What kind of lighting do I have?

[tikireefer]

Ok...so I am new to the MH world and need to have a few questions answered. I bought this unit from a fellow reefer a few months back and I am not really sure what I have here. Sounds kind of silly, but it was a good price and it was working for him, so I bought it. But, now I want to "really" understand what it is that I bought.

http://www.aquariumlight.com/product_info.php?dbid=373

I know that it is a dual 250W MH lighting system, but if I browse to a web site that compares different MH bulbs and ballasts, I am not sure what catagory this ballast is in.

For example: if you go to http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

This web site breaks down the different ballasts and bulbs and shows a picture of what the lighting will look like.

Well, since I don't know if this is an Electronic ballast or a HQI or any other kind listed on the web site, I am kind of lost.

Basically, I just need a little MH coaching so that I can figure out what I am doing!

Thanks in advance.

 

[mhurley]

You have a magnetic ballast, if it were HQI-magnetic I would assume the site would have said so.

So on JB's page, you should be looking at "PFO Standard" as a rough equivilent to what you have.

 

[tikireefer]

Tell me about magnetic ballasts. Good? Bad? Ugly?

 

[Rod Buehler]

Magnetic ballast are your tried and true old fassion ballast. They seem to last forever and be very reliable. They wont interfere with some of the other electronic equiptment (X-10s , reefkeepers, etc) They consist of a magnetic coil and a capacitor.

Compared to an electronic.. They run hotter, and use a little (very little) more electricity. In most cases a standard magnetic will will drive the lamps a little better (more PAR) than an electronic. That will all very from bulb to bulb, and from ballast manufacture to manufacture. ReefLux DE bulbs burn nicely IMO/IME on a Coralvue electronic, but not as well on an icecap (I prefer HQI magnetics). Other bulbs dont perform very well on any of the electronics IMO.

An HQI magnetic can be looked at like a supp'd up standard magnetic. They were designed to run the double ended lamps like they are supposed to be driven. (electronics often underdrive.. again depending on the bulb/ballast). An HQI magnetic will also run the single ended lamps and usually produces much more PAR, but the single ended lamps are actually being overdriven (and will have a shortened life).

All that being said.. PAR isnt everything (almost though ). Go with what looks good to you.

Just so I dont get accused... I am not bashing electronics at all.

Check out Sanjay's site fore more info
http://reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

 

[mhurley]

Good....trusty hard core equipment. I used magnetics for years, still have one over my frag tank.
There's 2 schools of thought that generally never agree. Magnetic are big heavy, hot running ballasts that have a long history and are generally very reliable over the long term.

Electronic ballasts are smaller, lighter, run cooler, a little better on electrical usage (in theory) and possibly burn the bulbs brighter. I would argue that they probably do not last as long as a magentic ballast, simply because of their nature of construction. My house took a lightening hit a while back. I lost a few of my electronic ballasts, but the magnetics were fine. They're just more sensitive.

My contention (and Sanjay's) is quite simple....bulbs will burn as bright as you want if you add more and more power to them. One ballast versus another doesn't burn the bulb brighter using the exact same amount of electricity.

Going back to the basics...energy cannot be created nor destroyed, it can only change form. In our case, it either generates light (the bulb) or heat (the ballast) or electromagnetic interference (more common in electronic ballasts).

So you can burn your bulbs at 120% of their norm by putting a ton of power though them, but you can be assured that their lifespan is going to be a good bit shorter than normal.

 

[mhurley]

:lol:

:wavehand: Rod

 

[etech]

magnetic ballasts use more energy than electronic ballasts but magnetic ballasts are more reliable and you can use them with x10 tech. (remote control timer )
magnetic ballasts put out much more heat than electronic ballasts

 

[tikireefer]

Thanks for all the input guys......it's all starting to make sense in my little pea brain!

 

[Rod Buehler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8512489#post8512489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mhurley
:lol:

:wavehand: Rod