MH lights and noise

monicaswizzle · 01/09/2007, 12:24 PM

Friends--

Currently I have a tank with just a few lower light corals and PC lighting. Someday when the budget allows I will likely upgrade to MH lighting. One of my friends works in greenhouses and she said that the MH lights in greenhouses emit a constant buzz and are very obnoxious to work around--definately not something most people would want in a home environment. Is this an issue in the hobby? I have never heard anyone complain about the noise of MH lights--heat yes, noise no.

Thanks for your thoughts/experience.

tslabaugh · 01/09/2007, 12:28 PM

I have a 400w metal halide over my tank which is against a wall in between my living room and kitchen. I don't hear the buzz unless I get RIGHT next to the ballast. My tank is super quiet except for my HOB skimmer.

fishyvet · 01/09/2007, 12:28 PM

mine are silent.... the pumps on the other hand are another story

Ti · 01/09/2007, 12:29 PM

depends on the ballast.
Most I have come across you can't heat it.

Warnberg · 01/09/2007, 12:31 PM

Magnetic ballasts have a tendency to humm or buzz.... electronic ballasts do not.

Randall_James · 01/09/2007, 12:34 PM

My Hamilton Electronics are silent

AquaReeferMan · 01/09/2007, 01:44 PM

My Outer Orbit fixture is quiet. The only time I hear a noise is when they fire up, and thats only for 30ish seconds.

BCreefmaker · 01/09/2007, 02:20 PM

my 150W MH has a magnetic ballast that gives off a little buzz, but 15 mins after its turned on your cant really hear it because you get used to it.

ACBlinky · 01/09/2007, 03:17 PM

My ballast does buzz a little, but it's in a little cabinet beside the tank and I can't hear it unless I open the door and put my ear close to the ballast. The fans are louder than the ballast, and even those are pretty quiet. MH bulbs can also make noise, but it's just a second or two of pinging at lights on/off.

monicaswizzle · 01/10/2007, 09:54 AM

OK, thanks for the info. I didn't think it was a big issue.

01/09/2007, 12:24 PM	#1
monicaswizzle Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clyde Posts: 296	MH lights and noise Friends-- Currently I have a tank with just a few lower light corals and PC lighting. Someday when the budget allows I will likely upgrade to MH lighting. One of my friends works in greenhouses and she said that the MH lights in greenhouses emit a constant buzz and are very obnoxious to work around--definately not something most people would want in a home environment. Is this an issue in the hobby? I have never heard anyone complain about the noise of MH lights--heat yes, noise no. Thanks for your thoughts/experience. __________________ Ms. Swizzle (Rodney) --Not Born Yesterday Current Tank Info: fun!

01/09/2007, 12:28 PM	#2
tslabaugh Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dibble, Oklahoma Posts: 251	I have a 400w metal halide over my tank which is against a wall in between my living room and kitchen. I don't hear the buzz unless I get RIGHT next to the ballast. My tank is super quiet except for my HOB skimmer. __________________ Tyler Slabaugh Current Tank Info: 58g oceanic reef, 29g toby tank, 10g FW community planted/snail breeder

01/09/2007, 12:29 PM	#4
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	depends on the ballast. Most I have come across you can't heat it. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/09/2007, 12:34 PM	#6
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	My Hamilton Electronics are silent __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

01/09/2007, 01:44 PM	#7
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	My Outer Orbit fixture is quiet. The only time I hear a noise is when they fire up, and thats only for 30ish seconds. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

01/09/2007, 12:28 PM	#3
fishyvet Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gainesville FL Posts: 463	mine are silent.... the pumps on the other hand are another story

01/09/2007, 12:31 PM	#5
Warnberg Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,366	Magnetic ballasts have a tendency to humm or buzz.... electronic ballasts do not.

01/09/2007, 02:20 PM	#8
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	my 150W MH has a magnetic ballast that gives off a little buzz, but 15 mins after its turned on your cant really hear it because you get used to it. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

01/09/2007, 03:17 PM	#9
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	My ballast does buzz a little, but it's in a little cabinet beside the tank and I can't hear it unless I open the door and put my ear close to the ballast. The fans are louder than the ballast, and even those are pretty quiet. MH bulbs can also make noise, but it's just a second or two of pinging at lights on/off. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

01/10/2007, 09:54 AM	#10
monicaswizzle Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clyde Posts: 296	OK, thanks for the info. I didn't think it was a big issue. __________________ Ms. Swizzle (Rodney) --Not Born Yesterday Current Tank Info: fun!