Metal halide concerns

[cilyjr]

Hi R2R
I used mH for years over my 180. 4 years ago I switched to 4 sol blues with 2 t5 bulbs. I had success with them (not counting a heater failure). Now as they are getting older and looking at 2600 bucks to replace them, I'm pretty sure I'd rather return to mH.

I sold all my old ballasts and reflectors so I'm looking at a grand to get all new equipment. I'm OK with that. But I worry they could stop producing the radium bulb.

Thoughts?

 

[MaiReef]

The sols should be good for 6 more years at least and you could just replace the T5 bulbs.

 

[Annabellam]

I agree, that should save you something.:)

 

[themcnertney]

You could buy my MH fixtures. I have (3) 250/400 switchable fixtures with bulbs and ballasts ready to be shipped...if interested, I can send you some more information.

 

[cilyjr]

I understand they will last a bit longer and thanks for the response but I've got some cash now and I'm leaning towards switching soon.
I'm pretty certain I want to change back but I worry it will be harder to find bulbs in the future

 

[cilyjr]

Oh and I used to run 3 lumenbright 20inch reflectors but do you all think the 16 inch reflectors would be sufficient? As it would leave room for a couple t5 should I decide to keep those?

 

[mcarroll]

Why switch back? Especially if you have concerns as stated? (Which I think are valid concerns.)

For the record, it wouldn't require nearly that amount of money to DIY a replacement LED system. I think you should consider this. Further, there's no reason to exclusively consider high-dollar commercial LED solutions. A system similar to the ones I build, but for a standard 180 Gallon, would only cost about $200. Yes, two-hundred dollars. (Maybe up to $500 if you wanted to hack the design for any reason, but that cost would be extreme.) Functionality would be similar to your proposed halide system, but with the power savings and longevity of an LED system.

For reference:

Thanks mostly to the hydroponics industry (deregulation in one of its more beneficent forms), it seems, halides are going the way of ceramics (see: Ceramic discharge metal-halide lamp)....so presuming someone is willing to develop a ceramic blue at Radium, there really is no technical reason to prevent good halide bulbs from being around in the future.

Mercury is the real question.

Highly poisonous and requires special handling to recycle, etc. Most folks don't recycle their mercury properly. (I don't even think most people have access to proper recycling facilities. And if they do, do they know? ..do they use them?) Manufacturers use less and less in the bulbs to help, but there's only so much they can do. LED's are clean by comparison. As a result, regulations are moving towards taking mercury off the consumer market. Whether it will happen is still an open question, but things are moving that way.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If I had the cash Id switch lights every year.:D

 

[reefwiser]

No concern about MH bulbs they will be around for a long time. MH does use Mercury that style of lighting when out a while ago (Mercury vapor lighting) it gives off a brown glow of light.

 

[joseserrano]

I think more people would understand if you state why you want to go back to MH. Regarding the bulbs, I don't believe they will stop making them any time soon, but if they did, they will always be something close enough offered.

 

[mcarroll]

I may have misunderstood that reply, but mercury is the basis of all common T5 and halide lights.

Actinic phosphors convert some of the mercury emission (UV) into a "full spectrum."

It's true that there's a difference between metal halide and mercury discharge lamps, but the difference is not mercury. :)

From the good folks at Radium.de:
Mercury

 

[cilyjr]

I think more people would understand if you state why you want to go back to MH.

Well I went to led a little early on and I was ok with them. Now they are getting older and I do not want to spend $2500 to put new ones on. I understand I might be able to do it cheaper with diy or cheaper ebay leds but I don't want to make my own or buy the eBay lights. Not to mention I believe the viable of most white leds are less then the manufacturer's lead you to believe. I feel like you get more like 5 to 6 years rather than eight to ten as was suggested when I bought them.
Most white leds are blue with a phosphorus coating to produce white light. Which works fine for a long time but starts to wear out eventually

Not to mention my tank always did great with MH. I'm not saying it is bad with the led (I would recommend them to most people).

Also my tank is in a finished basement in a home with central air in New England so heat was never a problem. And I never saw any savings in electricity. The heat my old metal halides put in the tank now had to be put in with 1000 watts of heaters.

So that's pretty much all the reasons why I'm going back.

Thanks to all for putting my concerns to rest about the continued making of bulbs

 

[marvo409]

Pm sent