Hydroponic metal halides

[tike]

Does or has anyone ever tried to modify one of these for a reef tank?? It just seems that they are cheaper to buy. What are the down sides of these types of lighting systems? This is something I've been thinking about for a while but have never acted upon it.

 

thanks!

[le kid]

Most of the time the ballasts on them are magnetic. But, they should fire aquarium bulbs, as long as they have the same ANSI codes.

[Guest johnnye]

Same thing, hydro growers sometimes buy their lights from Aquarium suppliers so they dont get "red flagged".

 

On the other hand, bulbs are different, theyre more concerned with the red part of the spectrum rather than blue.

[Fant]

should be fine just dont confuse metal halide with high pressure sodium... most hort setups use high pressure sodium as a light source.. especially for fruit or flowering plants.

[tike]

thanks all!

[SmCaudata]

I was wondering that as well.

 

Look what I found

 

http://www.hydroponics.net/c/124

 

Two questions to go with that. I would assume that it is okay to put a lower wattage bulb in the 400W ballast right? If it operates like every other normal light then it should be fine. Are the voltages different for the different wattages? This wouldn't make much sense, but I just figured I would cover my bases.

 

Anyway, cause $145 (they also have one for $10 less) + shipping + 20k bulb on ebay makes this a pretty cheap solution. $200+shipping and this includes a pendant at retrofit type prices. Don't know the quality though. Too bad they shipt it with a 4k bulb.

[B16A2NR]

My friend SSMangrove is running a 400w halide with 20k bulb over his in wall tank and he got the whole thing for $100! Buy it now on ebay. There are some amazing magnetic halide deals on ebay and shipping isn't that much.