bit rude or anything, but I'm new to all this high-tech lighting stuff and it's really confusing me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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