Building lighting canopy need help with hardware - Aquarium Advice

Jeraljay · 01-13-2006, 06:37 PM

I want to build a custom light canopy and I dont know what electrical companets I will need. My canopy is going to be 60' in length. My question isnt on the constructiuon side but rather on the electrical hardware side. I want to run 400 to 500w, [acronym:3ba421d261="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3ba421d261] light. So I was thinking about either 3- 150 w [acronym:3ba421d261="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3ba421d261] bulbs spread out evenly or 2- 150 bulbs and 1- 250 in the middle. Because I want to run a reef etup I am leaning towards the 550w setup. I know I will probably need two or three fans to cool it also. If someone could give me a quick snapshoot of the hardware (and where to get it)I will need that would help me out a lot.

Thanks
Jeff

Jeraljay · 01-13-2006, 07:06 PM

I saw this on Ebay would this be a good setup with some reflectors and then I am done?(minus fans and moonlights of course)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dual-250-Metal-H...QQcmdZViewItem

ccCapt · 01-13-2006, 08:01 PM

That will work. On a 5' tank, 2 lights is pushing it. The usual rule of thumb is 1 mh bulb for every 2'.

If your not afraid to do some wiring yourself, check out this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/400-WATT-M-59-ME...QQcmdZViewItem

greenmaji · 01-14-2006, 02:29 PM

HPS (high preasure sodium lamps) have great light output but the color temperature of the bulbs is in the 3,000K range, you might want to skip that.. they will look very red/orange. It would be ideal if they made HPS bulbs in the correct [acronym:47f04e6366="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:47f04e6366]'s but I havnt had much luck finding anything (I think I found something close to 5,000K in HPS but have sence lost it and thats not much good for anything but the refugium anyway)

greenmaji · 01-14-2006, 02:37 PM

Nevermind.. I saw HPS in the link and thought of HPS..
the ballast is rated M59.. thats a probe start (american bulbs) in the 400Wattage varity
of ballast..
It does seem to look a little rough *they are rough looking but that one has a bit of
extra dust or dirt on it..

[acronym:434968c44f="By the way"]btw[/acronym:434968c44f]..
ANSI rateings for ballasts..
pulse start at 400W is "M135" and HQI ballasts are rated "SON AGRO"
and to run the Iwasaki 6500K 400W bulb on a magnetic ballast you would need a H33.

alot of people are telling me to go electronic with [acronym:434968c44f="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:434968c44f].. Im not quite convenced yet but it
is holding me back from building..

Jeraljay · 01-16-2006, 09:20 PM

You siad the rule of thumb is 1 [acronym:87c2340d90="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:87c2340d90] per every two feet so 2 mh for 5 feet should be okay right?
In your opinion would you go 3-175w or 2-250w?

01-13-2006, 06:37 PM	#1
Jeraljay Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: camarillo ca Posts: 77	Building lighting canopy need help with hardware I want to build a custom light canopy and I dont know what electrical companets I will need. My canopy is going to be 60' in length. My question isnt on the constructiuon side but rather on the electrical hardware side. I want to run 400 to 500w, [acronym:3ba421d261="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3ba421d261] light. So I was thinking about either 3- 150 w [acronym:3ba421d261="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3ba421d261] bulbs spread out evenly or 2- 150 bulbs and 1- 250 in the middle. Because I want to run a reef etup I am leaning towards the 550w setup. I know I will probably need two or three fans to cool it also. If someone could give me a quick snapshoot of the hardware (and where to get it)I will need that would help me out a lot. Thanks Jeff

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01-13-2006, 07:06 PM	#2
Jeraljay Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: camarillo ca Posts: 77	I saw this on Ebay would this be a good setup with some reflectors and then I am done?(minus fans and moonlights of course) http://cgi.ebay.com/Dual-250-Metal-H...QQcmdZViewItem

01-13-2006, 08:01 PM	#3
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,845 Images: 3	That will work. On a 5' tank, 2 lights is pushing it. The usual rule of thumb is 1 mh bulb for every 2'. If your not afraid to do some wiring yourself, check out this. http://cgi.ebay.com/400-WATT-M-59-ME...QQcmdZViewItem

01-14-2006, 02:29 PM	#4
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	HPS (high preasure sodium lamps) have great light output but the color temperature of the bulbs is in the 3,000K range, you might want to skip that.. they will look very red/orange. It would be ideal if they made HPS bulbs in the correct [acronym:47f04e6366="Kelvin or Potassium, depending on context"]K[/acronym:47f04e6366]'s but I havnt had much luck finding anything (I think I found something close to 5,000K in HPS but have sence lost it and thats not much good for anything but the refugium anyway)

01-14-2006, 02:37 PM	#5
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	Nevermind.. I saw HPS in the link and thought of HPS.. the ballast is rated M59.. thats a probe start (american bulbs) in the 400Wattage varity of ballast.. It does seem to look a little rough *they are rough looking but that one has a bit of extra dust or dirt on it.. [acronym:434968c44f="By the way"]btw[/acronym:434968c44f].. ANSI rateings for ballasts.. pulse start at 400W is "M135" and HQI ballasts are rated "SON AGRO" and to run the Iwasaki 6500K 400W bulb on a magnetic ballast you would need a H33. alot of people are telling me to go electronic with [acronym:434968c44f="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:434968c44f].. Im not quite convenced yet but it is holding me back from building..

01-16-2006, 09:20 PM	#6
Jeraljay Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: camarillo ca Posts: 77	You siad the rule of thumb is 1 [acronym:87c2340d90="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:87c2340d90] per every two feet so 2 mh for 5 feet should be okay right? In your opinion would you go 3-175w or 2-250w?