metal halide fixtures

flyline · 02-23-2008, 12:59 AM

has anyone tried to use a metal halide low bay fixture before? it looks like they are used in warehouses and such. i saw one one ebay really cheap it was a 400 watt. a little overkill for anything that i have but it still makes me wonder if reef keepers could use them if we changed out the light bulbs that is if the bulbs we use in reef keeping would even fit in the socket. thanks for the input

Triggerjay · 02-23-2008, 01:30 AM

Actually, I am running the ballasts from low bay MH fixtures on my tank. I did however dissemble the fixture, and mounted the ballast's in an old computer case. Most saltwater aquarium MH bulbs are made to run in a horizontal burn position. The fixtures you speak of, have the bulb mounted vertically, and use more than likley a MH-insert wattage here-U bulb. The U on the end of the number sequence on the bulbs means they can be run in a "universal" burn position. IF you could find color correct bulbs in either a vertical burn configuration, or universal, you would be able to just screw these into the fixture, and be fine,.. But I have yet to find the bulbs. One more thing.. running a bulb in a vertical position will greatly diffuse the light. The ballasts will defintley work though, assuming they are m-58's or m-59's, for SE (single end) bulbs. Hope this helps!

I run 3 175w MH on my 125g, using industrial low bay ballasts... but they have been dissambeled from the fixture.

Oh yeah,.. the bulbs will fit in the socket..

Jason

flyline · 02-23-2008, 01:38 AM

thanks for the info trigger

Triggerjay · 02-23-2008, 01:56 AM

np - If you have any questions as how to SAFELY set them up, lemme know.

Jason

flyline · 02-23-2008, 10:36 AM

thanks that would be great

kinghokus420 · 02-23-2008, 11:34 AM

a couple of the guys in my club are using these. they have the ballasts mounted in the crawlspace under their houses, because of the heat. they wired them up with new sockets and bulbs and they work very well.

Triggerjay · 02-24-2008, 04:00 AM

I would only run these ballasts in a metal enclosure. I used an old PC case, and have a fan on it. They get real hot... fire hazzard hot. But they do work well.

Jason

02-23-2008, 12:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
flyline Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: victorville ca Posts: 122 View Gallery Karma Komment	metal halide fixtures has anyone tried to use a metal halide low bay fixture before? it looks like they are used in warehouses and such. i saw one one ebay really cheap it was a 400 watt. a little overkill for anything that i have but it still makes me wonder if reef keepers could use them if we changed out the light bulbs that is if the bulbs we use in reef keeping would even fit in the socket. thanks for the input

02-23-2008, 01:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Triggerjay Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 2,067 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: metal halide fixtures Actually, I am running the ballasts from low bay MH fixtures on my tank. I did however dissemble the fixture, and mounted the ballast's in an old computer case. Most saltwater aquarium MH bulbs are made to run in a horizontal burn position. The fixtures you speak of, have the bulb mounted vertically, and use more than likley a MH-insert wattage here-U bulb. The U on the end of the number sequence on the bulbs means they can be run in a "universal" burn position. IF you could find color correct bulbs in either a vertical burn configuration, or universal, you would be able to just screw these into the fixture, and be fine,.. But I have yet to find the bulbs. One more thing.. running a bulb in a vertical position will greatly diffuse the light. The ballasts will defintley work though, assuming they are m-58's or m-59's, for SE (single end) bulbs. Hope this helps! I run 3 175w MH on my 125g, using industrial low bay ballasts... but they have been dissambeled from the fixture. Oh yeah,.. the bulbs will fit in the socket.. Jason __________________ The start of my journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...xperience.html My current journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ld-thread.html My clownfish breeding log: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ne-fishes.html

02-23-2008, 01:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
flyline Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: victorville ca Posts: 122 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide fixtures thanks for the info trigger

02-23-2008, 01:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Triggerjay Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 2,067 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: metal halide fixtures np - If you have any questions as how to SAFELY set them up, lemme know. Jason __________________ The start of my journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...xperience.html My current journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ld-thread.html My clownfish breeding log: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ne-fishes.html

02-23-2008, 10:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
flyline Midas Blenny Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: victorville ca Posts: 122 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide fixtures thanks that would be great

02-23-2008, 11:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
kinghokus420 Scopas Tang Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise ca.(northern) Posts: 444 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: metal halide fixtures a couple of the guys in my club are using these. they have the ballasts mounted in the crawlspace under their houses, because of the heat. they wired them up with new sockets and bulbs and they work very well. __________________ josh Chico Reef Club chicoreefclub.org

02-24-2008, 04:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Triggerjay Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 2,067 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: metal halide fixtures I would only run these ballasts in a metal enclosure. I used an old PC case, and have a fan on it. They get real hot... fire hazzard hot. But they do work well. Jason __________________ The start of my journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...xperience.html My current journey: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ld-thread.html My clownfish breeding log: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ne-fishes.html

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