70w vs. 150w HQI Metal Halides

smcdonn · 12/08/2007, 11:04 AM

Alright team, I've been in the hobby for a while now and am in the process of building an ultimate 20gallon reef tank. I have decided on my lighting of 2 x 24w T5's and a 70w metal halide. My only problem is that I can not find a pendant for the DIYer for a 70w double ended bulb, but I can find quite a few of them for 150w double ended bulbs. Are these bulbs dimensionally the same? If they are, I will just buy the advertised 150w HQI pendant and be on my way, but wanted some help from fellow reefers. Thanks guys

bristle · 12/08/2007, 12:01 PM

Not the same...150 is a little longer.

I made my 70W MHs with a halogen security light. Wish there was a reflector made for 70W MH specifically for aquariums.

DarG · 12/08/2007, 12:36 PM

Easy solution. Find a DE 150 watt reflector/pendant that uses a standard 150 watt DE socket with bracket and swap out with a 70 watt DE socket/bracket.

Check hellolights.com, they have the sockets for 70 watt as well as other metal halide components including reflectors/pendants. I dont know exactly what type of reflector/pendant you were wanting to use but they do sell a small retro DE reflector in 150 watt and 250 watt versions. Get the 150 watt and buy the standard 70 watt socket w bracket and it is a 2 screw swap to change sockets. If you are going with better reflector, there are plenty of decent ones that use the standard 150 watt sockets which would make for an easy swap to the 70 watt socket. If what you want uses a proprietary socket, I'm sure that it wouldnt take much to improvise a 70 watt socket (either standard or "deluxe" in place of the 150 watt.

BTW, the sockets are the same, the difference is about 1/2" in length with the 150 watt DE bulbs beijg that much longer than the 70 watt DE's and accordingly, the socket to socket spacing is about 1/2" wider between the respective sockets.

smcdonn · 12/08/2007, 02:56 PM

Thanks guys.

12/08/2007, 11:04 AM	#1
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	70w vs. 150w HQI Metal Halides Alright team, I've been in the hobby for a while now and am in the process of building an ultimate 20gallon reef tank. I have decided on my lighting of 2 x 24w T5's and a 70w metal halide. My only problem is that I can not find a pendant for the DIYer for a 70w double ended bulb, but I can find quite a few of them for 150w double ended bulbs. Are these bulbs dimensionally the same? If they are, I will just buy the advertised 150w HQI pendant and be on my way, but wanted some help from fellow reefers. Thanks guys __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

12/08/2007, 02:56 PM	#4
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	Thanks guys. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

12/08/2007, 12:01 PM	#2
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Not the same...150 is a little longer. I made my 70W MHs with a halogen security light. Wish there was a reflector made for 70W MH specifically for aquariums.

12/08/2007, 12:36 PM	#3
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Easy solution. Find a DE 150 watt reflector/pendant that uses a standard 150 watt DE socket with bracket and swap out with a 70 watt DE socket/bracket. Check hellolights.com, they have the sockets for 70 watt as well as other metal halide components including reflectors/pendants. I dont know exactly what type of reflector/pendant you were wanting to use but they do sell a small retro DE reflector in 150 watt and 250 watt versions. Get the 150 watt and buy the standard 70 watt socket w bracket and it is a 2 screw swap to change sockets. If you are going with better reflector, there are plenty of decent ones that use the standard 150 watt sockets which would make for an easy swap to the 70 watt socket. If what you want uses a proprietary socket, I'm sure that it wouldnt take much to improvise a 70 watt socket (either standard or "deluxe" in place of the 150 watt. BTW, the sockets are the same, the difference is about 1/2" in length with the 150 watt DE bulbs beijg that much longer than the 70 watt DE's and accordingly, the socket to socket spacing is about 1/2" wider between the respective sockets.