MH question

[BigRed]

2 questions.

1. Is it possible/advisable to run a 150w Lamp in a 250w fixture? are there any problems?

2. Is 250w too much light for a 46 gal bow? It will have either 96w or 192w of actinic supplementation as well. too much light?

Red

 

[bone]

Red,

By fixture do you mean the mogul socket? The socket should accept any SE bulb from 150 to 400 watts. 250MH light is overkill on the 46tank, since the tank isn't long or deep you are going to fry everything in the tank. My not convert some of the 192watt VHO lights into half 10K and half actinic

 

[BigRed]

It's a DE HQI lamp, with 2 96w CF.

so if i can run a 150w in that situation, is that still too much light?

that leaves my with either 8w/g or 6w/g (depending on the actinic suplementation.)

 

[mikem]

Is the ballast for a 150watt or a 250watt?

 

[Brian]

I'm pretty sure you can't run a 150 watt bulb in a 250 watt fixture. It would probably overdrive the bulb and blow it out.

 

[BigRed]

the ballast is for a 250w lamp.

i'm not sure exactly ballasts work. any explanations?

 

[IrradiatedReef]

To keep it simple, a ballast pushes out the proper juice for a spacific watt bulb. So a 150 watt ballast cannot fire up a 250 watt bulb. A 250 watt ballast pushes too much juice for a 150 watt bulb and will blow it up.

I use to follow the watts per gallon theories. Now I only worry about the height of the tank. A 46 gal. bow is 36" wide which is a limbo zone. MH covers about 24" of space. So you really need 2 MH for full coverage but will have 12" of overlap in the middle. If you use 250 watt bulbs, your coral and fish will have a nice suntan in the center of your tank and will be asking for an Aloe suppliment.

 

[mikem]

If you're asking how ballast work, Its like the electric in you're house. You have 110- 120 volts, you can run any watt light bulb (60watt- 75watt-100watt) but they have to be 110volts. You also have 220volts in you're house and would need 220watt bulbs which they come in 60watt-100watts. So, if you have a 250watt ballast, you need 250wattbulbs, which come in different sizes like 10K 15K 20K. If you put a 250volt light bulb in you're 110volt lamp, there wouldn't be enough volts to light it as bright as a 250volt circut can. If you put a 110volt bulb in a 250volt lamp, it might explode or be too bright and burn out quick. Same goes for MH and other bulbs.
If you're asking how ballasts work, the basic idea is their turning 110volts into a useable current for bulbs to run off of. If anyone can explain it any eaiser, please do.

 

[mikem]

Thanks for the help Irrad. You beat my post.

 

[BigRed]

I understand electricity very well, i'm just not familiar with the specifics of ballasts in particular. You have definatly answered my question though. Thanks.

Now we shall have to see what we can do to solve the problem. Obviously slow acclimation is the key

 

[IrradiatedReef]

I am wondering and want input from others on this because it is a shot in the dark and never tried it out.

Has anyone ever tried using VHO as the main light and a 20k MH as the antinic??
Im wondering since the 20k is mostly blue and is a slow growth bulb, try putting all 10K bulbs in your VHO and use a 20k MH.

The 250 watt 20k will supply the tank with more then adequate light and should not burn the tank. Add the 10k VHO to help with the growth and I really think it would work!

Anyone with input on this solution? I could be far off the mark... but in my personal bubble, it sounds like it would work.

 

[mikem]

Sounds like it would work to me too.

 

[BigRed]

I really like that idea. It could totally make my new setup work without worrying as much about the sunburn. hmmm. perhaps i will have to try it......

 

[IrradiatedReef]

If you try it, please keep us updated with the findings on growth and coloration of the corals. I have not been able to find any info on this type of lighting solution and I think is very interesting.