metal halide question

[cary Henderson]

can someone tell me the difference between (marine) metal halide setups and the ones in a warehouse using MVR400/u bulbs..
i see alot of 250w x2 (500 watt) talk and don't see why a MVR400/u bulb setup wouldn't do the same work..
(only questioning this becasue i have a case of bulbs and if they would work.. i'd order in the sockets and ballasts to make my own setup..)

[Rentaltux]

can someone tell me the difference between (marine) metal halide setups and the ones in a warehouse using MVR400/u bulbs..
i see alot of 250w x2 (500 watt) talk and don't see why a MVR400/u bulb setup wouldn't do the same work..
(only questioning this becasue i have a case of bulbs and if they would work.. i'd order in the sockets and ballasts to make my own setup..)

I guess it would depend on what the K rating is for those bulbs. IME the warehouse/office lights are in a different spectrum IE. lower K rating making them not good for reefs.

R

[cary Henderson]

found specs on 400 u
36000 lumens
4000k
cr 65
so 4000k would be low as i see ratings of 10000/14000 for marine lights correct..

[Invigor]

4000k-4100k is considered "cool white". It would make your tank look extremely green.

just noticed the 65 cr rating.. stands for "color index rating". I think it's on a scale of 0-100. It's basically how true the color is they bring out in stuff they illuminate. for an example, try a $5 philips 6500k bulb with an 83 CRI rating, then try an expensive 6500k bulb with say a 95 CRI and the expensive bulb makes the colors much more rich looking.

my experience only: with light bulbs for fish tanks, I've found that you get what you pay for. for me, trying to cheap out on lights wasn't satisfying.

so keep in mind when you're buying lights, the higher the CRI rating, the nicer the color it will make everything in your tank.

the 2x250w vs 400w thing is just because a 250w hqi rivals a regular 400w bulb for output...oddly enough.

[cary Henderson]

Awesone info.. Thanks ..
you just answered my next 10 questions...

I just love this forum everyone seems to know something.about something...

Sure has saved me a buck or two

[briansmyth]

And people respond to your posts rather quickly, too!