Cool Tube Halides

[bencc28]

Has anybody ran this type of setup? Im doing a 150 gallon build and have decided to go back to halides from LED because I am just not getting the results I want with the LED's. As always with halides heat is the big problem. I planned on a big chiller but I came across these cool tube halide fixtures used for indoor "plant growing" and I cant seem to find very much info about them being used in reef tanks. Im sure its on here somewhere just cant seem to find the info. I plan on using the 400 watt adjustable electronic ballast with radium bulbs. Its been a while since ive posted ill try to add some pics to show what im talking about.

 

[bencc28]

Has anybody ran this type of setup? Im doing a 150 gallon build and have decided to go back to halides from LED because I am just not getting the results I want with the LED's. As always with halides heat is the big problem. I planned on a big chiller but I came across these cool tube halide fixtures used for indoor "plant growing" and I cant seem to find very much info about them being used in reef tanks. Im sure its on here somewhere just cant seem to find the info. I plan on using the 400 watt adjustable electronic ballast with radium bulbs. Its been a while since ive posted ill try to add some pics to show what im talking about.

 

[Tang Salad]

I've never heard of that. Are they just calling it that because it uses an electronic ballast, which run less hot?

 

[jay13]

Has anybody ran this type of setup? Im doing a 150 gallon build and have decided to go back to halides from LED because I am just not getting the results I want with the LED's. As always with halides heat is the big problem. I planned on a big chiller but I came across these cool tube halide fixtures used for indoor "plant growing" and I cant seem to find very much info about them being used in reef tanks. Im sure its on here somewhere just cant seem to find the info. I plan on using the 400 watt adjustable electronic ballast with radium bulbs. Its been a while since ive posted ill try to add some pics to show what im talking about.

couple of suggestions. first consider the 250 watt system. the 400's don't add enough bang for all the extra bucks you will spend on them, they also have half the bulb life of the 250 running on an m80 ballast. reflectors have been tested just as much as the bulbs. i don't remember ever seeing a review for this type and if i did it was not impressive.

 

[bencc28]

Thanks Ill look into the 250's. I wasn't extremely concerned with the effectiveness of the reflector. I know a good one can add a decent amount more light into the tank but I figured with halide even with a low end reflector there will still be more than enough to keep the corals happy. Im really more concerned about heat. I have read that these ducted tube type withe a good fan will take out 95% of the heat and the glass tube is just warm to the touch.

 

[bencc28]

Tang
No the halide bulb is inside a tube that you run air through which removes the heat from around the bulb. It is a 6inch tube and they make 6 inch fans and ducting for them

 

[slief]

Hmmm. That's an interesting concept.

 

[ryanerickson]

Can't see these not working I'm in Vancouver bc they use them in grow ops keeps the heat outta the room.

 

[tlc]

there are many air cooled reflectors on the market. many of them used for indoor horticulture. most are engineered to maximize a 4x4 growing area so I am not sure how well they push light down into a reef tank. in addition some bulbs perform poorly when air cooled. the spectrum actually changes. many bulbs on the market are designed to run at a certain temp. I would contact radium to make sure there bulbs can be air cooled without spectral shift...

 

[bencc28]

Im going to order them today. Ill try to update this and let everyone know how it works.