OP
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AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
Hmmmm...these things weigh about 5 pounds each :/
Thinking of switching to Metal Halide for my 125 gallon tank
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mcarroll
10K Club member
People do em with and without canopies all the time though.
As for cost, you mentioned adding 2 or 4 additional lights anyway.
Three A700's is like six A360's if I'm not mistaken. So just to say it: it's a huge upgrade, not merely a huge cost.
You're currently running your A360's up to 100%, so arguably there's a pretty good (if smaller) reason to upgrade, other issues aside....it should extend the life of the emitters.
From a little browsing, it looks like you might get at least $350/ea for your A360's on the used forum....so maybe $1000.....I think that leaves about a $1600 difference in between you and the three AP700's.
Vs. spending another $1000 and only getting A160's and a big mess with 7 fixtures worth of cords.
It's not the only way to go of course, but the AP700's would be a really nice option.
As for cost, you mentioned adding 2 or 4 additional lights anyway.
Three A700's is like six A360's if I'm not mistaken. So just to say it: it's a huge upgrade, not merely a huge cost.
You're currently running your A360's up to 100%, so arguably there's a pretty good (if smaller) reason to upgrade, other issues aside....it should extend the life of the emitters.
From a little browsing, it looks like you might get at least $350/ea for your A360's on the used forum....so maybe $1000.....I think that leaves about a $1600 difference in between you and the three AP700's.
Vs. spending another $1000 and only getting A160's and a big mess with 7 fixtures worth of cords.
It's not the only way to go of course, but the AP700's would be a really nice option.
OP
OP
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
Now that's
honestly an idea I've NEVER considered! Lol. Has anyone else ever done this?
mcarroll
10K Club member
DO NOT DO IT. If you think the manufacturers put anything into these tanks that's not absolutely necessary, think again.
How do you feel about 100 gallons of water on the floor if you're wrong?
How do you feel about 100 gallons of water on the floor if you're wrong?
jungvarsky
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DO NOT DO IT. If you think the manufacturers put anything into these tanks that's not absolutely necessary, think again.
How do you feel about 100 gallons of water on the floor if you're wrong?
Taken many center braces out as long as you do not muck up the perimeter bracing it should hold and while I do agree safety is a concern all it would take is relocating the brace with some creativity...done on multiple occasions
OP
OP
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
Going back to metal halides, however, i could install DIY fixtures for a fraction of the cost and pay for them by selling the Kessils.People do em with and without canopies all the time though.
As for cost, you mentioned adding 2 or 4 additional lights anyway.
Three A700's is like six A360's if I'm not mistaken. So just to say it: it's a huge upgrade, not merely a huge cost.
You're currently running your A360's up to 100%, so arguably there's a pretty good (if smaller) reason to upgrade, other issues aside....it should extend the life of the emitters.
From a little browsing, it looks like you might get at least $350/ea for your A360's on the used forum....so maybe $1000.....I think that leaves about a $1600 difference in between you and the three AP700's.
Vs. spending another $1000 and only getting A160's and a big mess with 7 fixtures worth of cords.
It's not the only way to go of course, but the AP700's would be a really nice option.
mcarroll
10K Club member
True, but then you're turning on the perpetual spit for bulb changes and excessive power use.
If you're worried about coverage, that's one thing. If you're worried about expense, that's another. (PM being sent)
AP700's at least lower your power bill* and solves the shadow issue in spades.
*Three are about 600 watts total, but you'll never have them at 100%...it will be less power than the 250 halides you're thinking of when the AP700's are set to "equivalent" light levels.
OP
OP
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
It's not that I'm really cost sensitive, it's just that spending $2700 on LEDs doesn't feel right, especially when I've already spent $1200 on what I have. I'm not sure I will really save on my power bill, by the way. I already have three Kessils running at 90W each plus 160W of T5s at times. Also, there is a 100W heater that runs all of the time and a 300W heater that has about a 50% duty cycle. SO, 90W+100W+150W (half of 300W)+160W is already 500W. I was targeting the 175W metal halides because I have experience with them, feel comfortable with retrofit kits, and the wattage is pretty much what I have now.
OP
OP
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
I'm kind of disappointed the AP700s are not Apex compatible.
You really don't save a lot of money going LED power consumption with the new ballast's used for MH is a wash with the amount of LED's people put on their tanks to compensate for the lack of spread of LED's. Rea;ly 45 dollars once a year for a bulb is nothing in the grand scheme of keeping a reef tank. If you are worried about saving money you are in the wrong hobby.
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