Industrial Metal Halides

[Krypt1979]

Is it possible to get away with using an industrial MH unit for a reef tank? I figured it would be fine and all I would need to do is change the bulb out. Reason I ask is I have a chance to scavenge some 250w MH units and I was going to use them.

 

[Capt_Cully]

I believe Gary M used to use parking lot MH fixtures. I've seen the pics, along with the unbelievable algae bloom the old full spectrum bulbs caused.

Gary, drop in on this, refresh my memory. That set up was old skool!

 

[SkiFletch]

For the most part, ballasts are ballasts, regardless of their original intended purpose. I wouldn't use the lamp as you've alluded to, but it should work just fine with an aquarium lamp. One caveat. Older parking light fixtures were most often magnetic ballasts which are not as electrically efficient as electronic ballasts which are more prevalent in aquarium use. That decreased efficiency means more heat. Great in the winter time, not so wonderful in summer. Just somethign to think about.

 

[jsteele]

I am using those ballasts on my mh double end fixture. I have no issues with running them.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

as previously mentioned

as previously mentioned

I used industrial MH's over a 220 years ago.
(Funny you remembered that algae bloom pic, Mark!)
The ballasts were inside the lighting housings and there were NO fans... so that lighting ran EXTREMELY hot.
If using an industrial fixture I would gut it- move the ballasts to remote... mount the bulbs in a nice hood or canopy and install a fan.

Of course, you'll need aquarium lamps

 

[Krypt1979]

Thanks everyone, I was hoping that the verdict would be good. I do plan to break them down out of the housing and mount the ballasts on the back of my canopy. I also plan on installing three fans in the canopy to deal with cooling, ( I have some spare PC fans that I'm going to use) so that should keep things cool. Guess it's time to do some bulb shopping!

 

[reefscape15]

I used industrial MH's over a 220 years ago.
(Funny you remembered that algae bloom pic, Mark!)
The ballasts were inside the lighting housings and there were NO fans... so that lighting ran EXTREMELY hot.
If using an industrial fixture I would gut it- move the ballasts to remote... mount the bulbs in a nice hood or canopy and install a fan.

Of course, you'll need aquarium lamps

+1. I scored a 250watt magnetic ballast for an outside light for a school job, and built a wooden fixture for it. If its a magnetic ballast that comes as a kit with a capacitor, make sure you wire in the capacitor. I tried out the bulb that the kit came with at first and it was super super yellow. I ended up going with a XM20K. I was happy with the color and growth from all corals from the bottom to the top of a 24"deep tank. I've read that certain bulbs give a better color when ran off of a magnetic ballast compared to an electronic ballast. The cost for a magnetic ballast will however be greater than an electronic.

Also, definitely mount the ballast remotely. The magnetic ballasts make TONS of heat!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

*the ballasts get so hot they can start a fire

*keep them away from kids

 

[Krypt1979]

Oh dang, didn't know they got that hot. I guess I'll have to come up with a way to keep them cool as well seeing they are going to be mounted on the back of a wood canopy. The words, "My tank is on fire" I think would be the worst end result in aquarium keeping.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

some kind of heat sink would be ideal- def keep flammable materials (wood!) away from those ballasts.

If the hum you might have to take 'em to the basement.

When my indusrtrial halides were running any water that splashed onto the thick glass protecting the bulbs was INSTANTLY atomized.
Kinda cool- not!