lighting

[C-Dog]

i was just at home depot and they couldn't really tell me the difference so i assume this would be the best place to ask

what is the difference between metal halide, mercury vapour and high pressured sodium bulbs? they all look the same and the only metal halide they had was 400watts lol so then i saw the others wich were 70w or 150w for HPS and like 275w or something for the mercury wapour?
can i use either of them or not?
pleas explain

thanks,
Corey

[C-Dog]

so i did some reading and the only thing i found differenmt was that MH have a bleuish white colour, and the HPS have a yellowy orange color.

i also found this HQI stuff... ppl please explain and tell me what to use lol

[groupie02]

If I remember correctly, you should not use Halogen and Mercury Vapour lights as they don't provide the right light spectrum.

[xenon]

Yeah..

MH bulbs start at 10,000K and go up to 20,000K. Depending on the brand, 10k is yellow and 20k is pretty blue.

[Faerin]

HQI are double ended MH bulbs. Unfortunately, none of the bulbs you find at home depot are going to be in the right colour spectrum for a reef tank (even the MH bulbs will be in the 4500k to 6500k range, which is no good for a reef). If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, I would go with a T5ho setup.

[C-Dog]

oh kool, i would go with t5's but its a 10 gallon which is only 18 inches wide and the smallest t5's are 24".
anyone know a way to get  the most bang for a low price??
thanks,
Corey

[xenon]

oh kool, i would go with t5's but its a 10 gallon which is only 18 inches wide and the smallest t5's are 24".
anyone know a way to get  the most bang for a low price??
thanks,
Corey

You're welcome 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91165

[Alchemist]

You're welcome 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91165

That's a great thread....any reason why you can't use several of those DIY lights for a larger tank?

..and...could you use one ballast to power several lamps?

[sniggir]

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=15013.0 here ya go I hope this can answer some of your questions

[C-Dog]

k well that DIY MH shows a halogen pendant... can u use any halogen pendant with any MH bulb. like if the pendant is double ended u can use a double ended bulb and if its single ended then u can use any single ended bulb???

i don't get it i thought u had to use MH pendants?

[ray]

In re to lighting I would first determine what one wishes to keep as this will determine the type of lighting required.Lighting is one of the most important factors in keeping most corals therefor skimping here can be a big mistake.
As for bulbs you will get very good growth w/ 65k mh's but it it will be quite yellow,this can be offset w/ the use of actinic bulbs.One of the things to watch for is the CRI or colour rendering index,the higher the no. the more closely the light spectrum will be to that at which it is stated.
That being said many people are experiencing great results under t5's.These consume less hydro and produce a lot less heat than mh,which is particularly important in a nano system which can overheat very quickly.
Since you are having trouble finding a light a more conventional size tank at 24" may be in order.Sticking w/ the conventional sizes also results in finding cheaper fixtures.
Another alternative is the Aquapods,I know people who are keeping clams and sps in the 12gl w/2x27w pc.
  Hope some of this helps.

[C-Dog]

thanks for the suggestions ray. but i got ansy and theres something about MH i like so i wanted to do what was said in the thread. so i went to canadian tire to return something my gf bought and i browsed arround the lighting section and i found this

its a Noma 300w halogen security flood light. now as for the question in my recent reply, it is a double ended pendant so can i use any double ended MH bulb?

if so lemme know cuz id want a blueish light... or i'll live with it.... or add an actinic PC or something... lemme know thanks

[Alchemist]

I read through that thread last night...all 20 pages of it....if you want a bluish light then you need to go for a 20k bulb I think...and according to that thread....any 70watt double ended MH bulb will fit in a 300-500 Watt halogen double ended fixture.  However, depending on the exact fixture you might have to modify the bulb sockets with pliers for a good fit.  Don't forget though that to run the bulb you'll have to have a ballast for it too.

[Faerin]

I'm no electrician, but I'd be very cautious about modifying sockets to use different types of bulbs ... personally I'd be far too worried about starting a fire to even consider it. Hopefully someone more experienced than I in this regard will chime in.

[C-Dog]

ok i'll prob get a 20k double ended bulb. BTW thanks for reading through the thread and replying lol. when i red it i didn't understand it fully lol but hopefully it works.

anyone know how/where i can get a 20k double ended MH bulb and a ballast for it?

but first which should i go for 70w or 100w. lemme know pros and cons

thanks,
Corey

[jimskoi]

IMO.I would never go back to MH.
I used them on my 125 and then I set up my 400 and decided to try them without the MH.
everything is doing great and my hydro bill has dropped.

[C-Dog]

what would u put over a 10?
and what are u using over it now?

[xenon]

IMO.I would never go back to MH.
I used them on my 125 and then I set up my 400 and decided to try them without the MH.
everything is doing great and my hydro bill has dropped.

I agree.

I sold my Coralife Aqualight Pro with 2x150w and got a Tek 6x54w T5 fixture. Less power, less heat, longer bulb life, cheaper bulbs, cheaper fixture.. etc.

[kennyman]

what would u put over a 10?

A 1x28W or 2x28W 20 inch pc aqualight.

[Alchemist]

ok i'll prob get a 20k double ended bulb. BTW thanks for reading through the thread and replying lol. when i red it i didn't understand it fully lol but hopefully it works.

anyone know how/where i can get a 20k double ended MH bulb and a ballast for it?

but first which should i go for 70w or 100w. lemme know pros and cons

thanks,
Corey

I might be wrong but that thread seemed to say it was only the 70 watt bulbs that would fit in the 300-500 watt security lights...I might be wrong though.