Metal halides

[euphlife]

After searching for a week to find 250W ballast, it was fruitless. Long story short ended up buying used icecaps for 75$ each. While new was 200-300$ Tried to horticulture and well they run 600w or 1000w systems. Looked at bulbs and also thought this is ridiculous.

Long story short thinking about filling this niche for the hobby. 250w non selectable ballast brand new and 14k bulbs. No reflectors or light sockets as I feel those are easy enough to get brand new.

Curious if there is an interest in this market that doesn’t have a reef tax.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

@Troylee ? dont you run halides?

 

[Troylee]

@Troylee ? dont you run halides?

I did till 6 months ago.. I’m using reef breeder meridians now.

 

[davidm777]

I was under the impression you could still get halide through Tulio on Reef Brite. Can you not?

 

[Pntbll687]

After searching for a week to find 250W ballast, it was fruitless. Long story short ended up buying used icecaps for 75$ each. While new was 200-300$ Tried to horticulture and well they run 600w or 1000w systems. Looked at bulbs and also thought this is ridiculous.

Long story short thinking about filling this niche for the hobby. 250w non selectable ballast brand new and 14k bulbs. No reflectors or light sockets as I feel those are easy enough to get brand new.

Curious if there is an interest in this market that doesn’t have a reef tax.

Is there a market for it, yes, but VERY SMALL

You will have a hard time getting a manufacturer to make runs of the 250w ballasts, as the reef hobby is insignificant compared to the horticulture hobby. You will have to buy ALLOT of them to get any type of discount from a supplier still making them, and to be competitive with what's out there.

I found the reefbrite selectable for as low as $207 from premium aquatics and $198 from BRS. Both on sale, looks like regular price of $244 at both places.

Couple of things to consider
- Will you be selling direct to consumer? Or through Distribution?
- Even if you can get a great deal on the ballasts and bulbs, how long will you be sitting on them to even break even?
- How are you going to handle defective products? It does happen, especially with electrical items. Let's say someone buys a ballasts, and it just doesn't work. Are you covering shipping of the new one to them, and the old one back to you?
- How long of a warranty are you offering on items?
- Shipping - will it be prepaid or covered by the customer?

 

[Pntbll687]

I was under the impression you could still get halide through Tulio on Reef Brite. Can you not?

They do make a selectable ballast, regular price of $244 from online retailers, but usually on sale for around $200.

I think OP is thinking he can get them cheaper and resell them at a lower markup.

 

[euphlife]

They do make a selectable ballast, regular price of $244 from online retailers, but usually on sale for around $200.

I think OP is thinking he can get them cheaper and resell them at a lower markup.

This is my thought. Find em all day for $50 a ballast and $8 a bulb I need a truck load lol.

 

[X-37B]

There are plenty of ballasts available. Magnetic kits are cheap. I just did one for the 400 watt Radium 20K's.
What is missing is reflectors.
Copy the Lumenbrite mogal reflector.
Here is the difference.
I found a used LB and cleaned it up.
This is a 20K Radium 400 watt mogal.
Digi ballast
RB fixture par 192
LB fixture par 449
M135 mag ballast par 335
10K Ushio was 549 on digi
First is 192 par
Second 449 par
Visible difference observed

 

[euphlife]

250w report of the bulb. I’m liking it personally.

 

[vandy]

There are plenty of ballasts available. Magnetic kits are cheap. I just did one for the 400 watt Radium 20K's.
What is missing is reflectors.
Copy the Lumenbrite mogal reflector.
Here is the difference.
I found a used LB and cleaned it up.
This is a 20K Radium 400 watt mogal.
Digi ballast
RB fixture par 192
LB fixture par 449
M135 mag ballast par 335
10K Ushio was 549 on digi
First is 192 par
Second 449 par
Visible difference observed

Have you given the HTG reflectors a test? Looks like similar footprint to the LB. Wish i would have bought a couple of the other options that they had when they were heavily discounted. Looks like they are out of stock now

 

[X-37B]

Have you given the HTG reflectors a test? Looks like similar footprint to the LB. Wish i would have bought a couple of the other options that they had when they were heavily discounted. Looks like they are out of stock now

Have you given the HTG reflectors a test? Looks like similar footprint to the LB. Wish i would have bought a couple of the other options that they had when they were heavily discounted. Looks like they are out of stock now

No never tried those.
I picked up 2 Lumenarcs, 15×15, and they were putting 350 par vs the LB 450 and the RB 190.

 

[rtparty]

We don't need bulbs. Between Radium and AquaBright we are set IMO

The hobby needs better reflectors and magnetic ballasts. The magnetic ballasts will not be easy to source nor will the good reflectors. Some factory will likely want a very large initial order and someone will have to be willing to front the money, store them for years, and handle the business side of selling them

It is a great way to lose money for those wanting to try it

 

[davidm777]

This is my thought. Find em all day for $50 a ballast and $8 a bulb I need a truck load lol.

If you double the ballast at $100 and triple the the bulb at $24. Not a bad gig. At these prices I would give MH a try.
I am always tempted by reflectors on the Marijuana grow kits on offer up. I have even seen them for free!

 

[TaylorPilot]

I can't imagine you would sale more than a few 100 a year. LED is good enough now and the form factor of MH is a hard sell for most people. I still think they put out the best light when looking at a tank.

 

[euphlife]

Have you given the HTG reflectors a test? Looks like similar footprint to the LB. Wish i would have bought a couple of the other options that they had when they were heavily discounted. Looks like they are out of stock now