bought used MH not sure what i got

twistoflex · 04/01/2008, 10:48 AM

I'm a newbie. Bought a beautiful established 55 gal corner tank in Nov 07. Everything has been growing well. My MH bulb color has changed, time to replace bulb. Not sure what brand my canopy is. It's a black pendant canopy with Current USA fans(not sure if this is just the brand of the fans or of the canopy) on either end running a screw in type single ended 175W 10K Coralvue MH and 2 FTW 32W Dual actinic compact flourescent bulbs. There is a box the the pendent plugs into on the floor (remote ballast). I was reading Sanjay's website on MH ballasts and bulbs, I don't know enough yet to get out of that since I can't even figure out what canopy I have! A lot of people on his site seem down on 175W and lean towards 150W. Reason? Recommendations? I thought about an XM175W 15K. How would I know if my ballast could take 250W? I have clams, BTAs... I want the reef baby!
Thanks for your help, Chris

sgarron · 04/01/2008, 10:56 AM

If you have a 175 watt ballast you have to run a 175 watt bulb. You need a 250 watt ballast to run a 250w bulb.

Jefe12234 · 04/01/2008, 03:09 PM

If you have a 175w bulb now, then you have a 175w ballast and you have to stick with 175w bulbs. That said, the Iwasaki 15k is supposed to be an amazing 175w bulb, more output than many 250w bulbs and good color to boot. I haven't used one myself, but you can do a search to see what others have said. With your actinic supplements it would probably look really nice and give you plenty of light.

04/01/2008, 10:48 AM	#1
twistoflex Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 26	bought used MH not sure what i got I'm a newbie. Bought a beautiful established 55 gal corner tank in Nov 07. Everything has been growing well. My MH bulb color has changed, time to replace bulb. Not sure what brand my canopy is. It's a black pendant canopy with Current USA fans(not sure if this is just the brand of the fans or of the canopy) on either end running a screw in type single ended 175W 10K Coralvue MH and 2 FTW 32W Dual actinic compact flourescent bulbs. There is a box the the pendent plugs into on the floor (remote ballast). I was reading Sanjay's website on MH ballasts and bulbs, I don't know enough yet to get out of that since I can't even figure out what canopy I have! A lot of people on his site seem down on 175W and lean towards 150W. Reason? Recommendations? I thought about an XM175W 15K. How would I know if my ballast could take 250W? I have clams, BTAs... I want the reef baby! Thanks for your help, Chris

04/01/2008, 10:56 AM	#2
sgarron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 651	If you have a 175 watt ballast you have to run a 175 watt bulb. You need a 250 watt ballast to run a 250w bulb. __________________ You want cheap, Get a goldfish.

04/01/2008, 03:09 PM	#3
Jefe12234 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: MN Posts: 885	If you have a 175w bulb now, then you have a 175w ballast and you have to stick with 175w bulbs. That said, the Iwasaki 15k is supposed to be an amazing 175w bulb, more output than many 250w bulbs and good color to boot. I haven't used one myself, but you can do a search to see what others have said. With your actinic supplements it would probably look really nice and give you plenty of light. __________________ Serenity now!!!