safeway DIY mh light?

[jagwire]

hi all

this is my first journey into saltwater tanks and im hopin for a little direction and of course am interested in all sugestions. i have kept freshwater fish for many years and currently have a 46g tanganikan cichlid tank and a 90 gallon discus tank (also have a couple med tanks).
i have decided to diy the whole setup (or at least try) and will be postin so all can see my progress. i will be using 3/8 acrylic for the tank and sump.
and building the stand in my shop. i still have been trying to figure out which pump to use and have decided that as soon as i can i will post the plans for the tank and pluming and hopefully get some help from those who know better than myself.

the real question i have at this time is to those who know alot about lighting. i have recently gotten my hands on a fixture that was used as a parking lot light for a local safeway. i was told that its wired for 277 and plan rewire it for a 120 and than run a 175w mh inside of it. thing is is that im not sure it will work but i hope so cause after bieng cleaned up and painted its a very cool fixture. anyways is anyone familiar with this fixture and weather or not it will work for a reef tank ?????? (will be working on pics have to get usb cable)

 

[jsmkmavity]

the key is the ballast. it needs to be the right ballast wattage and type for your bulbs. the parking lot bulbs will do you no good, get a reef bulb, which i assume you are since you said you were going to put a 175 in it. the 277 is the voltage the current ballast runs on and a new or used reef ballast will be 120.

 

[jagwire]

hmm

i wasnt giong to use the bulb it came with i hoped to purchase one and screw it in. i was under the impresion that what needed to happen is change the wiring around so that it would be set for 120. if i change to a reef mh 175 watt bulb do i have to change the ballast (i was hoping i could use the one that was already in the fixture.(the bulb that came out of the fixture was a metalic arc 175w).

 

[Reefdaddy1]

First off welcome to RF!!! You will love it here. Secondly if your into DIY then check out this site for your MH plans.


http://www.reefrancher.com/diy/halfpipe/

its pretty good and very basic. But it works and thats what counts.

 

[handydude40]

did you ever try it im intressted in knowing been thinking try simmiler but bulbs so $ little nerves

 

[big t]

does the ballast have an ansi code on it such as "m57"?