Just purchased two of these MH kits

sales weasel · 02/13/2006, 04:36 PM

Hello all,
I just purchased two of the kits below. I have a brand new Odyssea 48" PC fixture with a pretty decent reflector in it. It uses 4 65w pc tubes that are just OK at best in quality. I'm thinking that I'll try to fit these MH bulbs into that fixture and only use the two actinic bulbs. I'll probably have to mount a fan or two in the assembly as well. The MH kits consist of two 175w Advance ballasts and two 175w 4300 Pure Sunlight bulbs. I don't know about the bulbs, but the ballasts are good. I figure $99ea was a decent buy.

I think I'll have to mount or suspend this fixture 8" or so above the water level. Does this sound about right or can I use the legs that sit on top of the tank. BTW, I'm going to use this on a 55g.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

cuong · 02/14/2006, 10:02 AM

The 175w 4300K bulb will be no good for reef aquarium but will be excellent for fresh water planted tank or fuge light. You need to get 10K bulb or higher.

sales weasel · 02/14/2006, 10:36 AM

Thanks cuong. I found that the 4300 were more of a plant bulb. I've asked the vendor what he would charge me to upgrade them.

keeperofthefish · 02/14/2006, 12:03 PM

Actually, a 4300 isn't ideal for planted tanks, either. I wouldn't go below 5K. But with halide, I suppose it doesn't matter much.

Bathypelagic · 02/14/2006, 01:08 PM

I agree you are going to have to dump the bulbs or see if you can get something in the range of 6500 and up. The ballast should work out OK but at 99 a piece I would have spent a few more dollars and got an electronic ballast like icecap.

sales weasel · 02/14/2006, 01:57 PM

Yeah, I thought they were 6500 and then I looked again and saw that it didn't say. The seller confirmed they were 4300. I sent him an email earlier this morning asking if he would upgrade them for the diff in cost to at least 6500. Maybe I'll get lucky. For $99, it would have been a nice deal if they were 6500k.

Bathypelagic · 02/14/2006, 02:42 PM

Yep, if you can upgrade to a 6500 or 10K for a few extra dollars that wouldn't be a bad deal at all, depending on the brand of bulb.

02/13/2006, 04:36 PM	#1
sales weasel Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta burbs Posts: 646	Just purchased two of these MH kits Hello all, I just purchased two of the kits below. I have a brand new Odyssea 48" PC fixture with a pretty decent reflector in it. It uses 4 65w pc tubes that are just OK at best in quality. I'm thinking that I'll try to fit these MH bulbs into that fixture and only use the two actinic bulbs. I'll probably have to mount a fan or two in the assembly as well. The MH kits consist of two 175w Advance ballasts and two 175w 4300 Pure Sunlight bulbs. I don't know about the bulbs, but the ballasts are good. I figure $99ea was a decent buy. I think I'll have to mount or suspend this fixture 8" or so above the water level. Does this sound about right or can I use the legs that sit on top of the tank. BTW, I'm going to use this on a 55g. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

02/14/2006, 10:02 AM	#2
cuong Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: ottawa, Canada Posts: 135	The 175w 4300K bulb will be no good for reef aquarium but will be excellent for fresh water planted tank or fuge light. You need to get 10K bulb or higher.

02/14/2006, 10:36 AM	#3
sales weasel Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta burbs Posts: 646	Thanks cuong. I found that the 4300 were more of a plant bulb. I've asked the vendor what he would charge me to upgrade them.

02/14/2006, 12:03 PM	#4
keeperofthefish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 228	Actually, a 4300 isn't ideal for planted tanks, either. I wouldn't go below 5K. But with halide, I suppose it doesn't matter much.

02/14/2006, 01:08 PM	#5
Bathypelagic Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 87	I agree you are going to have to dump the bulbs or see if you can get something in the range of 6500 and up. The ballast should work out OK but at 99 a piece I would have spent a few more dollars and got an electronic ballast like icecap.

02/14/2006, 01:57 PM	#6
sales weasel Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta burbs Posts: 646	Yeah, I thought they were 6500 and then I looked again and saw that it didn't say. The seller confirmed they were 4300. I sent him an email earlier this morning asking if he would upgrade them for the diff in cost to at least 6500. Maybe I'll get lucky. For $99, it would have been a nice deal if they were 6500k.

02/14/2006, 02:42 PM	#7
Bathypelagic Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 87	Yep, if you can upgrade to a 6500 or 10K for a few extra dollars that wouldn't be a bad deal at all, depending on the brand of bulb.