Differnt hilades?

[WRASSER]

Ok before i ask, i know that spectrum is in part the answer. That being said. What is the difference in the fish store hilades and he home depot hilades? Can you use either of them or not?

Thanks,
wrasser

 

[jandree22]

Home Depot carries Mercury Vapor lamps, which put out a horribly yellow light. If it sounds too good to be true........ :wink:

 

[ChrisRD]

They carry halides too, but unless you wanted a very unnatural looking yellow tank, you'd probably want to forego this idea. :wink:

 

[WRASSER]

Ok will the bulbs from he LFS fit into the home depot fixture?

 

[Anonymous]

metal halide bulbs at home depot aren't going to be terribly much cheaper than fish tank ones considering the only part you want is the ballast. Mercury Vapor, or High Pressure Sodium use different ballasts if memory serves so the cheaper alternatives are out.

 

[ChrisRD]

Ok will the bulbs from he LFS fit into the home depot fixture?

If the fixture accepts the correct base (E39 Mogul) and has the appropriate ballast, yes, but most likely the reflector will still be crappy.

 

[WRASSER]

OK Thanks for the insight :wink:

 

[coralfarmin]

I would have to dig and find it

but there is a write up called poor mans 10k

they used the regular 4300k with a Rosco color filter under it

 

[coralfarmin]

Also *some* 400 HPS(high pressure sodium) will run the 10k Ushio closer to spec than some metal halides(you need to know the ballast specs though)since some will vary

but this does not mean that 250 or 150 hps will work(they wont)
wrong OCV etc

 

[coralfarmin]

sorry bout the 3 in a row, but lighting is one of my specialtys

also a 430 HPS(high pressure sodium) is a 400 HQI in reality(they say)

you can find them cheap on ebay sometime

 

[WRASSER]

Thanks for the info it will help

 

[coralfarmin]

sfs

actualy mercury vapors are also well used :wink:

problem is that most that u see at WM or HD are the 175 watt, but no good 175 watt specialty bulbs

The 150 watt Iwasaki aqua is MV and great.

There are also 400 Iwasakis that are MV.

Wrasser what size tank do you want to light ?

 

[WRASSER]

I want to fit it on a 55 gal. tank/ maybe later on a 150 gal.

 

[coralfarmin]

If u had a DSB in the 55 imo, 4-6 110 watt vho would be the best choice, make ya a 4" CC skimmer and bam instant reef tank

 

[WRASSER]

At this moment I do not have a conapy for the 55, I also have a very large BLTA anemone that needs light, Will 4 VHO be enough light for it?

 

[coralfarmin]

*imo*yes
But that dont mean in a shady corner on the bottom.
Halides will work nice also but a 55 just is not wide enough imo to utilize the full potential of the halides without making a special canopy that would make the tank run hot without a chiller.
VHO would work just as well in this case(55)*imo*
You could even use the cheap 40 watt 65k ge at Home Depot and drive them with a icecap vho ballast, they will be bright as the 110 watts, then add 1 or 2 normal output or vho or even t5 actinic to simulate the sun rise/set.

 

[WRASSER]

I dont have to worry about it hiding in a shaddy corner, it is on the glass at the top of the tank. So it will get plenty of light. Thank you for your input, it is helpful :wink: