is there any MH system you can uild w/parts from a local supply house?

[rsteagall]

If a guy wanted to build a low cost MH solution, is it possible to get all parts needed at a local supply house or even from Lowe's or Home Depot?

Just curious what one could build and what can be found.

 

[bigfoot610]

yup theres something like this

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45660&highlight=metal+halide

and this ones good too

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/articles/DIY_MH.html

 

[rsteagall]

Newbie question to MH..

are MH Bulbs like:

http://www.hellolights.com/2565iw.html
http://www.hellolights.com/methal250wat2.html
http://www.hellolights.com/hameha2514kb.html
http://www.hellolights.com/250wxm15000k.html



Are they all Mercury Vapor? All the ballasts I see at your common electrical supply house list them being mercury vapor or high pressure sodium. When looking at bulbs at these supply houses, all the bulbs list themselves as being mercury vapor or high pressure sodium as well. When searching for MH aquarium lights like at hellolights.com... none are listed as such.

I have access to some low bay lights w/250w ballasts. If the mogul was correct will these bulbs fire?

 

[Greg manton]

you can buy a mmetal halide ballast (magnetic) at most industriel lighting shops and wire it i paid 48 can when i bought my first one

 

[rsteagall]

Yea, but are MH bulbs Mercury vapor or high pressure sodium? Will either work on a MH ballast?

 

[sttroyiii]

No, they are two different gasses. Mercury Vapor has a more purple light. Im not good with the lighting spectrums, but I dont think MV will ever give the right one. MV is the least efficient I believe, followed by MH, and then HPS being the most efficient. HPS is obviously the wrong spectrum as well. Your stuck with finding MH which really shouldnt be that hard. Lo-bay or Hi-bay doesnt matter when you are taking it apart as long as it is still MH.

I have a question that might help. I know there are MH bulbs that you can connect to a HPS ballast. They usually come in "Hydro" kits on Ebay. Are there any of these MH bulbs that are around the 10k spectrum that will fit a 400w HPS? I have a couple of old 400w HPS magnetic ballasts it seems I could put to use. Im thinking that rsteagall might be able to buy a HPS ballast somewhere and then just get the right MH bulb that works in a HPS ballast.