any problems using outdoor mh units over a reef?

[adtravels]

i.e the uplighter fixtures with the ballasts attached, if the appropriate bulbs are used.
they all seem to be selling them over here and quite frankly the price makes it a no brainer. Does anyone have any objections on the grounds of:

1. safety
2. heat (i have a chiller)
3. mounts (the lights will be mounted on wooden frames, semi open top tank)
4. sun burn (do all single ended lamps have built in uv in the bulb casing?)
5. noise (after initial start up)

the one i will use is 16x12 inches 400 watt single ended bulbs

a bit like
this

 

[areze]

it will be a very very yellow output, promote algea growth.

 

[luke33]

All single ended bulbs should be coated for uv protection. The big difference is will it fire up all these different reef bulbs out there. Probably yes it will so as long as the fixture doesn't get any splash on it as i'm sure its not sw proof and you have the appropriate bulb it should be good imo. Many people have used grow light setup's. Not real pretty but if you hide them, your good.

 

[adtravels]

Cheers luke I will have it partially disguised.

Arese I did say with the appropriate bulb I.E a 14k or the like, or a 20,000k which I also like and have at the moment.

Any other issues otherwise I am good to go.

 

[adtravels]

any more comments
I thought about using a 20000k bulb over a 60 cube for a h.mag and perc display tank.

 

[Village Idiot]

A LFS here uses a street light MH fixture (it's HUGE) over their frag tank...I don't know what type of bulb they use. The corals look fine.

 

[steve the plumb]

I had a grow light 250 watt fixture for many years that worked great.The only thing I didn't like about it was the ballast and fixture were together so the dam thing was heavy.Plus I found the reflector wasn't as good as whats on the market now.If you can get a unit change out the reflector for a better quality one and you will get more out of the bulb.Another thing is the ballast.You are better off getting a ballast made for this hobby it will probably get better performance out of the bulb plus you can get one that has a fan built into it to run cooler or the ballast will be designed to run cooler

 

[adtravels]

the reflectors are the dimpled type, if that helps.

 

[cewalcott]

as long as you match ballast to bulb, pulse or probe start, there should be no problem. i have 2 worrier floods that i cut so i could use the housing to hold the ballast and asumably help disapate heat and remote mounted the reflecters retro style in hood. if you use the intire unit you can always drill or cut holes and mount fans

 

[pleaselaunchme]

That particular fixture you linked to has an asymmetrical reflector- IE, it will have a very oblong spread of light. Just so you know.


Ben