MH's - What's the difference between aquarium MH products and plant propagation prod.

[sterling]

I've been looking around to alternatives to the expensive MH systems offered to the aquarium trade and want to know what the difference is between the aquarium MH systems and systems made for plant growing? They look the same and the system information looks the same and there are 175, 250, 400w MH bulbs with 5200 kelvin.
I'm sure someone out there has looked into this already, so please educate me on this.
Thanks.

 

[hairtrigger]

The bulbs that come with them have to low of a kelvin rating for reefs. They will make the water look pi$$ yellow. 6500 K is the rated minimum I gather, for reefs. The ballasts and stuff are fine. It's just the bulbs that come with them that aren't. This is just what I have picked up along the way though. Some sharks might know more.

 

[melbournefl]

I don't think there's too much to add to what HairTrigger mentioned, it's the Kelvin rating that makes the difference. Also, there is not much cost difference so it wouldn't be worth the risk of excessive algea growth, oh yeah, that's another difference, the lower K rating would also encourage algea growth.
HTH
Later,
Paul

 

[slothy]

sterling email me.. i have some sites with nice prices on MH... (PFO)