why cant I use this?

Discussion in 'Reef Lighting' started by supratt, Apr 27, 2010.

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  1. supratt

    supratt Fire Shrimp

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    ive been told you need to buy a metal halide light made specifically for coral reefs but why cant I just take a commecial metal halide light and put reef bulbs in it? would that work?
     
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  3. tigermike74

    tigermike74 Panda Puffer

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    If the fixture is rated for the same wattage and has the same bulb form (mogul based or DE) and it fits properly, it should work. Some bulbs need a certain ballast to fire though, like Ushio's need certain HQI ballasts to fire. There are ANSI codes for each bulb and ballast, like M85 etc, they need to match.

    http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/metal-halide-ansi
     
  4. kcbrad

    kcbrad Giant Squid

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    I don't know, but one guess would be that light fixtures made specifically for aquariums are safer to use around water...
     
  5. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    the ballast wil be a magnetic ballast. they are old and very inefficient.
    Your bulb will not be driven a effectively as if you had an actual aquarium type ballast.
     
  6. supratt

    supratt Fire Shrimp

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    ok thanks for the help it makes sense now. so its now worth getting a fixture just to replace it with a new bulb ($50) and ballast ($130) plus another $75 for the accual fixture.