As you all know, I purchased a lighting system back in the end of February. I set it up and only ran the
actinics for a couple of weeks until I could get the electrician back out to the house to make sure I could safely run the 2 new
ballasts for the two 250w
MHs on the outlets that I had. He gave me the green flag and I anxiously fired those puppies up and wowsers...... it blew my socks off. The lighting was incredible as I saw my
DT like I'd never seen it before. I was well pleased even though my pocket book was now empty.
Things ran great for a while and all of a sudden I had a
MH making a buzzing noise off and on and then it just stopped working. I ordered a Reeflux
MH bulb as a replacement thinking it was just a faulty bulb and this was the perfect time to upgrade to the deluxe caddie of the
MH world. While I'm waiting for the replacement bulb to arrive, next thing I know, the other
MH goes out.
When the bulb arrives, I pull the hood down and begin to dismantle it so I can replace the bulb. Hmmm, having difficulty with the bulb coming out. It finally comes out and low and behold one end is fried and now some of the ceramic fitting crumbles. What the hey!
:
Ok, I can deal with this, just another major hurdle in my marine saga. I've dealt with worse issues like the
DT stand, the plumbing and repair work.... I can do this. I feel as if I have this black rain cloud hovering above, watching, waiting, scheming. I'm thinking to my self "What next? Will the front panel of glass on the
DT blow out flushing 145g of corrosive salt water all over everywhere?"
Alright, I call the manufacturer as the entity I purchased the lighting system through does not deal with warranties on the merchandise that they sell. "How convenient." I get transferred over to the warranty dept and am now listening to someone's audex telling me to leave a message. I left a message and then decided to call back this time telling the individual that answered the phone that I would like to speak with someone who was actually in the office and available to address my issues. I spoke to a gentleman and am pleased with his actions addressing my problem. Arrangements were then made to have my system shipped back to the manufacturer and am now waiting on my unit being repaired or a new system all together. I am miffed about having to pay $55 to have a custom made shipping box made to send this thing back, but am pleased that they were willing to pay the freight for shipping.
Now that the broken lighting system issue is being handled, I'm on my next pressing problem..... temporary lighting. Yes, more moolah. I surf the web and decide that I would like to purchase a 250w
MH hang on tank light. Being the bargain hunter that I am, I procrastinate on actually ordering one. In the meantime, the lure of my
LFS is as powerful as the mating call of an osprey in spring. I go in and look around and decide to pick up another 45lbs of
LR. More rock the better! I now have 170lbs of
LR in my
DT and
fuge. I have been battling to win a zero on the
nitrates and have steadily maintained a 10 rating now and perhaps the
LR will help. While I'm there talking shop about my lighting saga, it turns out that they had a 150w
MH pendant. I act a little interested (My bargaining strategy) and they really want to help me out. (Help me out of the money I still have left.
LOL....
J/K as they are very nice folks) I walk out of there with a $310 pendant for $239. I am well pleased.
Well, apparently I am still in the mood to make myself feel better and buying needed upgrades for my tanks will do the trick. I'm off to Super Petz and purchase a hood for my lil 5.5g ghost shrimp tank. One would naturally assume that a bulb would be included with the hood, but of course it's not, so the bulb goes into my shopping cart. Ooooh, there’s filters over there....I decide to put the filter from my feeder fish tank on the smaller tank and upgrade with a Magnum. I love a good Magnum. Yes, they can be a
nitrate factory for a person who does not clean them once a week and fortunately I am a faithful servant to my tanks.
Ok, a marine addict more like it. I need my salt water fix. Finally throwing some treats in the basket for my cockatiel and dog I head back to the ranch.
Now the waiting game, as I am currently monitoring my water parameters daily to keep an eye on the "cured"
LR to make sure I don't get a spike. So far, so good. I sure hope things plain out and I can take 2 or 3 steps forward before I am plagued with another issue. And of course we all know there will be issues of one kind or another.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
it's all your fault for spending your time in helping me out. And all of the world's problems too! 
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