metal halide

munki · 04-18-2007, 12:59 PM

hi-
i dont need them, but im just wondering what the difference was between the metal halide lights that you get at at an aquarium store and the metal halide lights that you could pick up at a store like lowes or home depot.
-thanks

flyforfood99 · 04-18-2007, 01:07 PM

Most of the Bulbs sold at your local home depot/lowes whoever you use are a lower Kelvin rating. More yellow. You'll be hard pressed to find anything in the higher color temp of 10K-20K unless you are looking online or at your LFS.

munki · 04-18-2007, 07:29 PM

but wont they do the same thing?

vdituri · 04-18-2007, 07:48 PM

I tried looking at Light bulbs plus. They had MH but the spectrum was all wrong for corals and clams, but really good for algae. lol. They said they could order the right spectrum from a grow light catalog. No real cost savings I could find.

munki · 04-18-2007, 08:00 PM

ok thanks

rDr4g0n · 04-18-2007, 10:08 PM

yes one of the most important factors of lighting is the color temperatute. like its mentioned above, a 10000k rating is a nice white color. anything below that is closer to yellow and means itll grow algae and not corals.

ive looked into ways to save money by buying lighting stuff from local hardware stores, but basically the only thing out there that uses this kinda lighting is reef keeping. as a result youre only gonna get what you want for the hobby from aquarium related places or people.

flyforfood99 · 04-19-2007, 10:38 AM

Natural sunlight is around 6700 Kelvin. The water in the ocean filters out reds, oranges and yellows that are more visible at the lower color temperatures. To more accurately recreate reef lighting you want a more blue color. The lower kelvin 6700-10000 would be more accurately resemble shallow depths. Higher 14000-20000 is better for recreating deeper reefs.

If you are looking for cheaper halide bulbs, check these guys out.

Aquarium Lights - InsideSun

They have 10k, 14k and 20k bulbs for much cheaper than anywhere else I've found. I don't know if their 14K's are listed on the website but you can ask for them if its not. I use their 10K and also their entire metal halide retro-fit which I am pretty pleased with for the price. (I think I paid about 85$ INCLUDING THE BULB!)

Best of luck!

mps9506 · 04-19-2007, 06:28 PM

Most bulbs sold at Lowes or HD are actually mercury vapor bulbs as opposed to the metal halides typically used in aquarium applications.

04-18-2007, 12:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	metal halide hi- i dont need them, but im just wondering what the difference was between the metal halide lights that you get at at an aquarium store and the metal halide lights that you could pick up at a store like lowes or home depot. -thanks

04-18-2007, 01:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
flyforfood99 Midas Blenny Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 89 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide Most of the Bulbs sold at your local home depot/lowes whoever you use are a lower Kelvin rating. More yellow. You'll be hard pressed to find anything in the higher color temp of 10K-20K unless you are looking online or at your LFS.

04-18-2007, 07:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide but wont they do the same thing?

04-18-2007, 07:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,722 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: metal halide I tried looking at Light bulbs plus. They had MH but the spectrum was all wrong for corals and clams, but really good for algae. lol. They said they could order the right spectrum from a grow light catalog. No real cost savings I could find. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

04-18-2007, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
munki Plate Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 707 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide ok thanks

04-18-2007, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: metal halide yes one of the most important factors of lighting is the color temperatute. like its mentioned above, a 10000k rating is a nice white color. anything below that is closer to yellow and means itll grow algae and not corals. ive looked into ways to save money by buying lighting stuff from local hardware stores, but basically the only thing out there that uses this kinda lighting is reef keeping. as a result youre only gonna get what you want for the hobby from aquarium related places or people. __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

04-19-2007, 10:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
flyforfood99 Midas Blenny Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 89 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide Natural sunlight is around 6700 Kelvin. The water in the ocean filters out reds, oranges and yellows that are more visible at the lower color temperatures. To more accurately recreate reef lighting you want a more blue color. The lower kelvin 6700-10000 would be more accurately resemble shallow depths. Higher 14000-20000 is better for recreating deeper reefs. If you are looking for cheaper halide bulbs, check these guys out. Aquarium Lights - InsideSun They have 10k, 14k and 20k bulbs for much cheaper than anywhere else I've found. I don't know if their 14K's are listed on the website but you can ask for them if its not. I use their 10K and also their entire metal halide retro-fit which I am pretty pleased with for the price. (I think I paid about 85$ INCLUDING THE BULB!) Best of luck!

04-19-2007, 06:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,143 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide Most bulbs sold at Lowes or HD are actually mercury vapor bulbs as opposed to the metal halides typically used in aquarium applications. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)