upgraded to new lights

Johnwayne · 01/13/2010, 11:57 PM

so i bought some new lights today, my old ones were an old dual t-8 setup and a dual h/o t5, ON MY 90G! well i found two 175W halides with ballasts for 100 bucks so i grabbed them, actually i met the guy at big als, after a bit of cleaning and some electrical work they working quite nice, actually one is only pushing 75% and the other 100%. they only have 6500k bulbs so i was wondering is it possible to put in a 14,000k or somthing bigger like a 20,000k? its the screw in type bulb, im new with halides as you may tell. any input would be great. and i know i know ill get some first thing in the morning when they turn on.

jdthomas24 · 01/14/2010, 12:22 AM

what do you mean, workign at 75 percent? have you moved the bulbs to see if its hte bulb? it may be the ballast. is it electronic ballasts. You cna use whatever combo bulb you like. I use the 14k bulbs. is it medium base or mogul base. Mogul is larger than a standard light bulb abd medium is the size of a normal household bulb, about, not exactly.

Johnwayne · 01/14/2010, 12:35 AM

its definatly way bigger than a house bulb, i will try moving the buld, its just not as bright as the other one and the buld are the same and bought at the same time supposidly. ill try giggeling it tommorow

Johnwayne · 01/14/2010, 12:35 AM

bulb, its way to late

Flipper62 · 01/14/2010, 01:21 AM

If I were you, I would start off by buying new bulbs.

Bulbs start to lose their spectrum after 8 months or so. You may have got a good deal on the lights.....but you dont know how old the bulbs are.

Buy some new bulbs, so you know that they are good. Bad bulbs may turn on...and you cant tell that they are bad. BUT the tank will know.......and you could hurt a lot of things in the tank and have algae problems.

Johnwayne · 01/14/2010, 09:58 AM

yeah im deffinatly planning on the bulbs but i dont have 200 bucks right now so iv still got my t5s on there, i will be keeping them there anyways but once i get new halides i will replace the day with another actinic

agold11520 · 01/14/2010, 10:14 AM

Go on ebay and type in Metal halide 175 bulb. I have bought 2 175 watt 14000 mogel end bulbs for under 50 bucks. They are very good.

sedor · 01/14/2010, 10:21 AM

Ebay bulbs would be a good way to get you by until you can afford a "real" bulb. There is a difference in quality though, just keep that in mind. I don't know if it comes in 175W (I don't see why not) but once my Phoenix 14Ks are spent I am going to get Radium 20Ks. There are huge differences in bulb brands so check em out and do your research before you buy so you know your going to be happy with the results.

Johnwayne · 01/14/2010, 11:37 AM

are the coralife any good?

Johnwayne · 01/15/2010, 10:39 AM

has anyone tried the coralife or am i wasting my time, i did see the 30 dollar ones on ebay??

ritter6788 · 01/15/2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnwayne

has anyone tried the coralife or am i wasting my time, i did see the 30 dollar ones on ebay??

The 150 HQI worked fine for me. I just switched over to Phoenix 14k's because I liked the color better.

01/13/2010, 11:57 PM	#1
Johnwayne Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ont Posts: 157	upgraded to new lights so i bought some new lights today, my old ones were an old dual t-8 setup and a dual h/o t5, ON MY 90G! well i found two 175W halides with ballasts for 100 bucks so i grabbed them, actually i met the guy at big als, after a bit of cleaning and some electrical work they working quite nice, actually one is only pushing 75% and the other 100%. they only have 6500k bulbs so i was wondering is it possible to put in a 14,000k or somthing bigger like a 20,000k? its the screw in type bulb, im new with halides as you may tell. any input would be great. and i know i know ill get some first thing in the morning when they turn on.

01/14/2010, 01:21 AM	#5
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	If I were you, I would start off by buying new bulbs. Bulbs start to lose their spectrum after 8 months or so. You may have got a good deal on the lights.....but you dont know how old the bulbs are. Buy some new bulbs, so you know that they are good. Bad bulbs may turn on...and you cant tell that they are bad. BUT the tank will know.......and you could hurt a lot of things in the tank and have algae problems. __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

01/14/2010, 10:21 AM	#8
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Ebay bulbs would be a good way to get you by until you can afford a "real" bulb. There is a difference in quality though, just keep that in mind. I don't know if it comes in 175W (I don't see why not) but once my Phoenix 14Ks are spent I am going to get Radium 20Ks. There are huge differences in bulb brands so check em out and do your research before you buy so you know your going to be happy with the results. __________________ Ryan

01/14/2010, 12:22 AM	#2
jdthomas24 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rockwall, Texas Posts: 852	what do you mean, workign at 75 percent? have you moved the bulbs to see if its hte bulb? it may be the ballast. is it electronic ballasts. You cna use whatever combo bulb you like. I use the 14k bulbs. is it medium base or mogul base. Mogul is larger than a standard light bulb abd medium is the size of a normal household bulb, about, not exactly.

01/14/2010, 12:35 AM	#3
Johnwayne Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ont Posts: 157	its definatly way bigger than a house bulb, i will try moving the buld, its just not as bright as the other one and the buld are the same and bought at the same time supposidly. ill try giggeling it tommorow

01/14/2010, 09:58 AM	#6
Johnwayne Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ont Posts: 157	yeah im deffinatly planning on the bulbs but i dont have 200 bucks right now so iv still got my t5s on there, i will be keeping them there anyways but once i get new halides i will replace the day with another actinic

01/14/2010, 10:14 AM	#7
agold11520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NY Posts: 121	Go on ebay and type in Metal halide 175 bulb. I have bought 2 175 watt 14000 mogel end bulbs for under 50 bucks. They are very good.

01/14/2010, 11:37 AM	#9
Johnwayne Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ont Posts: 157	are the coralife any good?

01/15/2010, 10:39 AM	#10
Johnwayne Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: ont Posts: 157	has anyone tried the coralife or am i wasting my time, i did see the 30 dollar ones on ebay??