250 and 400 watt MH

Scouter Steve · 06-18-2007, 09:20 AM

OK heres the deal. When I set up my 4 foot 120 gallon tank a year ago I used DIY metal Halide. The only ballast available at the time was one 250 and one 400 watt. The LFS told me no problem running a 250 on the 400 ballast and it has worked. Color has been a bit different but they fire just fine all this last year. I know it is time for new bulbs and would like a bit more blue then the 10k I have been running (SPS blue line bulbs). My question here is if I ran the 250 as 14k and the 400 as 20K would par level appear equal or would my tank look odd.

vdituri · 06-18-2007, 11:59 AM

I would think that there would be a visible difference if you didn't match them up. I'm interested to see what the experts say...

cheeks69 · 06-18-2007, 12:16 PM

Quote:

The LFS told me no problem running a 250 on the 400 ballast and it has worked. Color has been a bit different but they fire just fine all this last year.

Really, this is news to me as I never thought this was possible ! I can't believe the bulb didn't blow

Quote:

I know it is time for new bulbs and would like a bit more blue then the 10k I have been running (SPS blue line bulbs). My question here is if I ran the 250 as 14k and the 400 as 20K would par level appear equal or would my tank look odd.

There's definitely going to be a visible difference between the bulbs and AFA the PAR levels it would depend on the brand you use IMHO.

Scouter Steve · 06-18-2007, 01:07 PM

No Cheeks the bulb hasn't blown. It is a magnetic ballast if that matters. Currently the 250 bulb with the 400 ballast is definitely brighter but 10 months now they have been burning. It isn't just a fluke of the one bulb not blowing as I have moved the cords so both of these bulbs have been hit with the 400 watt ballast.

sabodish · 06-18-2007, 01:46 PM

this amazes me! i surely would have expected a 400W ballast to fry a 250W bulb...but for safety sake, you should pick one or the other and go with it. id go with 250s as 400s might cook your tank as 120 isnt very deep.

Woodstock · 06-18-2007, 01:59 PM

I would definately switch to 250 watters. Get the Icecap electronic ballast. I have dual 250 watters over my 4' 120 and they're plenty of lighting with my XM10k bulbs.

Scouter Steve · 06-18-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodstock

I would definately switch to 250 watters. Get the Icecap electronic ballast. I have dual 250 watters over my 4' 120 and they're plenty of lighting with my XM10k bulbs.

How blue is the xm 10k? Do you supplement with actinic? t5 pc or ?

cheeks69 · 06-18-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scouter Steve

How blue is the xm 10k? Do you supplement with actinic? t5 pc or ?

Definitely not very blue but a crisp white and quite a bright bulb with high PAR #'s. If you want a bluer bulb with good PAR #'s then look for the aquaconnect 14 k bulbs but they can be very difficult to find.

Scouter Steve · 06-18-2007, 07:35 PM

thanks for the input guys (and gals).

Woodstock · 06-18-2007, 07:48 PM

I use two 4' T5 actinics to supplement the xm 10k bulbs. However, I recently tried Reeflux 10k bulbs and really liked them. The only reason I stopped using them is I wanted a stronger bulb for my haddoni anemone so I switched back to my xm 10ks.
Here is a thread where I compared the xm 10ks with the reeflux 10ks
Reeflux 10k VS XM 10k

If you want more blue, the 250 se reeflux 10k is a nice bright blue.

06-18-2007, 09:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 683 View Gallery Karma Komment	250 and 400 watt MH OK heres the deal. When I set up my 4 foot 120 gallon tank a year ago I used DIY metal Halide. The only ballast available at the time was one 250 and one 400 watt. The LFS told me no problem running a 250 on the 400 ballast and it has worked. Color has been a bit different but they fire just fine all this last year. I know it is time for new bulbs and would like a bit more blue then the 10k I have been running (SPS blue line bulbs). My question here is if I ran the 250 as 14k and the 400 as 20K would par level appear equal or would my tank look odd.

06-18-2007, 11:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 5,730 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH I would think that there would be a visible difference if you didn't match them up. I'm interested to see what the experts say... __________________ 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.

06-18-2007, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 683 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH No Cheeks the bulb hasn't blown. It is a magnetic ballast if that matters. Currently the 250 bulb with the 400 ballast is definitely brighter but 10 months now they have been burning. It isn't just a fluke of the one bulb not blowing as I have moved the cords so both of these bulbs have been hit with the 400 watt ballast.

06-18-2007, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
sabodish Fire Coral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: holly springs, NC Posts: 74 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH this amazes me! i surely would have expected a 400W ballast to fry a 250W bulb...but for safety sake, you should pick one or the other and go with it. id go with 250s as 400s might cook your tank as 120 isnt very deep. __________________ 180 gallon cube

06-18-2007, 01:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH I would definately switch to 250 watters. Get the Icecap electronic ballast. I have dual 250 watters over my 4' 120 and they're plenty of lighting with my XM10k bulbs. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

06-18-2007, 07:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 683 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH thanks for the input guys (and gals).

06-18-2007, 07:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,264 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: 250 and 400 watt MH I use two 4' T5 actinics to supplement the xm 10k bulbs. However, I recently tried Reeflux 10k bulbs and really liked them. The only reason I stopped using them is I wanted a stronger bulb for my haddoni anemone so I switched back to my xm 10ks. Here is a thread where I compared the xm 10ks with the reeflux 10ks Reeflux 10k VS XM 10k If you want more blue, the 250 se reeflux 10k is a nice bright blue. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

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