MH Bulbs

Ichthus · 11-03-2003, 12:57 PM

I have 2 400W MH lights/ballasts ona 100g tank I am about to set up. One person said that they will "cook my goose."

Do you think that this is too much light? I also have 4 96 watt PC's in there too.

Can I use 250W bulbs instead? Will that hurt the ballast or bulb if I use a lower watt bulb?

mnreefgeek · 11-03-2003, 01:06 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. There are at least 2 members of TCMAS, that I can think of right off hand, that are running 2x400 on smaller tanks. 1 a 46bow and another a 58. Are you running a chiller? BTW, not 400s, but I've got 400wt MH over a 20. I don't have any problems.

Ichthus · 11-03-2003, 01:34 PM

No money....therefore....no chiller

I didn't think it was THAT bad of too much light.

I also didnt think it woul hurt going to 250's anyway.

I know I am about to have a heat issue, and will buy a small fan at Wal-Mart and have it blow on the sump water and will probably buy a couple of Radio Shack pc fans to blo won the lights in the canopy. The MH canopy is about 12" above the water and I dont have glass tops, which should help with temp water now.

I have heard about people dropping frozen coke bottles in the sump each day, but I really dont think that will work.

R1Bill · 11-03-2003, 07:29 PM

i have that much light in my 180 and it is really bright. i think that you'll be happier with 250s and those 400s put out a lot of heat.

bill

dbelshe · 11-03-2003, 07:50 PM

I have 2 400 W on my 100g with no problems and no chiller. Temp rises about 2-4 deg,. over a 6 hour period. Never had any problems. HTH

R1Bill · 11-03-2003, 09:28 PM

it may matter which bulbs you get. i have the iwaki 6500k lights. they are so bright that it hurts to look at the tank for a long time. if you get a higher temp light or your couch is further from the tank, it may not be that much of an issue.

bill

Stoney Reef · 11-03-2003, 11:10 PM

I run 2 400w radiums on a 46 bow. During the really hot days this summer or the times when I forgot to turn up the AC, the tank got a bit warm and the chiller had to kick in, however, everything else is managed by two 4" fans in the canopy. One blowing in fromt he back, and the other bolted to the top blowing out like a chimney. I cannot remember the last time the chiller had to turn on.

Pirate · 11-03-2003, 11:22 PM

I guess that my first concern would be the type of hood, (hanging, pendant, wood etc) and what kind of air flow you have. My hood sits right on the tank with 3 175watt 10k's about 6" above the water, I also have two four inch fans blowing out. With that I get 4 degree increase over the course of the day.

helidude · 11-04-2003, 01:41 AM

The problem I see besides a possible heat issue,is you will need to replace the 400 watt ballast for 250 watt ballast.

Unless you can find someone to trade with.

I just(last week) bought a 2x250 MH retro. I'm regretting not going with 400's. hint,hint.

Roy

Ichthus · 11-04-2003, 08:08 AM

WOW!

It seems I opened up a big can of calurpa with that question.

Hmmmmm. I was afraid you were going to say I could not put 250 bulbs in a 400 ballast.

I have a wooden hood. I dont really want to put holes on the side so I was thinking about just blowing 1 fans on each of the bulbs and 1 larger fan on the sump water.

I am running two - Sunburst 400 W 12,000 K Metal Halide Bulbs.

Helidude....I hear ya loud and clear. I will try the 400's out for a week or so, and the day I have to eat boiled shrimp for dinner next week I will send you a PM

Pirate · 11-04-2003, 12:11 PM

As far as fans go, I know that folks do it, but I would never blow a fan on a hot MH bulb. Fans should always blow out and relieve the hood of heat build up. I had my lighting done by someone in the business for years, had his own patent on his lighting systems and would never put fans blowing in. My buddie has 250's in his 125 and no fans except two blowing over the water from the back, his tank reaches 84 - 86 on a regular basis.

Stoney Reef · 11-04-2003, 12:49 PM

for the record: my fan circulate the air in the canopy, they do not blow directly on a bulb

dwall174 · 11-04-2003, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ichthus
Hmmmmm. I was afraid you were going to say I could not put 250 bulbs in a 400 ballast.
From your first post "Can I use 250W bulbs instead? Will that hurt the ballast or bulb if I use a lower watt bulb?"

If I under stand you, correctly you want to just switch the bulbs? I could be wrong here but I think that you will have to also get a new ballast if you want to go with the 250-watt bulbs?

Junkzoo · 11-04-2003, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dwall174
I could be wrong here but I think that you will have to also get a new ballast if you want to go with the 250-watt bulbs?

Yup,,,

helidude · 11-04-2003, 07:02 PM

Too bad they couldnt make it easy. I suppose that wouldnt line their pockets as well.