Sodium Halide same as Metal Halide?

[schwh01]

I've bought a Metal Halide unit off e-bay. Came with ballast unit but that has a big sticker on it saying Sodium Halide. Is this just a terminology issue or is there actually a difference?

Fingers crossed it's ok because I've just spent days customising my existing hood to accommodate it!

 

[Anonymous]

There is no Sodium Halide, but there is a combo/dual ballast called Sodium/Halide. It means that it can run both HPS and MH. I am not very familiar with these kind of ballasts (they are from the hydroponic field, not designed specifically for reef), and it is possible that you need special MH bulb that runs on these type of ballast (sodium conversion MH bulb). Popular Iwasaki MH bulb, for example, are MV conversion MH bulb that designed originally to run on MV ballast.

Your best bet is to contact the seller, and ask them if the ballast works with your bulb. As usual, when you buy thing off eBay, ask question before bidding. Good luck.

 

[schwh01]

Thanks. I contacted the people I ordered the bulb from and they said it'd be ok but when I asked if the spectrum would be effected in any way they said "errrr .........no it'll be fine" which didn't inspire confidence. Just hope for the best I guess.

 

[jumpincactus]

High pressure sodium. they were used years ago when reefs were a relativly new thing. I remember reading that they did have a tendancy to encourage hair and other algea blooms. Not recomended that you use it. the spectrum is not the type you want for your tank.

they are also used as grow light bulbs. Pot growers use them a lot.

they have a Kelvin rating of 1900-2800K as you know when reef lighting in halides took off the first in line were 5500k these lights do not have the K rating or color rendition that modern halides have.

They are still used in some places as outdoor lighting. They are the ones that give a greenish/orange ghostly glow.

check the link for all you want to know about HPS lighting

 

[schwh01]

That's not good news. I'm temporarily using a standard halide bulb meant for domestic use which I think is around 4000K. It's light is very very yellow and looks horrid. I've ordered a 10000K bulb and was rather hoping that would give me somthing nearer white light. Will this not be the case with the sodium ballast then?

 

[Christeon]

If I'm not mistaken the Ballast should have an ANSI number on it like say H37 or M58 whatever that ANSI number is, the bulb has to match as well. If you can find that number matching a bulb to the ballast should be easy.