Can these MH work?

c4haskett

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2021
Messages
271
Reaction score
265
Location
Windsor, VA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm wondering if I could use these as lights over my tank? They are 400 watt MH.

555d966e-35e8-45cc-b35d-b0a3596992be.jpg
d4324258-eb6a-49f4-b0f2-6f2a134596c1.jpg
 

JumboShrimp

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 12, 2018
Messages
9,121
Reaction score
12,518
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wow, I'm not trying to be funny-- are those for theatrical stage lighting? Or a basketball court? I'm trying to imagine hanging them, so they don't ever come crashing down on your tank. Inquiring minds want to know! 😬
 

PPBlimpy

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
1,692
Reaction score
2,102
Location
Cumberland
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would look at the voltage. A lot of the high bay lights may run multi tap ballasts. Not many parts are useable.

in my opinion the reflectors are not going to do anything good for you with how bulky they are. the balast can be used possible along with the sockets.

I personally wouldn't waste the time. i have converted these fixtures for use and its a bunch of work.

what kelvin bulbs are you looking at running?

I have started to use the newer 315W Ceramic Metal halides found in hydroponics, they have adjustable output ballasts. 50/75/100/110% setting but the highest kelvin bulb is only a 10k.

With the stock reflectors @ 50% setting( approx 204W) I am seeing 540par half way down my 24" tall tank. 240 on the sand bed and 780 2" from surface measured with an apogee 420x.

At 100% in the same spots I measured half way down 730, sand bed 400, 1080 2" below.

I am running Noopsyche k7 IV for blue supplemental

I run 1 over my 54g corner with 2 noops
And 3 over my 7’ 210.

paid $150 for 5 MH fixtures and $59 for each bulb on amazon.

don't mind the cloudiness of the tank, only had water in it for 2 hours before i pulled out the apogee. couldnt help myself

IMG_7035.jpeg IMG_7043.jpeg IMG_7042.jpeg IMG_7034.jpeg
 
OP
OP
c4haskett

c4haskett

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2021
Messages
271
Reaction score
265
Location
Windsor, VA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wow, I'm not trying to be funny-- are those for theatrical stage lighting? Or a basketball court? I'm trying to imagine hanging them, so they don't ever come crashing down on your tank. Inquiring minds want to know! 😬
I'm not sure to be honest, they look like they were used as shop lights. Didn't know if it was worth the effort to try and use these on the tank. They are cheap, so I was just curious.
 
OP
OP
c4haskett

c4haskett

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
May 10, 2021
Messages
271
Reaction score
265
Location
Windsor, VA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks, I was just curious. They are selling them for cheap. Didn't know if it was worth the effort or not to convert these to use on the tank. I don't really know much about the specs on these lights, but I'll just pass on them. I have been interested for awhile on trying MH but didn't want to invest a ton of money in case I didn't like them or not a good fit for my tank. I appreciate the feedback. How are you liking your Noopsyches? That is what I run on my tank. I've tried several different brands, but really fell in love with the spectrum of those lights. I now run a total of 5 of them and really happy.
 

PPBlimpy

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
1,692
Reaction score
2,102
Location
Cumberland
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I love my noops. But I was reefing 20 years ago and always missed my halides. The combo of these new 10k CMH and the noops take me back to the 12-14k halide days.

I had 5 noops over my 210. Three were v2 pros and two v3s. I planned on selling them and upgrading to 8 of the IV pros but decided to test the halides out.

I am not happy with the combo on my 210 currently. I did the halides and cheap actinic bars from 21led and it’s no where enough actinic blue to offset the 10k. Tank looks yellow and dingy.

When I set up the 54g I wanted to go heavy on the sps decided to try the two k7 IV and the halide and I am in love!!! I will replacing the led bars on the 210 with K7 IV eventually.

Can’t beat the price for the noops at $139 each. There is a guy on here that has Basicly hacked the WiFi and built a new app to control the noops. Going to be playing with that soon
 

oreo54

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 18, 2017
Messages
6,875
Reaction score
4,081
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Last edited:

X-37B

Fight The Good Fight
View Badges
Joined
Jul 3, 2017
Messages
14,074
Reaction score
23,046
Location
The Outer Limits
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
They would work but not worth the effort. I have looked at a few of these types in the past and always passed. Maybe in a garage type setting but not in my living room, lol.
Look for a used MH fixture. Many just give them away now. I have several types and run a Lumenbrite with a 400 watt 20K bulb.
20260528_124519.jpg
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 26.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 45 34.9%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 29 22.5%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.5%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.8%
Back
Top