Thinking about getting Metal Halides

[RockoC87]

I have the orbit system for my 46 bowfront that is 3 ft. (36") long, I am happy with the lights right now,but i know how much better my tank will do with metal halides. The problem is i really love my blue actinics on during the dawn/dusk effects and the colors really stand out. My question to anyone and everyone out there is, does anybody know the best reasonable price i could get on a system including halides with power compacts. I have been looking and the best prices i see range from $600-$1000. SO i know i want to do the right thinkg if im going to spend that much on it. any advise or suggestions about halides or lighting in general would be helpful too. My favorite look on a tank is the glimmer of halides with a the tint of blue/white, i hate when things look yellowish. And i love looking at my tank with my blue actinics power compacts on only too.

[SGTDirk]

Here try these web sites, maybe help you out a bit.
http://www.petsolutions.com/Metal+Halide+Lighting-C-40001736-C-.aspx
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide__subindex.asp?CartI d=
they won't tell you which to buy, but the prices are much cheaper than $600-$1000

[alton]

If you like the blue look you can go with the 2 - 12K 175w MH Coral Vue Reeflux Lamps with electronic ballast. I retrofitted my 4' Orbit with these and added an additional fan and its been working great. Since they are only 175w's I am able to keep the light it's original 2 1/2" off of the top of the tank.

[brewercm]

I'm running two 250 14K DE hamiltons which are a nice blue and also supplement with two 110 watt VHO URI actinics on my 5' 100 gallon and love the look. The VHO are set to come on two hours before the halides and go off 1.5 hours after.
I haven't seen the 12K DE reeflux yet but would love to once somebody has any running.

[gcantu]

If possible, I would find some way to purchase a retrofit system because it would probably cost less than the $600-$1000 range.

[saltcreepette]

I had pete r. from this site build me a canopy, and I bought my MH retrofit kits from hellolights.com including bulbs for around $600 total. I dont have any supplemental pc actinics at this time but it should be only a little more to add them in. I found the staff at hellolights.com to be very helpful in helping me pick out which exact thing to get. I ended up with two XM 15K mogul (normal screw in light bulb type, as opposed to DE aka double ended) bulbs (because they are bluer and I dont have supplemental actinics), 175 watts each. for my 55g softy tank that's plenty. this year in sept I will add supplemental actinic pc or vho, and get the 10K bulbs so I too can view my tank with just the actinics on at dawn and dusk. I too hate too-yellow lighting. good luck and let us know what you end up with.