1000W Metal Halide

[bmkj02]

Okay. Im throwing this out there and I know it may sound crazy. I have been in the SW tanks for about 7 yrs or more. I started with the old fashion florescent. Then a few years ago I updated to a 260w Compact florescent system on my 55g. Well I have a 125g that I am setting up and a need a better lighting system. I am going with a metal halide system that I want to do myself. I was going to go with 3 250watts but the price is going to be up there. Someone localling is selling some metal hailde flood lamps for $25 complete which sounds great cause all I have to do is change the bulb since its basically the same ballast. The problem is that it is a 1000w each. Heres the question. Can I really go with 1 1000w metal halide bulb for a 6ft tank and try to make a reflector to shine on the whole tank. Im pretty sure you will say go with the 3 lights but will this work? Budget!!! Thanks

 

[stdreb27]

The problem you'll run into is that you'll NEVER find a 1000 mh lamp with the color spectrum you'll need for a fishtank.

 

[hurt]

Not true at all. There are many 1000w MH's available in the correct spectrum. To me though, the only reason to use something that large would be on a tank very deep, say 35+ inches. The problem is you will not get good enough spread on a 120 with just one bulb though.
Google: Specialty lights

 

[bmkj02]

Yeah I agree. There are lights out there for the spectrum I need but it just the spread that I am concerned about. I might try it and see what happens

 

[stdreb27]

With the same plugs? I considered doing something like this, (one of the fiends from church sells industrial lighting) I went through all of his books, never founds any bulbs that were above 6k.
I may be mistaken but the reason for doing this is price right? 25 bucks for a metal hallide fixture? This about this, if you do find some specialty MH bulb at 10k. They are almost surely targeting some fancy high end user who needs a 1000 mh bulb. I seriously doubt you'll find anything that is worth the price or the trouble of finding bulbs.

 

[bmkj02]

I might be agreeing with you StDreb27. I did a search and the bulbs are out there in all spectrum ranging from 5500 to 20000. The problem is that no matter what the spectrum is the cost is $189-$209 for each bulb. No thanks. I should of done more searching before posting this. Im not going this route. I'll stick with my previous idea of 3 bulb system. I just need to find a place to get the parts cheap. Might try Graybar. Thanks
Also Google: Specialty lights like Hurt said and you will see the bulbs there. Too much $$

 

[aquaknight]

There are more then a couple choices for 1000w MH aquarium bulbs. Coral Vue makes a complete range (10k, 15k, 20k) and ReefLux, Ushio, and Aqualine make one or two each.
What I think might be a problem, is you need to find out if the ballast for the fixture is a probe or pulse start, then see what the options for bulbs are.

 

[wangotango]

Power costs? 1000w of lighting is a lot of juice, plus some kind of cooling which you will need.
If you use two 250w on good reflectors like a Lumenbright or Lumenarc then you should have no problems.
-Justin

 

[wattsupdoc]

I run 2 250's on my 135. You can get a decent retro for 225ish, with bulb and reflector. I'm just running the spider reflectors. They are fine for now and I intend to upgrade them eventually. I have an oceanic tank. It has the center glass support and keeping it clean is nearly impossible. I cant see placing a MH above it as it will only be blocked by precipitate from time to time. So the center is kinda dim, not much, but noticeable. It wouldn't if the glass weren't there. I really like the look anyways. And my mixed reef does too evidently. But I digress.

My point is 2 CAN be fine on a 6 ft long tank. 450 bucks and some diy skills and bammo! I would say though that if the cash does allow, I'd go with the lumenarc, or lumenbright reflectors.

 

[acrylic51]

2 MH's over a 6' tank would be fine with the combo of the LumenBrite Large Reflectors......the have a light spread of something of 36"x36", but 1000's is way overkill on electricity and cooling them would be insane....