Newbie Question

[props]

Hey guys I'm starting up a new tank pretty soon and I'm fairly new to reef. Anyways got a 500w MH full spectrum light for freshwater I wonder if the light bulb would be suitable for reefs. It's not bluish kinda color so i'm a lil concern. Do i have to purchase a new bulb? change the ballast?
I'm new at this so any help would be much appreciated..will post specs for the ballast tom..
thanks

[props]

heres an ackward pics of the tank
its a 72gl
comes with a co2tank [can i use this at all?]


the lighting was used for fresh water plants so i'm alil concern if it'll work on reefs...
again ne help would be much appreciated
thanks

if you really wan help too if you close by you could come over and visit

[Aquattro]

Welcome to Canreef!! I've never heard of a 500w MH bulb before....are you sure on this? You'll need to find out the color temp of the bulb (this is a number with a k after it...5500k, etc).
You may have to do a search on a part number or something to find out that info, unless you still have the original box it came in. Also, depending on what type of bulb it is, it may have already gone thru it's useful life. Bulbs last about a year on average.
Post the info you've got tomorrow and we'll see what we can figure out.

[smokinreefer]

i'm guessing its 2 x 250W MH.

and if it was for plants the kelvin rating may be a touch low.

but as brad said, let us know when you got the details and we can go from there.

[props]

well just found out the ballast is only 175watt/120v
so i'm guessing the light would be 175 as well...
would it be ok if i put a couple of 24" blue acitinic light along with the mh?
what kinda coral could i have inside my tank?
also neone got another mh/ballast[complete kit(even without housing)] for sale by anychance?

sorry for all the question guys

i'll be home later this evening so i'll post the lightbulb info


thanks again for the help

[AJ_77]

Hi -
A typical setup for your tank would probably have 2 - 175W MH setups, with a 48" actinic or two, depending how much supplementation you need. There's lots of research and planning ahead...

I would take a look at anyone's pictures here that lists a website in their posts or profiles, and maybe use the "search" function in the DIY section for lighting, hoods, metal halide, etc. You'll likely find examples of people with tanks similar to yours, and the solutions they came up with.

You'll find that a single 175W won't quite cover a four-foot tank (your 72 is 4 feet?) The spread for a single MH is usually 2 feet, maybe 3.

I'm sure others with more experience will chime in now...

[props]

i guess i need 1 more 175mh then
=o(
thats depressing
well if i put that light n the middle and have lil corals underneath it would that work?heheheh
i'lll put up pics soon
ne hepl would bemuch appreciated

[Mak]

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