I have a 400w MH that has been doing nothing for years. Very low time on the ballast. Need to change the bulb it was used for lighting a hydroponic project in a past life. I think a 36 x 42 x 12 tank would work. Thas alota frags, yes? The light could suspend at about 12 - 14" Has anyone built outa Starboard? A big Con is the weight, can't think of anything else. I was going to put glass on one long side for viewing and starboard the rest. What is required for a sump? I've just started a 40br with a 20L fuge. So I don't have much money left in the budget. Can a profit be obtained at such a nano level??? More than cover the cost of operations is enough. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Here are pix of the 40br http://s927.photobucket.com/albums/ad117/rgavere/

For profit you could probably make more from your old hydroponic project

For a 400w you'll be boiling the water at 12-16" above the tank though, you'll probably need to start at about 20-24" which will waste a lot of light. You may wanna look into t5's for better light use as well as lower heat and a lower power bill. For the sump you'll need to research what you need based on your goals.

I don't get your starboard question, are you wanting to build a tank out of starboard and glass? Bad idea. Check the diy section or search for making an acrylic tank, better yet just keep the 40 breeder.

You can have profit if you work hard on it and get some good mother colonies of the right corals, which are difficult things to do when you're on a budget. While you can make a profit, don't expect a very significant one by any means unless you really, really go all out.

Why do you say "bad idea" for using Starboard? It could have no glass that was just for viewing. Not sure whether starboard is less costly than acrylic, I think its less. T5's might be a better choice in lighting. I have the MH. So no cost involved other than the bulb. I don't see heat as much of an issue. The light over the 40 display is a 150w outer orbit 342 total watts on supplied mounts setting on tank and 75w T8 over 20L fuge. I'm averaging 79.5 degrees. Cost per watt doesn't matter what the source is. That bill should be about the same. No doubt hydro brings in the cash but the risk is more than spilt SW. I do really miss the enjoyment of growing but the downside . I would rather make a little and pay for my hobby. Thanks for the input

So im not the only one that thinks the hydroponics is worth more Theyre fun....

Not sure about bonding starboard to glass, never tried it. A lot of people have built their own aquariums out of plywood and a glass pane, but the cost savings only materialize when the aquarium is large. What about getting some glass cut and building it out of that? You could find a pane of glass and make the biggest aquarium you can based on the dimensions. A 400W MH would light maybe 36"x36"

Adam

For a tank you're much better off trying to find a used one from your local forums on rc or craigslist, would cost a ton less than building one. Heat from a 400w if you put it that close to your tank would be intense, and comparable wattage doesn't translate into comparable energy use due to ballasts. A magnetic ballast for a halide = $$$$, as do crappier electronic ones. My power bill went down about 30%+ when I switched to t5's but it cost me $2500, if you've got the halide already then yeah, bulb change.

I sort of understand the efficiencies of technology. Thats where we find benefit. ie LEDs' are great its cost of the equipment that sucks. Isn't is it simply $/watt hour, in the end?
The heat a problem really? [b]I'm sorry ya'll need to know stuff like this[/b ]I didn't mention the vent in the hood. pretty standard with most fixtures an both hobbies, but this one has a lens and I can put a pretty powerful fan in the 4" exhaust. I could hang the light higher 12 - 14" was sort of arbitrary . I always experienced that the further the light from your target the more it must strain to get the amount it requires.

What do you mean by vented hood, like a hole for a fan on the side? I'm not sure if those are very commonly used in this hobby but I'm guessing that it would lower the heat if it were hooked up to some kind of fan, but the light from the bulb puts out its own heat that will probably heat the water up anyways if the light is too close.

Also, your I don't know anything about your other hobby, but can venture a guess that it's inappropriate to discuss on this site.

Yes the hood is designed to have a 4" duct and fan mounted to it. I greatly lowers heat from the light. My Outer Orbit has a nice little quiet fan that doesn't really do the same job.

I don't think there is anything inappropriate with a discussion of the hydroponic hobby. This be a reef forum. People do stray from the point here.
The hydroponic background is helpful in my new interest.