Metal Halide wattage for bulb and ballast

I believe that a 400 watter will blow your 250 fast. You have to keep them
matched.

As for the bulb not firing, clean the contacts and retry again.

I have a set up (400W) I bought off of EBay that came with a Ballast,
reflector and bulb. I set
it up and it worked great. Just the other day the light wouldn't fire. The
smaller part closest to
the socket sparked a bit as if trying to fire the bulb but didn't
succeed.
My question is
#1 is there a way to tell that a halide bulb is dead?
#2 Does my replacement bulb have to be the same wattage as the ballast?

I am guessing that you could add a higher wattage light but not a smaller
but is that right? The
ballast is rated for a 400 w, can I put a 250 in there? The 400 is awfully
hot.


Thanks,
Kelly

#1 is there a way to tell that a halide bulb is dead?
#2 Does my replacement bulb have to be the same wattage as the ballast?

#1. Usually they get blacker around the base as they get older. Best way to
test is with a second bulb, since you should be changing them every 6 months or
so, you should have a spare on hand anyways. Home depot carries Philips brand
for about $30. I would check the contacts for corrosion as previous poster
mentioned.
#2. Absolutely.
~John

John wrote:
#1 is there a way to tell that a halide bulb is dead?
#2 Does my replacement bulb have to be the same wattage as the
ballast?

#1. Usually they get blacker around the base as they get older.
Best way to test is with a second bulb, since you should be changing
them every 6 months or so, you should have a spare on hand anyways.
Home depot carries Philips brand for about $30. I would check the
contacts for corrosion as previous poster mentioned.
#2. Absolutely.
~John

You have to change metal halide bulbs every 6 months??

Cindy

You have to change metal halide bulbs every 6 months??

Cindy

depends on the lamps.. IMO/IME
Iwasakis will last about 18 months.. many of the 10K lamps will need to be
replaced at 9-12 months, and the 20K (according to sanjay) are past a
replacement date at 6 months. (If I remember correctly, at 6 months,20K radiums
have the par of about a 40 light bulb).

You have to change metal halide bulbs every 6 months??

http://www.highend.com/support/training/metalhalide.asp

The last four paragraphs describe it better than I can. Not only do you lose
output, but color temperature as well. Your metal halide will turn from blue
to red overtime and therefore causing algae to grow easier.

Of course, follow the manufacturer's guidelines. If its a 3000 hour bulb youre
looking at 8 months if you run it 12 hours a day. There are 2000 hour bulbs so
thats why I said _6 months or so_.

~John

John wrote:
You have to change metal halide bulbs every 6 months??

http://www.highend.com/support/training/metalhalide.asp

The last four paragraphs describe it better than I can. Not only do
you lose output, but color temperature as well. Your metal halide
will turn from blue to red overtime and therefore causing algae to
grow easier.

Of course, follow the manufacturer's guidelines. If its a 3000 hour
bulb youre looking at 8 months if you run it 12 hours a day. There
are 2000 hour bulbs so thats why I said _6 months or so_.

~John

Well, for crying out loud....I thought one of the selling points of the
halides over fluourescents was that they lasted longer! I guess they do if
you get the right brand...?

I don't have a large marine tank set up right now, just a bitty one and it
has a power compact on it, but I also keep reptiles that need UVA/UVB, and
the reptile metal halides I've tried have popped in 6 months or less.

Thanks, Rod and John.

Cindy

"Cindy" wrote in message
. ..

Well, for crying out loud....I thought one of the selling points of the
halides over fluourescents was that they lasted longer! I guess they do
if
you get the right brand...?

I don't have a large marine tank set up right now, just a bitty one and it
has a power compact on it, but I also keep reptiles that need UVA/UVB, and
the reptile metal halides I've tried have popped in 6 months or less.

Thanks, Rod and John.

Cindy


I will say depending on the lamp. Some will last me about 6 and other will
last me 8 months. Change your lamp when it seem like the color have shift or
look red / yellowish etc.... Or check if algae starting to increase it
population. If you have a Refugium, you can use that bad lamp there.

CapFusion,...

I think the light I started with was probably a really cheap one. I bought a
new 400W
and this one gives off at most half the amount of heat the first one did. My
tank is
actually 3 degrees (C) cooler now and everything in the tank looks better.



"Mr. Foo" wrote in message
news:rpdZc.277222$M95.2468@pd7tw1no...
I have a set up (400W) I bought off of EBay that came with a Ballast,
reflector and bulb. I set
it up and it worked great. Just the other day the light wouldn't fire. The
smaller part closest to
the socket sparked a bit as if trying to fire the bulb but didn't
succeed.
My question is
#1 is there a way to tell that a halide bulb is dead?
#2 Does my replacement bulb have to be the same wattage as the ballast?

I am guessing that you could add a higher wattage light but not a smaller
but is that right? The
ballast is rated for a 400 w, can I put a 250 in there? The 400 is awfully
hot.


Thanks,
Kelly

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=201570
Read, long but worth it