MH lights Question

[nidreef]

I saw these on eBay....anyone know about these? I have a 55gal now but would this be enough for a 90-120 gal for SPS/Clams??


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2387126775&category=3212

Any advice??

Mark

 

[wooddood]

yes it will be enough for a 90 or 120,i just ordered 2 250 w 10 k xm's with 4 55 watt pc's from troy [pro_builder] and am going to use them on my 120 48x24x24.i would add some actinic pc's to it though.

 

[nidreef]

Woddod,

Thanks for the reply....would they have to be PCs or would 2 VHOs do the trick.

Is that set up ok to use or would it be better to order MH from a fish/reef store. I just haven't heard of this ballast and wanted to make sure they would work fine. (I know next to nothing about MH)

I found an Icecap set up for 1 250w for $179.00. Just thought thought this sounded like a good deal for 2 lights??

Thanks

Mark

 

[kevinpo]

I would recommend finding a HQI type ballst. You will like the output and color the bulbs produce much better with them.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[wooddood]

i would recomend the pc's over the vho just because the pc's bulbs will last longer then the vho's.at least that is what i was told from [pro_builder.hth.

 

[Scooterman]

Actually, I'd use T5's over the VHO, or PC for several reasons, one they are said to run way cooler than either, & that was coming from Andy over @ IcaCap. Also they seem to out perform either with the proper reflectors, your not trading off much in price either.

 

[kevinpo]

PC's will last about 3 months longer but if you're using the Actinic blue ones the VHO's make corals look much better. I didn't notice any difference between the 10,000K and the 50/50 bulbs.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[Gordo]

Is that set up ok to use or would it be better to order MH from a fish/reef store. I just haven't heard of this ballast and wanted to make sure they would work fine. (I know next to nothing about MH)

All tar ballast use the same guts so it doesn't really matter who makes the enclosure.

 

[nidreef]

Thanks everyone for the great info!! I was asking about the VHO because I already have an Ice Cap 660 so I thought I'd use those.

I would recommend finding a HQI type ballst. You will like the output and color the bulbs produce much better with them.

HTH,
Kevin

Ok Kevin....What is HQI and what is the difference between the 2 ballasts??

Sorry for the dumb questions but like I said I know nothing about MH!

Thanks again

Mark

 

[kevinpo]

The HQI type ballast drives the bulbs a bit harder this results in a Radium 20,000K to look less blue and much brighter. A 10,000K Ushio to look more blue and brighter. For both bulbs more bright/intensity=about 15% to my unscientific eye.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[nidreef]

Thanks Kevin.

I'll stop by a pick your brain some more next week!!

Thanks

Mark

 

[kevinpo]

The down side is you don't get anything for free. If you overdrive the bulbs it shortens their life 30-90 days.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[piercho]

I'm sorry, Kevin, but I think you misunderstood that Mark was referring to a 250W ballast. A M81 (250W "HQI") does not drive a bulb harder than a standard M58 (250W probe start), which is what I believe that the eBay listing shows. A main difference is that the M81, and all "HQI" ballasts, has an igniter that generates a high voltage pulse when starting the bulb. The M58 ballast does not.

I think you are referring to the technique of using 430W HPS Son Agro ballasts as a 400W "HQI" ballast to drive the Osram Blue(Radium "20KK") bulb to a whiter appearence. In that case you are driving the bulb harder than a 400W probe start (M59) or a 400W pulse start (M135) ballast would.

A 250W "HQI" (M81) ballast should drive the 250W Osram Blue bulb at it's designed output spectrum, which appears blue. It should also start a single ended bulb designed for use with an igniter (Ushio, Osram) more dependably than a M58, and give them a longer usable life. A M81 ballast will fire most (all that I'm aware of) 250W double ended bulbs. It should never be used with bulbs designed for use with M58 probe start ballasts, like the Venture Aqua (10KK).

 

[nidreef]

Confussed

Ok....maybe I should ask this question...


What MH lights (IYO) would be the best to run on a now 55gal and I hope someday soon for a 90-120 gal SPS/Clam and everything else tank.

I want the best bang for my buck. I just don't want to buy more in a year 'cause they will not grow these types of coral/clams.

Just would like to know what everyone thinks

Thanks

Mark

 

[wanareef]

Go with 250w's and the k rating will be up to you.
Kevin mentioned about using the HQI ballast over the tar ballast - it would "overdrive" the bulb a little and thereby shorten bulb life but would increase the "brightness" of the bulb's output. (the drawback) The plus side- you can use any bulb. Even use HQI's if so inclined.

If anything stay away from the "tar' ballast - uses too much energy to light the bulbs and you loose it in the heat it produces.

Go with electronic ballasts, you pay more up front but then you can burn any bulb you want to in that wattage range. And you will be changing bulbs down the line for one reason or another. This is what you want- the flexability in changing bulbs and not having to change out the ballast = save $$$$

I run a PFO Dual HQI ballast on my saki's and the output is great, bright but still needs actinic supplementation.

hth

 

[fishermann]

i run HQI ballast with single end 250 ushio's 10k's

 

[kevinpo]

Howard is correct. It's the bulb type/ballast combination that can be correct or shorten the life of the bulb. Here are a couple of links that show some pictures that might help explain how different types of bulbs work (I'm a picture kind of guy ):

http://members.fortunecity.com/paulerik/id50.htm
http://members.fortunecity.com/paulerik/id39.htm

Regards,
Kevin

 

[nidreef]

Thanks for the info!!

Wanareef thanks for explaining. Now I understand. Someone just had to speak slowly and the "light" came on!!

Kevin pictures are always good!!!

Mark

 

[NaH2O]

Mark,

Here is an article on Lighting the Reef Tank: A Primer for Beginners It goes into the different types of lighting. I hope it serves as a nice supplement to the information that has been provided.

Here is another more in depth article: Spectral Analysis of Recent Metal Halide Lamps and Ballast Combinations by Sanjay Joshi and Timothy Marks


Kevin, great links! They have been added to my collection

 

[jks1]

Mark,
I just ordered a triple 400W setup from aquariumlight.com- same folks as in the Ebay sale. I did upgrade the ballasts to pulse start and got parabolic reflectors, but the setup is awesome. It was shipped ontime and the packing was excellent. And best of all it is plug and play.. HTH