Lighting - a daft question?

[John]

Why are marine Metal Halides so expensive when compared with a standard
400W Metal Halide 'high-bay' lights used in Industry at a fraction of the
cost?

Has anybody tried using Xenon or Halogen lighting over a reef tank? Could
either of these give a better output or light spectrum than Metal Halides?

John Carroll

[Steve Sells]

to get the spectrum needed, they have to use different ( and more
expensive ) phosphors for the bulb. Also there is the mass market of the
"Normal" bulbs being made/sold, compared to the small market for the true
sunlight types. Reefs and some plants

the Normal bulbs are about 4500k, MOST of them do have their Kelvin color
temps listed on the package.

Steve





"John" > wrote in message
...
> Why are marine Metal Halides so expensive when compared with a standard
> 400W Metal Halide 'high-bay' lights used in Industry at a fraction of the
> cost?
>
> Has anybody tried using Xenon or Halogen lighting over a reef tank? Could
> either of these give a better output or light spectrum than Metal Halides?
>
> John Carroll
>
>

[Ct Midnite]

Ok, but I was checking today with a local lighting company and you can
get metal halide ballasts for $50 to $60. That's much cheaper than
the ones I see for marine.

Are they ok?


On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:15:34 GMT, "Steve Sells" >
wrote:

>to get the spectrum needed, they have to use different ( and more
>expensive ) phosphors for the bulb. Also there is the mass market of the
>"Normal" bulbs being made/sold, compared to the small market for the true
>sunlight types. Reefs and some plants
>
>the Normal bulbs are about 4500k, MOST of them do have their Kelvin color
>temps listed on the package.
>
>Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>"John" > wrote in message
...
>> Why are marine Metal Halides so expensive when compared with a standard
>> 400W Metal Halide 'high-bay' lights used in Industry at a fraction of the
>> cost?
>>
>> Has anybody tried using Xenon or Halogen lighting over a reef tank? Could
>> either of these give a better output or light spectrum than Metal Halides?
>>
>> John Carroll
>>
>>
>

[Mort]

"Ct Midnite" <mreef2.10.muffin@spamgourmet.(nospam)com> wrote in message
...
> Ok, but I was checking today with a local lighting company and you can
> get metal halide ballasts for $50 to $60. That's much cheaper than
> the ones I see for marine.
>
> Are they ok?
>

Basically no. I cant really explain why but if you read this DIY article it
will give you a glimpse of the reason. (not to mention a DIY plan for under
$100)

Enjoy....

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu click on articles.

HTH

~Mort

[Dragon Slayer]

the ballast that are about 50 bucks are magnetic core most likely and yes
they work perfectly in a reef tank. its the only way you can get a 400w
currently. the M57, 58 and 59's are all perfectly acceptable for use in the
aquarium hobby on reef tanks.

the only draw back is they are less efficient then an electronic which means
more heat and more electricity.

kc

"Ct Midnite" <mreef2.10.muffin@spamgourmet.(nospam)com> wrote in message
...
> Ok, but I was checking today with a local lighting company and you can
> get metal halide ballasts for $50 to $60. That's much cheaper than
> the ones I see for marine.
>
> Are they ok?
>
>
> On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:15:34 GMT, "Steve Sells" >
> wrote:
>
> >to get the spectrum needed, they have to use different ( and more
> >expensive ) phosphors for the bulb. Also there is the mass market of the
> >"Normal" bulbs being made/sold, compared to the small market for the true
> >sunlight types. Reefs and some plants
> >
> >the Normal bulbs are about 4500k, MOST of them do have their Kelvin color
> >temps listed on the package.
> >
> >Steve
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >"John" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Why are marine Metal Halides so expensive when compared with a
standard
> >> 400W Metal Halide 'high-bay' lights used in Industry at a fraction of
the
> >> cost?
> >>
> >> Has anybody tried using Xenon or Halogen lighting over a reef tank?
Could
> >> either of these give a better output or light spectrum than Metal
Halides?
> >>
> >> John Carroll
> >>
> >>
> >
>

[Ct Midnite]

This is the article that got me excited about trying it. But then I
called Graybar and I also ask about metal halide ballasts and was
surprised at the prices they had. About the same as for the Mercury
Vapor ballast.

KC explained the pit falls of reg ballasts so now I don't know what to
do.

I've got a 46gal bow front (which I love dearly) now with a corilife
192 w light and from what I read here my clam and some of my corals
are probably going to end up wasting away with only that much light.

I want to set up a 55 gal and the corilife 260 w seems to be the
simplest only reasonably priced light I can get for it (around $220).
And everything I read here says I'll be disappointed.

I read the article with great interest but when I get down to actually
placing an order for the parts I chicken out afraid I'll be
disappointed with the lighting results and lots of time and money
invested.

Damn, this is an expensive hobby.

Ct Midnite

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 05:18:58 GMT, "Mort"
> wrote:

>
>"Ct Midnite" <mreef2.10.muffin@spamgourmet.(nospam)com> wrote in message
...
>> Ok, but I was checking today with a local lighting company and you can
>> get metal halide ballasts for $50 to $60. That's much cheaper than
>> the ones I see for marine.
>>
>> Are they ok?
>>
>
>Basically no. I cant really explain why but if you read this DIY article it
>will give you a glimpse of the reason. (not to mention a DIY plan for under
>$100)
>
>Enjoy....
>
>http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu click on articles.
>
>HTH
>
>~Mort
>
>

[CapFusion]

"Ct Midnite" <mreef2.10.muffin@spamgourmet.(nospam)com> wrote in message
...
> This is the article that got me excited about trying it. But then I
> called Graybar and I also ask about metal halide ballasts and was
> surprised at the prices they had. About the same as for the Mercury
> Vapor ballast.
>
> KC explained the pit falls of reg ballasts so now I don't know what to
> do.
>
> I've got a 46gal bow front (which I love dearly) now with a corilife
> 192 w light and from what I read here my clam and some of my corals
> are probably going to end up wasting away with only that much light.
>
> I want to set up a 55 gal and the corilife 260 w seems to be the
> simplest only reasonably priced light I can get for it (around $220).
> And everything I read here says I'll be disappointed.
>
> I read the article with great interest but when I get down to actually
> placing an order for the parts I chicken out afraid I'll be
> disappointed with the lighting results and lots of time and money
> invested.
>
> Damn, this is an expensive hobby.
>
> Ct Midnite

If you not comfortable of DIY project, you can get partial DIY by getting a
retofit kit:
For MH 250W for $175 - http://hellolights.com/25methalbalk.html

CapFusion,...

[Dragon Slayer]

">
> KC explained the pit falls of reg ballasts so now I don't know what to
> do.
>

if you are going with 250 or less watt bulbs go with the electronic ballast,
they cost more up front but save you in the long run. if you go with 400's
get the magnetic cored ballast. keeping the ballast out of the canopy
(regardless of which type) keeps excessive heat out of the tank and wear off
the ballasts.

FWIW I have 2 M59's running the 400's over my 180g. the 2x250's have
electronic ballast on them.

the biggest deciding factor to me is availability, if I have to order them
and have them shipped I go with electronic because even though the magnetic
core are cheaper, they are heavier (by a lot) and cost more to ship. so you
are getting closer to the price of electronic now.

the magnetic as I said do give off more heat, but just mount them away from
the tank where they can get fresh air and not heat up the tank. placing
them inside the stand will heat the tank, inside the canopy heats the tank
and shortens the life of the ballast.


hth
kc