parking lot metal halides

[fordtrucksrme]

I am a new member here and really enjoy reading this forum, as I have yet to see anyone be negative towards anyone else. I am gathering supplies to do a 400 gal reef, I have had a 200 fish only and a 30 reef, My question today is, can the parking lot metal halides be used as long as the bulb is changed and the voltage is correct?? Thank you

[Mrs Smith]

Hi there!

It seems that I've read a similar discussion in the past and the debate was geared toward the spectrum of the bulbs, and whether it would be appropriate for coral growth and not look too yellow. (Which seemed to be the problem.) I'm sure someone can pipe up more about bassalt specs.


Which reminds me... a light pole was knocked down in our neighborhood last week. When I was out walking the dog yesterday, I noticed that someone had already helped themselves to the bulb...

Danielle

[Jeremy1973]

Hmm...was I not suppose to take that bulb? After all, I wanted it to be safe...

And, WELCOME to TRT Fordtrucksme! Hope you always find this board welcoming and homey.

[jsalonis]

Good question...I have oft wondered the same thing while standing in the bulb section of the local Home Depot/Lowes/Orchard/. I see many MH bulbs that look like they would do the trick and many receptacles in which to plug them in to. Why wouldn't these work?

[fordtrucksrme]

Well I would still use a coventional 20k 0r 15k bulb but the fixture itself is what I am wondering about?? Thanks for the replys so far.

[cyberchef]

Originally posted by fordtrucksrme
can the parking lot metal halides be used as long as the bulb is changed and the voltage is correct?? Thank you

As long as it is a MH and not a sodium ballast, it should work fine. You've already mentioned that you are goiong to use the right type of bulb for Reefs, so that is not an issue. The only thing you might have a problem with is 1) the noise those ballasts tend to make and you might have to try different brands of bulbs as sopme brands may or may not fire with that particular ballast.

[Geoff]

As long as the ballast is an M59 type ballast they would work. The noise could be an issue, these generally have a fairly noticeable humm to them. The only thing I am not sure of is if MH is the same as MV. I will see if I can find that out.

Home Depot bulbs are to low in the K scale. they are generally between 4300 and 5500 K. That would be great if you are starting a hair algae species tank.

G~

[cyberchef]

Originally posted by Geoff
As long as the ballast is an M59 type ballast they would work. The noise could be an issue, these generally have a fairly noticeable humm to them. The only thing I am not sure of is if MH is the same as MV. I will see if I can find that out.

MH = Metal Halide
MV = Mercury Vapor
Only the Iwasaki bulnbs will work on either type of ballast as they are actually a MV bulb...

[Geoff]

Cyberchef-thanks, i could not remember whether iwasakis were MH and MV or MH and HPS.

G~