Watts up?

[artista]

After having an electician friend go over my newly aquired "used" tank setup I have found out that the 3 metal halide bulbs on my tank (125g) are only 100watts each. I am not sure the K but probably pretty low, 6500? The electrician said I could increase the wattage to 175 in each and the setup would run them. In the next 3-6 months we are going to change the hallides for something stronger, either 10,000 or 20,000 K. In the meantime would it be benificial for my fish or corals to switch to the 175 watt bulbs or would this just add brighter light and more heat?
I thought about switching out just 1 of the 3 but thought I would ask first. Hate to spend the money if there is no benifit.
Thanks!

 

[artista]

Due to the holidays and the winter slow season it is not in the budget to put in a whole new lighting system right now. I just need to know if it would be benificial to change 1 or 2 of the 100watts to the 175 watts which can run on the existing system. Thanks

 

[dreeves]

175's are fine for that tank...also, that sounds a little odd about just putting higher wattage bulbs in...you should double check your ballast's, as to what type you series you have...

 

[artista]

Okay, I hate to ask but how do I check my ballasts to see what series they are? I have the lights hanging inside the canopy and all the ballasts are up on top in a box. Thanks

 

[artista]

bump:help:

 

[blk822]

I have a 75 gal. with 6 110 watt vho's and I usually only run 4 of them and everything I have grows great ...I was told that you only need about 5.6 watts per gal......wrong?

 

[artista]

blk822,
Do you have a reef tank? If so, what kind of corals do you have under your lighting? My softies are doing great but I want to upgrade to some hard corals

 

[blk822]

I use URI vho's 3 actinic and 3 white actinic...I have some soft corals now but I have had Hard corals do great under them befor..I had a tri color acro that did great but died during a move. I just havn't gotten any hard corals yet sence move. But I do have a large carpet thats been alive for 3 years under these lights...

 

[dreeves]

Originally posted by Artista
Okay, I hate to ask but how do I check my ballasts to see what series they are? I have the lights hanging inside the canopy and all the ballasts are up on top in a box. Thanks
You will have to see if it is printed somewhere on the ballast...you would be looking for an ANSI number like M58 or H39 or something like that.