MH bulb spectrum

[TDesaulniers]

I have a 250 watt electronic ballast and I need roughly around a 3000 kelvin bulb. Do they make these low kelvin bulbs for the typical electronic aquarium ballast?

 

[JAustin]

Ebay

 

[TDesaulniers]

Can anyone give me a link just to be sure?

 

[alton]

http://www.bulbs.com/Philips_Lighti...y/results.aspx?adpos=1t1&creative=16392513918

3800 kelvin was the warmest color I could find. The big thing is to make sure you buy a Pulse start lamp.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Why would you need that spectrum? That is close to HPS (high pressure sodium) spectrum.

 

[TDesaulniers]

http://www.bulbs.com/Philips_Lighti...y/results.aspx?adpos=1t1&creative=16392513918

3800 kelvin was the warmest color I could find. The big thing is to make sure you buy a Pulse start lamp.

Thanks so much! So that's compatible with an electronic ballast? And why a pulse start lamp?

 

[TDesaulniers]

Why would you need that spectrum? That is close to HPS (high pressure sodium) spectrum.

Various aquatic plants that grow out of the water. Kind of experimenting.

 

[alton]

Probe Start lamps are for the older Magnetic type ballast, Pulse start lamps are for the newer pulse start mag and electronic ballast. Government Regulation

 

[Michigan Mike]

6500k like iwasaki (ha, that sounds old school) for growing pants
HPS 3000k for flowering plants.

 

[Michigan Mike]

Here's a lot of bulb / ballast combos.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/index.php

 

[TDesaulniers]

6500k like iwasaki (ha, that sounds old school) for growing pants
HPS 3000k for flowering plants.

Would a HPS 3000k bulb work on my electronic ballast?

 

[PaulErik]

Which electronic ballast do you have? Some electronic ballasts are compatible with both MH and HPS lamps.

HPS light can appear slightly monochromatic (orange/yellow). HPS is typically 1900-2100K with a low color rendering index. If appearance is important at all a more full spectrum light source like metal halide is better suited.

The 3800K lamp in that link is only for base up (BU) operation. Pulse start metal halide lamps are designed for certain operating positions. You want to use the appropriate operating position. Pulse start (ANSI M138/M153) metal halide lamps are more suited for electronic ballasts because the way most electronic ballasts start the lamp (use high voltage pulses to ignite the lamp).

If vegetative growth and flowering is both needed 3000-4500K metal halide lamps are suitable. If vegetative growth is mostly important a full spectrum with higher blue spectra 5000-10000K metal halide lamps are suitable.