D.I.Y. Metal Halide Light

Oceanside1968 · 07/28/2015, 06:00 AM

I have constructed a 250 w metal halide light. I am using a keystone F-can ballast,an old
175 w sodium fixture, and some al flashing.
The light I purchased is a Plus Rite 14000k Horizontal burn position bulb. After gutting
the sodium fixture, I shaped and cut the flashing to a reflector to suite my design needs.
I then mounted the flashing in between the mogul socket bracket and the pot metal housing. with the old transformer removed, the new fixture and bulb weigh about 3/4 of a pound. Very easy to place/mount now. I'm going to place the ballast below the tank. I
have an AC cooling fan aimed at where the light will be already mounted.
I have less than $75.00 in this project because the ballast was $55.00 free shipping,
and the bulb was less than $20.00 free shipped, and I had the old light and wire laying around the parts pile.
Going to post pics. soon as I get accustomed to the site.

jay13 · 07/28/2015, 06:13 AM

I too run plusrites. I moved away from the 14k bulb after a year or so. Their 20k bulb is much more pleasing to the eye. Your setup, while economical, sounds like it lacks a good reflector. The difference between what you are running and a premium reflector is night and day. With the led craze going on you should be able to find a reflector pretty cheap if you decide to. Good luck.

Oceanside1968 · 07/28/2015, 06:23 AM

My light is just a supplemental. Otherwise I would go the lumenarc reflector path if I ever do decide to make this light my sole source , or dedicated main light. But thanks for your input.

jay13 · 07/28/2015, 07:10 AM

Crazy computer double posted. Carry on.

ericarenee · 07/28/2015, 10:06 AM

I use plusrite 2000 k bulbs x3 on my diy mh . Mine came from a warehouse from long ago. I have experimented with Different reflector designs and Materials.. To me the best this is a BRIGHT White Surface behind the lights.. I also put my Ballast above the the Tank on the shelf you see in the image on my avatar ... I have two sets of two 5 inch Computer type fans between the lights that keep are plugged into the timers of the m/h lights. So they only run when the lights are on.... THE FANS Pull air in from behind under the tank where i have a 4 inch hvac duct at and out the top.. MY Temp runs about 76 deg with NO Chiller...

OOPS you can only kinda see the shelf above the tank..

Oceanside1968 · 07/28/2015, 01:43 PM

Very nice. Do you like the Plusrites? Are yours 250 watt also?

L

ericarenee · 07/28/2015, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oceanside1968

Very nice. Do you like the Plusrites? Are yours 250 watt also?

L

Yes and they and They seem to last longer then many of the other brands... I love the 2000 k... But some say they are too blue....

Not a great picture but here it is
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...YZGI13u1i3IG5-

kinda old image i think

Oceanside1968 · 07/28/2015, 06:06 PM

I do not no why, but I cannot pull up that picture no matter what I do. I am glad to hear that you like the PL's and that they last long also. Pretty encouraging for my very first halide attempt. If I do end up getting another set-up, I'll probably go with a 20k just to see which I prefer, or if it just goes well with my 14k. It all boils down to personal preference I guess.

ericarenee · 07/28/2015, 07:00 PM

20150718_165939.jpg

Looks more blue then it really is.. GRRR..
Try this one. Not a good image.... but its all on my pc . Tapatalk is misbehaving.

Oceanside1968 · 07/29/2015, 01:37 PM

Yes ,that is very blue looking. Nice tank though. Today is the first day I ran my halide on the tank. I am impressed. I just used my 2 54 watt actinics with the halide and it was pretty gorgeous! I think I'm gonna have to build a full wrap around canopy now. There is surely no going back . Even got the green light from the wife. That 14k Plusrite with the actinics is thee look I want to keep. I ran my fan with it also and my temp stayed the same. Sure am glad those brand bulbs perform like that for their price. Gonna stay with the PL's for now anyway.

shifty51008 · 07/30/2015, 09:47 AM

Are you useing a par meter to check the pl bulbs? Last checked they needed to be replaced earlier than name brand bulbs but for the price people didnt mind replaceing them sooner

ericarenee · 07/30/2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifty51008

Are you useing a par meter to check the pl bulbs? Last checked they needed to be replaced earlier than name brand bulbs but for the price people didnt mind replaceing them sooner

NO Par meter.
I KEEP Extra bulbs around.. I HAVE in my Aquarium log app a reminder to check the against a new bulb every 3 months and compare.. Its almost time to do so again...

I change out the middle of the 3 and you can def see a difference in a new bulb and one that is a year old..

not so Technical but it gives a idea...

shifty51008 · 08/01/2015, 08:53 AM

Just a heads up but spectrum changes that the naked eye cant see so if your going by just checking against a different bulb that isnt gonna work.

Also when i used to run pl bulbs i had 2 brand new bulbs that were 14k. But when i plugged them in you could tell a difference between the bulbd from the left and right side of the tank.

But if everything is going good in your tank then it seema like it is working good for you.

07/28/2015, 06:00 AM	#1
Oceanside1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sharon, Pa. Posts: 5	D.I.Y. Metal Halide Light I have constructed a 250 w metal halide light. I am using a keystone F-can ballast,an old 175 w sodium fixture, and some al flashing. The light I purchased is a Plus Rite 14000k Horizontal burn position bulb. After gutting the sodium fixture, I shaped and cut the flashing to a reflector to suite my design needs. I then mounted the flashing in between the mogul socket bracket and the pot metal housing. with the old transformer removed, the new fixture and bulb weigh about 3/4 of a pound. Very easy to place/mount now. I'm going to place the ballast below the tank. I have an AC cooling fan aimed at where the light will be already mounted. I have less than $75.00 in this project because the ballast was $55.00 free shipping, and the bulb was less than $20.00 free shipped, and I had the old light and wire laying around the parts pile. Going to post pics. soon as I get accustomed to the site.

07/28/2015, 10:06 AM	#5
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I use plusrite 2000 k bulbs x3 on my diy mh . Mine came from a warehouse from long ago. I have experimented with Different reflector designs and Materials.. To me the best this is a BRIGHT White Surface behind the lights.. I also put my Ballast above the the Tank on the shelf you see in the image on my avatar ... I have two sets of two 5 inch Computer type fans between the lights that keep are plugged into the timers of the m/h lights. So they only run when the lights are on.... THE FANS Pull air in from behind under the tank where i have a 4 inch hvac duct at and out the top.. MY Temp runs about 76 deg with NO Chiller... OOPS you can only kinda see the shelf above the tank.. __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

07/28/2015, 07:00 PM	#9
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	20150718_165939.jpg Looks more blue then it really is.. GRRR.. Try this one. Not a good image.... but its all on my pc . Tapatalk is misbehaving. __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

07/30/2015, 09:47 AM	#11
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Are you useing a par meter to check the pl bulbs? Last checked they needed to be replaced earlier than name brand bulbs but for the price people didnt mind replaceing them sooner __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

08/01/2015, 08:53 AM	#13
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	Just a heads up but spectrum changes that the naked eye cant see so if your going by just checking against a different bulb that isnt gonna work. Also when i used to run pl bulbs i had 2 brand new bulbs that were 14k. But when i plugged them in you could tell a difference between the bulbd from the left and right side of the tank. But if everything is going good in your tank then it seema like it is working good for you. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

07/28/2015, 06:13 AM	#2
jay13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 220	I too run plusrites. I moved away from the 14k bulb after a year or so. Their 20k bulb is much more pleasing to the eye. Your setup, while economical, sounds like it lacks a good reflector. The difference between what you are running and a premium reflector is night and day. With the led craze going on you should be able to find a reflector pretty cheap if you decide to. Good luck.

07/28/2015, 07:10 AM	#4
jay13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 220	Crazy computer double posted. Carry on.

07/28/2015, 01:43 PM	#6
Oceanside1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sharon, Pa. Posts: 5	Very nice. Do you like the Plusrites? Are yours 250 watt also? L

07/28/2015, 06:06 PM	#8
Oceanside1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sharon, Pa. Posts: 5	I do not no why, but I cannot pull up that picture no matter what I do. I am glad to hear that you like the PL's and that they last long also. Pretty encouraging for my very first halide attempt. If I do end up getting another set-up, I'll probably go with a 20k just to see which I prefer, or if it just goes well with my 14k. It all boils down to personal preference I guess.

07/29/2015, 01:37 PM	#10
Oceanside1968 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sharon, Pa. Posts: 5	Yes ,that is very blue looking. Nice tank though. Today is the first day I ran my halide on the tank. I am impressed. I just used my 2 54 watt actinics with the halide and it was pretty gorgeous! I think I'm gonna have to build a full wrap around canopy now. There is surely no going back . Even got the green light from the wife. That 14k Plusrite with the actinics is thee look I want to keep. I ran my fan with it also and my temp stayed the same. Sure am glad those brand bulbs perform like that for their price. Gonna stay with the PL's for now anyway.