MH lighting

[fishboy]

Hi all,

I'm looking at changing my lighting from PC to metal halide. Currently I have 2X55W PC and 2X30W NO actinic.

I've found a 400W MH ballast only(not wired/no box) for $80 from a hydroponics shop. I'm woundering if a 400W MH would be too much for my tank? My tank is 54 gallons(18" deep, 20" high, 36" wide).

Any comments on buying ballast's from a hydroponics shops?

[DJ88]

Hi Dwayne,

Welcome to the site.. Sweet looking tank.. [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

You shouldn't have any problem with a 400W on your tanks size. My concerns would be lower light critters being blasted with loads of light.

Other concerns are cooling and such.

As for the ballast form a hydrop shop.. Would need to know what kind it is.. Even then I can't really say.. Lots of people use bare ballasts and they work great.. [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Talk to Fudge(Marc) and a few others.. Hopefully they jump in and say hi..

[FlameAngel]

80 bucks actually seems a bit much for a bare 400 W ballast.

A good brand name for ballasts would be advance, which is available at a few places in the Lower mainland.

Flame

[fishboy]

Can you name an stores I should try?

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

$80 for a ballast (cap and coil) sounds about right, but it depends on the type and model. Do you have the model number ?

- Victor.

[fishboy]

I didn't get the make and model number at the time. I wasn't sure if all MH ballast's are the same or not. They guy said they are standard for the hydoponics industry and should have no problem with the marine bulbs.

[pocilipora]

Where do ya live? E-mail me, were probably neighbours!

[reefburnaby]

Hi,

Even though a ballast may be able to drive a 400W MH (ANSI code M59) and power driven to the lamps may be very similar, but the AC power consumed by each ballast may be drastically different. Hydroponic ballasts tend to use the cheaper version -- which tend to draw more power. In some situation, the cheap one may draw 20% to 40% more power. The extra power doesn't usually go to the lamps, but it does result in extra heat dissipated by the ballast.

Depending on your budget and needs, you may want to look at other alternatives like Iwasaki MV and HQI.

- Victor.

[FlameAngel]

I think Westcoast Lighting in PoCo has some good stuff for MH lighting.

Flame