Metal halide for 100$

mmiller40 · Nov 9, 2003

[Some of you guys may have seen this but I think I will attempt to do it with a 400watt ballast for my 55 prop tank

http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/ryansreef/DIY_MH.htm]

DallasJose · Nov 9, 2003

[if you need help send me a email. just get a halide ballast cost about same.]

hawgman_98 · Nov 10, 2003

@mmiller40 wrote:

[Some of you guys may have seen this but I think I will attempt to do it with a 400watt ballast for my 55 prop tank [url=http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/ryansreef/DIY_MH.htm]http://www.reefaquariumguide.com/ryansreef/DIY_MH.htm[/url]] said:
[Hey Mitch. Before you jump in too deep, keep an eye out on fleabay. I paid $19 a piece for my 400w Advanced ballast.]

units0000 · Nov 12, 2003

[Ok, so you save money on the front end.
When the blub is toast after 10-12months and you have to buy another wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a good eletronic balast and get it over with?

The savings on electricity isn't much I'm told. I have the eletronic HelloLight balast, bulbs run cool and not have any issues, can also use any 250W bulb.]

mmiller40 · Nov 12, 2003

@units0000 wrote:

[Ok said:
[so a electric ballast will make a bulb good for how long? I would not use a bulb more than a year.]

DuaneD · Nov 12, 2003

[FWIW, I agree with DallasJose. If you only want to run Iwasaki's, then the MV ballast might be an option, but you won't be able to run any other MH lamp on the ballast. Why limit yourself to one type of bulb? You can run the Iwasaki's on a normal MH ballast if you desire.

I've not heard that eballasts increase bulb life beyond 12 mos. Maybe it's true, I've just not seen any data to support that. If it's out there, I'd be interested in seeing it. You can run any just about bulb on any ballast for longer than 12 mos, but PAR degrade is significant by that point, as is the color shift in the bulb.]

Rick · Nov 12, 2003

[I replace my bulbs every twelve months anyways. So that would not be the issue for me, but being able to run other bulbs would. And I am not all that impressed with electronic ballasts yet. The reason the bulbs supposedly can be run longer, is that they do not burn them as hot. Which also shows up in light levels, the same bulb run on a tar versus electronic gives off more light. Well I do not like giving up the higher light level, when I will keep the bulb the same length. And pay more for the ballasts to begin with, just to get cooler ballasts. JMO]

BrianC · Nov 12, 2003

[If your mind is intrested in how long bulbs last and such you might check out ryngill post on my thread in general forum..."Lighting" he posted a brief case of about 100 pages I still have not made it all the way through but it helped in choosing the right equipment!]

Metal halide for 100$

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