MH/Security light DIY?

[elliotklinger]

A while ago, I saw a thread by someone who took a 500 watt halogen security light (outdoor) and slightly modified it into MH lamp for tank by using 70w or 150w DE MH bulb. I'm wondering if anyone have seen this thread?

 

[kgross]

It is pretty easy to do, other than needing the MH ballast. The Hologen light is just used to mount the Double ended (HQI) bulb.

Kim

 

[hahnmeister]

Look over at nano-reef.com...many of us have done the 'Regent halide retrofit' for 70watt and 150wattDE bulbs. Ive done about 4 now.

 

[impur]

I used this one

 

[dark8nge1]

yup did the same thing. If you want to setup a 70 watt its really simple all you need is a pair of needle nose pliers, oh and a ballast of course

 

[mr pink floyd]

well, i dont see why it dotn work

if im nto mistaken, a MH bulb is a metal, adn a halide gas

so whatever metal they use in the bulb (not sure) but then the halide gas is used

a halide gas is any gas from the halogen family with a negative ion

im pretty sure... not positive, but thast a cool idea!

 

[elliotklinger]

Awesome! Thanks for the link- I'm going to check it out and maybe try it this week. I'm going to make 70w first and if I need more light then I'll try 150w.

 

[hahnmeister]

For a 10g? Thats what I had...used that same regent fixture as well. I ended up selling it in the end...it just didnt cut it. Just go 150, and use a bluer bulb so you dont need actinics. Remember, bluer bulbs like 20,000Ks have 1/2 the output of 10,000Ks, so a 150 watt 20,000K is really like 70watts 10,000K...but the 20,000K can be run by itself and look good. The output of 14,000K and 20,000K 70watters is just plain dismal though. I couldnt even grow silver bar xenia at the top of the tank, nor low-light shrooms at the bottom of the tank with the 14,000K 70watt. Also, with the 150, you can use it on a larger tank should you decide to.

Even if you go 70watt, 10,000K, you will want supplimental actinic...so you are up over 100watts anyways...close to 150. So you might as well go 150 right off the bat.

 

[elliotklinger]

I think I'll go with 150w. I have 50g lab tank and need more light on one of evalated area. And the same for 10g, I'm thinking about replacing the lighting for it.

I'll go with coral life 20k bulbs.

 

[CoolUsername]

Great Idea. Those housings are something like $12 from H.D. I just bought some for backyard lighting. Much cheaper than a hood. Any ideas about venting with a fan?

 

[elliotklinger]

I've seen fixture for $9.97 at lowe's and I'm going to stop there today after work and get 2.

For the vent, I'm sure you can drill holes on side as you can see in photo above. For the fan, maybe small computer fan with transformer on one side. I believe 40mm will fit the fixture that small.

For size reference, 70w and 150w are same size? Same for 250w and 400w?

 

[impur]

Yah i paid just under 10 bucks at HD. I'm using a 10k bulb, this will be a QT tank.

Holes like this

 

[hahnmeister]

You should also add a row of holes just above where the gasket is for the glass. This will allow hot air to convect from the bottom of the fixture, and out of the top holes you have made already. Just make sure that the holes are along the back half of the light so light doesnt come glaring out.

You might want to make those top holes a little larger as well...maybe. I dont know for sure, but its always better to be on the safe side. I made my holes 1/2" (4 holes along the top) for ventilation. The more cooling the better. I have heard of guys where the protective glass gets so hot that it starts to warp inwards (a sign of overheating).

And for bulb sizes...70watters are shorter than 150s, 250s and 400s as well. There is no universal socket. At best, fixtures like the Icecap which handles 250watt or 400wattDE have adjustable socket mounts to fit either bulb.

 

[impur]

Yah i put lots more holes, the pic was half way thru that process. In the fixture i used, one of the sockets is spring loaded, so it could take a longer bulb fairly easily.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Just buy the ReefOptix III for ~$90 each. MUCH MORE output due to a MUCH BETTER reflector design. Spend your time DIYing something that can't be purchased so cheaply.

Mr pink floyd... not sure what you are trying to say (very hard to read your sentances). But ALL discharge lamps are similar. The problem is that the small differences in gases, ignitors and envelopes cause each type of bulbs to start and burn differently. You can't simply plug a MH bulb into a MV or SODIUM ballast and get it to work. Instead you can expect nothing at all, or fireworks. They ballasts are matched exactly the the bulb types.

In this case the only thing being used is the HOUSING. A MH ballast needs to be added to make it work. The PROBLEM is that the reflectors in these are JUNK. However for a 10G tank, even for light loss, it will still likely be enough. However to get the MOST LIGHT POSSIBLE. A good reflector must be used. We are not talking a percent or two... we are talking anywahre from 20%-30% more light depending on the application.

 

[impur]

Good point, will most likely look better too.

But i paid $25 and a frag of GSP for my setup and its only on a QT tank

 

[BeanAnimal]

That is an ideal place for a setup like this.

 

[elliotklinger]

Ok, now I got them- I ran the measurement aganist my current 150 MH. Is 300w halogen the one for 70w? Because when I tried to measure 150w, it doesn't look like it'll fit in the fixture. So do I have to buy 500w fixture?

 

[Joshua76]

If possible could someone that has done this please put a list of all mats and corisponding prices.


TY...joshua

 

[hahnmeister]

From what I remember, the hammertone/regent reflectors have very competitive outputs compared to the more expensive ones. I wouldnt dismiss them as Bean suggests... Im not a walking library, but I seem to remember someone (maybe Sanjay even) testing one like these and found them to work very well.

Unless BeanAnimal has some test figures of the significant losses he states are from the regent retrofits...