Mercury vapor, will it work?

[gobyinpeace]

I am new to reef keeping and have a 250 watt mercury vapor ballast and pendant (came from a theater caliber balck light).
I was wondering if I can use this light on a reef tank?

 

[bang guy]

Yep. You can use it and it will grow coral but it may not be very pretty. If you can find the lamp color (Kelvin value) that will tell you more. I use a 6500K MV lamp and it's pretty good but most are in the 4000K range and are far too Yellow or even Green to look very nice for an aquarium.

 

[gobyinpeace]

This particular lamp is high on the blue side because it was used to emit "black light". The end result coming from a glass filter. I removed the filter and gave it a try and it looks great, not yellow or green at all just a bright blueish-white. I think I now have a light for another set-up.
Thanks

 

[fish head]

Purchase the Iwasaki 250Watt 6500K bulb. It is MV and one of the best bulbs for corals.

 

[rangermonroe]

I use the Iwasaki 250 . I think that it has a very yellow green color. So I burn 2 Normal output actinic bulbs with it. It really makes a difference.
Of course, we're talking opinion here.
The I -250 cost me about $70 each.