MH bulbs advise

[bertcmg]

Hi I am dong a trade for Metal halide kit

Its is 2X 250 watt 6500K bulbs + This ballast here

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=37512&cat=6&

look at the METAL HALIDE 250 WATT ASSEMBLED BALLAST

My question is : IS 6500 K MH along with two 48' NO flo's enough ?

Secondly Can I add 10,000K or 20,000 K bulbs in this ballast ?

Please advise

Bert

[bertcmg]

Anyone ?

[ajx22]

I think that you will find that a 6500K is VERY yellow, and that 'NO' lighting will not give you enough actinic to balance it out to a nice color. If you were to use 'VHO' - then you would see better color.

In respect to the ballast listed - it will fire any single 250W bulb - though you will not get the best results in combining this ballast with either the Iwasaki or Radium bulbs.

Look into the ELECTRONIC METAL HALIDE 250 WATT BALLAST listed on the same page. E-ballasts are a MUCH better investment as they are easier on the bulbs allowing longer life & consume less electricity. I used to run Tar ballasts, but have since switched to Electronic and would never go back. It's a few dollars more up-front - but you will save that in electricity & longer bulb life in the first year anyway.

JMO...though many seem to agree.

Cheers,

[bertcmg]

I realize that the electronic ballast would be a better investment but I am gettig this as a trade and would like to make the best of it.

You say that I may not get the best results with those iwaki bulbs

Can you suggest me some brands that I could use in the 10,000K and up range that would work with this ballast.

I was looking at home depot at some MH bulbs they were made by phillips. Are these suitable ?

Thanks

Bert

[ajx22]

The Iwasaki 6,500K bulbs are GREAT for coral growth - they just do not produce a "nice to look at" lighting for the tank. You need to supplement with Actinics, and due to the 6,500K being very bright yellow...you pretty much need VHO/CF or OD NO bulbs so that you can see the blue. They are great bulbs...just don't expect a nice glowing tank if using them without substantial Actinic supplements. Also...Iwasaki bulbs don't fire on the same ballast as other MH bubs (they actually aren't considered a Metal Halide bulb) - so this ballast wouldn't run them properly IF it would even fire them at all.

The Home Depot bulbs are not what you will need/want - they are NOT the correct color spectrum and you WILL have huge agae blooms. Aquarium MH bulbs are made speciffically for the color spectrums that are required - and you will have major problems if you use other non-aquarium intended bulbs over your tank.

The best 10,000K bulb is the Ushio (German) 10,000K. It is not that expensive and has GREAT color. Before switching to Radium 20,000K's - I used 10,000K Ushio with VHO Actinics and liked the color/growth I got.

Cheers,

[Chrismo]

I agree with AJ.

mostly. I wouldnt say the 6500K bulbs are bright yellow. They only look that yellow next to a 10,000K bulb. They are actually bluer than natural sunlight. (5500K?)

I used the 175w 6500K bulb in my tank for a year or so, with 2 actinic NO's and I liked the look of it.

Even when the actinics were off it was ok.

If you got a good trade going, you might want to go for it. It's a matter of taste...

The blue look simulates deeper ocean.

When I added a 10,000K beside the 6500K, suddenly that 6500K looked crazy yellow. I like the bluish look of the 10K better, so got another 10,000 bulb so the pair would match.

Those Phillips ones ( in Home Depot) are 3800K I was told by a guy in a pro-lighting store.

Chris

[bertcmg]

As long as I can take the 10,000K or 20,000 Bulbs and plug em in I am fine with it.

I think I have to change these bulbs anyway

[kentracey]

Here is a great link with bulb colour comparisons. You can spend a while at this site trying to see what you like the best. I'd have to say there were things I liked about lots of them, but I always find that yellows seem to show colour comparisons very well. So pay attention to how bright and natural the yellows are under great lighting. Here is the link http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm . Have fun guys.