Lighting - can i keep my $500.00??

[cuttle killer]

I have a 180 gal reef/fish with only 100 Watts of blue compac lighting. Though the reef seems ok, ive become aware that i need more light.


I recently was given (2) Lithionia Industrial Lamps w/ 250 watt Sylvania bulbs. I plugged them in they work fine. Also says "suitable for damp locations" on the lamp. They fit very nicely under my 11" canopy, protected with a glass splash guard, and sit just next to the ice-cap exhaust fans.

The lamps are not designed for aquarium use, but for outdoor lighting. They are bright white in color.

i noticed online that this is not an expensive setup. Like 110.00 per lamp. and i think about 20.00 per bulb.

The bulb reads: "sylvania, metalarc M58 R Ms50/U"

From what I've read so far, For photosynthesis to occur, aquarium lighting should duplicate the spectrum of sunlight. The 5500K, 6500K and 10000K...

Anyways, will this work? , what is there ****k?

if they are no good will i be able to find a suitable bulb for these Lamps?

thank you (hopefully) for th $500.00 tip.

 

[snulma1]

If its firing an M58 bulb you should be able to find a new bulb. You can use the bulb you have, however the lower the K rating, the more yellow the color

I found 2 industrial 175w MH ballasts and just wired them to a reflector and socket and bought the bulbs. So im sure that you can use your lights. I would just make sure that the ballasts are safely mounted and you mount the reflector securely.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

search the osram/sylvania site for that bulb and see what the temp is on that bulb.....
Most "general" use bulbs are at 4,500K and below, making them unusable for reef applications where photosynthesis is needed....ofcourse, you can use that bulb all day long for a FO system.....

 

[RichConley]

4500Ks are great as far as photosynthesis goes.


THeyre just ugly as sin.

 

[cuttle killer]

LOL, i think its only 3800k (and o made a typo, the bulb actually reads 250)

will a bulb 6800k+ work on this lamps??

 

[musty baby]

Any bulb recommended for an m58 ballast should work fine. If you're looking for an inexpensive option maybe the cheap ebay metal halide bulbs would be a way to go (also around $20 apiece, and available in a full spectrum range)

 

[cuttle killer]

well problem solved. thanks, for your helps, i picked up some 250 watt 10,000k "south pacific sunlight" bulbs at the local aquarium store for $85 a piece.

not sure how good they are but being that i wanted light right away, they'll do.

so i saved about 300.00 alltogether but i payed with my time.

thanks agin for answering my Qs.