Are quality Metal Halide fixtures and bulbs still available?

[Reefahholic]

not sure if the igniters are built into there units or not....Giesemann still sells German made modern magnetic ballasts but you need a step-up converter to run them

Man I love German stuff. I took my PowerModule down to change old bulbs and clean the fans tonight. That thing is bulletproof. I always bump it and look for a dent and there’s nothing there. It must weight 60 lbs! I hate that, but dang it’s solid!

My Deltec Skimmer is built well too. You can just feel it. Skims really well and is whisper silent!

 

[Reefahholic]

We run them on 2 tanks currently. This tank has 4 fixtures and a custom XHO strip. In my opinion nothing better for growing and coloring SPS.

Looks like you have a couple small frags in there!

 

[dieselkeeper]

Here is an ANSI ballast chart matching halide bulbs.

Metal Halide ANSI Codes - Aquarium Lighting Bulb & Ballast Cross Reference Guide - Aquarium-Lighting-Guide.com

www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com

I found out my M138 ballast will run 250w SE radium bulb.

 

[MRReefs]

Looks like you have a couple small frags in there!

A few....

 

[Randy Ruiz]

I’ve always wanted to convert, but I fear these fixtures and bulbs might now be available anymore.

Can you guys post a picture of your setup and talk a little bit about the best bulbs, ballast, reflectors, etc. Are there any challenges you’re currently facing or that you fear may come in the future?

I still have a MH ballast that ran 250 watt?'maybe two. Not sure about bulb availability.et me know if interested.

 

[RCS82]

Hamilton's Cayman Sun reflector, 12"×12". Just figure out if you want to go single end or double end bulbs. To me that's deciding between the Radium (only avail in single end) and the 14k Phoenix (only avail in double end). Hamilton and Geisemann make bulbs for both DE and SE.

 

[xshmoox]

Random question, I’m gonna upgrade my current nova 72” t5 on my 125 sps tank, can get a ati led powermodule at a good price or I have a guy selling a 72” Giesemann moonlight t5/halide combo with the 250w halides in great shape for around $600

 

[vanpire]

I love this old school knowledge! With MH’s I’m lost. I don’t even know where to begin or what goes with what. My luck I would buy what I thought to be a good setup and it would not work or I’d need something different.

I really appreciate you old school guys that have been there done that. Helps to understand and buy the right gear.

It is good if u can get a good quality M80 HQI ballast, but since they are hard to come by, just use an electronic with an HQI setting. Close enough.

 

[MTBake]

M80 ballast and single ended Caymen Sun with a Radium from Hamilton Lighting.

I still need to order a second setup. It's going over my Reefer xl 525...

 

[MTBake]

Man I love German stuff. I took my PowerModule down to change old bulbs and clean the fans tonight. That thing is bulletproof. I always bump it and look for a dent and there’s nothing there. It must weight 60 lbs! I hate that, but dang it’s solid!

My Deltec Skimmer is built well too. You can just feel it. Skims really well and is whisper silent!

Totally agree on Deltec. I'm really liking mine.

 

[naterealbig]

have you ever used a BLV Nepturion 20k or Giesemann Blue 21k?
has a much better overall blue balance

Any pics of your setup with either of these bulbs? Running 250 Radium w Lumateks now. Interested....

 

[naterealbig]

@Reefahholic - Lots of good info and recommendations here. IMO for someone looking for a simple setup, look for a Giesemann Infiniti or Spectra or a Hamilton fixture... Pick your Halies bulb, pick your t5s, hang fixture, plug in, watch corals grow. It's that easy.

I ran a Sfiligoi XR6 back in the day.... No better light ever. If i could find a used Stealth fixture, i would sell my soul for it...

By the by, a quick current shot of my tank running a 4ft Giesemann Spectra... The tank has a 48"x38" footprint, and every square inch is completely lit with this fixture.

 

[xiaoxiy]

I really enjoy my pheonix 14k on a M80 ballast. I've been using one of these old-as-heck-ballasts.

 

[MTBake]

Here's the tank you see in the reflection of the bigger tank. This 40 breeder has a Lumen Arc mini stealth with a 14k Phoenix and Ice Cap selectable ballast set on super lumen. Along with a Kessil 360we set to the whitest setting and full intensity.

I really need to clean the glass on the Lumen Arc. It's also due for a new bulb. This ones been in for 17 months.

 

[naterealbig]

I really enjoy my pheonix 14k on a M80 ballast. I've been using one of these old-as-heck-ballasts.

Ah yes, ol Blue Wave ... ran many of these.... they also made an M80 ballast. You also had the option of a dual core, which had two ballast in a single fixture. Ran my XM 10kK and 20kK bulbs with them.... when XM still made bulbs.

 

[Thaxxx]

How about theses 20 k led halides?. Not the black boxes. The other ones. Closest halide replacement on the market. 10 20 30 & 50 Watt 6500k,10k,12k,14k or 20k take your pick. Water tight.
Price... $30 to $70 per light.

 

[xiaoxiy]

Ah yes, ol Blue Wave ... ran many of these.... they also made an M80 ballast. You also had the option of a dual core, which had two ballast in a single fixture. Ran my XM 10kK and 20kK bulbs with them.... when XM still made bulbs.

Yup! It runs up to two 250W bulbs. I believe my particular one was built back in the 2000s.

 

[naterealbig]

How about theses 20 k led halides?. Not the black boxes. The other ones. Closest halide replacement on the market. 10 20 30 & 50 Watt 6500k,10k,12k,14k or 20k take your pick. Water tight.
Price... $30 to $70 per light.

Psh child's play.

The only potential contender as far as Halies replacements go...

Amazonas 500 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 500 LED light solution is developed specifically for public aquariums and venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

 

[Thaxxx]

Oh, you've seen these?
Lol
And how much the Orphek's
Let us know when you start your 20 foot tall build so you can use those

 

[naterealbig]

Oh, you've seen these?
And how much are the Orpheks?

No but at that price point i would be very concerned about the spectral plot of those bulbs - which is truly where you win with Halides ..... Between this and those abysmal wattages, you couldn't come close to a quality Halide setup.

The Orphek Amazona 500 will run you $1500, but is completely customizable and controllable, and could grow SPS throughout the entirety of a 5'x5'x5' tank. At about 1/3 the cost it would take to light with Moore common LED fixtures.

Orphek also makes a size smaller- the Amazona 320 i think, at about $800.