MH Bulb orientation - nipple down?

rstark33 · 01/03/2007, 11:24 AM

I am running a pair of 250 Watt metal halides on a pair of M58 ballasts.
I was never quite clear on how far to screw in the bulb. Should I make sure the nipple is down? Does this give off the best PAR or is the color diffrent in this orientaion?
Or does te orientation of the nipple matter at all?

I am running a pair of 10K ebay specials for now as the tank gets started.

Thanks!

sabodish · 01/03/2007, 11:59 AM

nipple up...if you cant get the nipple between the 10 and 2 o clock position, turn off and UNPLUG the ballast and bend the metal conector out a bit inside the socket then retry. if you burn the bulb with the nipple down, the color will be terrible.

rstark33 · 01/03/2007, 12:04 PM

OK thanks! For some reasaon I thought it was nipple down....I have one with it at 9 o clock and one with it down and the one down has bad color. But they are new bulbs, so I thought it might just be burning in.
I will change it.

jcr6479 · 01/03/2007, 12:42 PM

The instructions on my EVC said between 9 & 3 o'clock.

Fishbulb2 · 01/03/2007, 12:49 PM

Why did I also think nipple down? Ok, i'll swith mine to nipple up. There's gotta be an easy way to remember.

northbay-reefer · 01/03/2007, 12:56 PM

think perky

nipple always outward and slightly upward

rstark33 · 01/03/2007, 12:57 PM

Perky it is, I will now never forget which way to put the nipple!

01/03/2007, 11:24 AM	#1
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	MH Bulb orientation - nipple down? I am running a pair of 250 Watt metal halides on a pair of M58 ballasts. I was never quite clear on how far to screw in the bulb. Should I make sure the nipple is down? Does this give off the best PAR or is the color diffrent in this orientaion? Or does te orientation of the nipple matter at all? I am running a pair of 10K ebay specials for now as the tank gets started. Thanks! __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

01/03/2007, 12:04 PM	#3
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	OK thanks! For some reasaon I thought it was nipple down....I have one with it at 9 o clock and one with it down and the one down has bad color. But they are new bulbs, so I thought it might just be burning in. I will change it. __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

01/03/2007, 12:49 PM	#5
Fishbulb2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,807	Why did I also think nipple down? Ok, i'll swith mine to nipple up. There's gotta be an easy way to remember. __________________ Just getting back in, but trying to do it right! Current Tank Info: 40 gallon tank. SPS, LPS, few softies

01/03/2007, 12:56 PM	#6
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,831	think perky nipple always outward and slightly upward __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: Tankless :D

01/03/2007, 12:57 PM	#7
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	Perky it is, I will now never forget which way to put the nipple! __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

01/03/2007, 11:59 AM	#2
sabodish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Holly Springs, NC Posts: 1,703	nipple up...if you cant get the nipple between the 10 and 2 o clock position, turn off and UNPLUG the ballast and bend the metal conector out a bit inside the socket then retry. if you burn the bulb with the nipple down, the color will be terrible.

01/03/2007, 12:42 PM	#4
jcr6479 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 154	The instructions on my EVC said between 9 & 3 o'clock.