Need opinion on this

bowfish

bowfish

Member
I aquired this light fixture and bulb from a storage building.The fixture and bulb were in the trash and going to be thrown away. Ive taken the fixture apart to expose the transformer and the capacitor and it all appears to be new and never used. I was thinking of removing the ballast and using this on a new 90 gallon tank Im in the process of planning.Just wondering if it will work,what do you think.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Probably won't produce that much PAR. IMO, it would have the same effect as a PC, but I could be completely wrong.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Not sure honestly what ballast you have. Are there any markings on the ballast itself? You would want a bulb 175w MH bulb designed for aquarium use. The one you have pictures isn't the correct Kelvin temp which means not of the correct light spectrum.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Looks like the ones that I use. Should work fine man. The bulb though is a different story. It'll look very yellow in your tank as its probably like a 5000k lamp. Go on auction sight and buy 10k or above. I've got 175w like that one. Works just fine. No worries.
 
bowfish

bowfish

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SaltFan http:///forum/thread/383550/need-opinion-on-this#post_3355836
Looks like the ones that I use. Should work fine man. The bulb though is a different story. It'll look very yellow in your tank as its probably like a 5000k lamp. Go on auction sight and buy 10k or above. I've got 175w like that one. Works just fine. No worries.
I wasnt sure about the bulb but I thought that the ballast part would work.im pretty sure that the bulb was going to be used in a parking lot light.
 
bowfish

bowfish

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/383550/need-opinion-on-this#post_3355824
Not sure honestly what ballast you have. Are there any markings on the ballast itself? You would want a bulb 175w MH bulb designed for aquarium use. The one you have pictures isn't the correct Kelvin temp which means not of the correct light spectrum.
The ballast is M57 and what would be the right Kelvin temp?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by bowfish http:///forum/thread/383550/need-opinion-on-this#post_3355870
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/383550/need-opinion-on-this#post_3355824
Not sure honestly what ballast you have. Are there any markings on the ballast itself? You would want a bulb 175w MH bulb designed for aquarium use. The one you have pictures isn't the correct Kelvin temp which means not of the correct light spectrum.
The ballast is M57 and what would be the right Kelvin temp?
The ballast might work. That's not really my area.
As far as Kelvin rating, 10K or higher. Most 10K's are very yellow in color. 20K's are very blue. Most people settle with a 14K. A lot depends on what you're using it for (growth, color, look).
 
bowfish

bowfish

Member
Ok thanks guys for all the info.Ill be back for more as I start this new project. Looking forward to everyones help and opinions.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Hey Bowfish, the ballast does not have anything to do with Kelcin rating. The lamps are what gives you light. The Kelvin rating on a givin lamp is basically the color of the light produced. 6700k is the sun at high noon. The higher the rating, the bluer the visible light. 10k = good coral growth, but still kinda yellow white. More and more people like 14k. I use 20k and love the blue, but I just have a FOWLR. Thinking of going 22k, now that should be really nice and blue.
 
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