Industrial lighting?

[FishyFishy!]

What are the chances that a reefer could use these industrial halides as tank light? If you had an in wall tank where these enourmous beasts could fit and be out of the way... and some decent bulbs were thrown in there.. could they be used? Cheap alternative if they would work.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-s...AdIdZ237037053

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

i am running 3*400w core and coil halides over my 180glns inwall tank with no problems.

[phi delt reefer]

remember that the aquarium trade is built on lies and ignorance . Almost everything we use in the hobby is used elsewhere and is cheaper. Thats why an individual with a keen eye can really save some cash if they know what they are doing and know what they are looking for.

Granted some of the items are reef specific but even then - given the opportunity everyone in this hobby thinks they can double the price and put "safe for aquariums" on the fine print.

I dont know much about Halides but if the socket and ballast wattage match some of the bulbs you want to use i see no reason why you can't save yourself a few hundred dollars . Keep us updated - would love to see those installed

[lastlight]

I'm sure all of it except the ballasts will be fine by default. Maybe not a computer engineered reflector but good enough. Maybe someone more familiar with ballast types can chime in. Even open top a few of those would look pretty cool/industrial I think!

[patpare]

A metal halide ballast will have the same components weather you buy it at a pet store,hydroponic shop or even at you local hardware store.I usually get my ballast at hydroponic stores,you will not find proper bulbs there but the ballast are the same.So the warehouse ballast will work just make sure your bulbs are not the pulse start type,most of the older ballast in warehouse will not fire up pulse start bulbs.

[ScubaSteve]

They'd work just fine. The only trick would be to find bulbs that size in the right colour temp, and they're not cheap (though probably not as bad as what you would pay at an LFS). The ballasts on those units are totally fine. They're tri-tap, so all that means is that you can hook them up to three different voltages (120/277/347) depending where you are using them (most industrial sites run off of 277 V or 347 V for large equipment). They'd work just fine in a house... you'd just need to make a decent cover to go over them so that you don't totally **** off the wife.

My father owns a commercial/industrial electrical company and I see these lights everytime I go down to the warehouse.. he's probably got 15 used ones just sitting there. Oh, if only I had the money and room to start another tank.... sigh

[phi delt reefer]

he is open to offers now that reread his post - so maybe offer him $60 for 2 and see what he says?

Also the ballasts are wired for 347v but are 120v capable so make sure you make that change before plugging that bad boy in.

As for the reflectors - try em out as is and see how they are. There are diy reflector plans somewhere in a reef forum - if i find em i will pm you the link.

a point was made that these are 400w lights which are going to eat a ton of electricity so that would be my primary concern if budget is an issue.

[ScubaSteve]

I wouldn't call the reflectors junk. They are specifically designed to give an even light distribution from a pendant bulb, however, at a distance (they're meant for high bay applications after all). High bay reflectors are about efficiency AND economy. Aquariums really weren't in mind for their design. Because you will have them closer that their intended application there might be some bright spots but don't see any reason why, for a cheap set up, they wouldn't work.