HID headlights for aquarium???

[AR0026]

I got an idea after shopping for some HIDs for my car... They are pretty cheap and you can even get the digital one that won't make any noise.. My question is would it work?? I tried googleing it and didn't come up with much... The HIDs come in a variety of color temperatures 10k, 12k, 15k, 20k... So I guess the lights would hive off enough light, but would it be harmful to the tank in anyway??

If you have any ideas.. Or just want to say something... I would love to read your opinions...

Thanks,
Antonio

 

[Breakin Newz]

A company made a fixture for reef use, I do not remember the name but it was pretty much unsuccesful...

Sent from my ADR6300 using Reefs

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Aquaticlife has a series of fixtures that uses the R7 HID bulbs. I've never used them so I can't speak on their ability to keep corals or what the color actually looks like, but from a financial standpoint it doesn't make sense because they are the only ones making them so you are stuck with them as a company. The other side of that is that HID bulbs have been around for a long time and if it was really that different or did something amazing, odds are that one of the large brands would have figured it out by now and we'd be seeing more of them on shelves. It just seems to be a gimmick.

 

[wonderballz]

Another problem I would think is both heat and electricity. Don't they consume quite a bit of electricity and give off a lot of heat?

 

[ryangrieder]

I thought the hid style aquatic life fixture was really just a metal halide bulb? I've seen the fixture set up at that fish place. It was horrible. That was the only tank filled with algae. I swore it was a metal halide bulb but they made it sound cool by calling it HID.


Ohh, and just so you know, last night I installed HIDs with my friend in my car, 10k by xtreme HIDs. Do not buy anything from them. Garbage. They look REALLY nice and the bulb is exactly what I wanted, but a nightmare installing it. Took from 6 pm to 12am to finish....

 

[jr973]

My brother installs them hids on peoples cars for like 100 or 120 installed he usually takes around 30 to 45 min. Sometimes quicker depending on the car

 

[bizzarro]

aren't HID bulbs a lot less wattage?

 

[Audi0s]

HIDs are very efficient, usually only needing 35w at 12v to make a beam, as opposed to a standard H7 halogen which uses 55w. I thought there was another problem with using them in reef tanks. Maybe it was heat? Or they werent putting out enough PAR compared to MH. And if anyones interested, I can get HIDs that use OE connectors and fittings. They use shorter HID bulbs so you dont get that crazy beam spray when using a generic bulb since its not focused. Usually runs about $250 installed, theyre really good product. Chinese, but hell even Bosch has chinese parts now.

 

[AR0026]

Aquaticlife has a series of fixtures that uses the R7 HID bulbs. I've never used them so I can't speak on their ability to keep corals or what the color actually looks like, but from a financial standpoint it doesn't make sense because they are the only ones making them so you are stuck with them as a company. The other side of that is that HID bulbs have been around for a long time and if it was really that different or did something amazing, odds are that one of the large brands would have figured it out by now and we'd be seeing more of them on shelves. It just seems to be a gimmick.

I get what your saying, but I'm not looking to buy one made... I'm going to make one myself.. So, price is going to be very low.. I got my digital HIDs for $55 the pair... And I think big companies don't invest large amounts of money mass producing cuz who is going to pay $300, $400 or even $500 for something you can make yourself....

 

[AR0026]

Another problem I would think is both heat and electricity. Don't they consume quite a bit of electricity and give off a lot of heat?

They do give off a lot of heat... But electricity, I don't think it's that crazy... The HID kit is made to replace your 12v bulbs that are in the car already.. They come with a converter... I think for the heat just.... A lot of fans, lol..

 

[AR0026]

I thought the hid style aquatic life fixture was really just a metal halide bulb? I've seen the fixture set up at that fish place. It was horrible. That was the only tank filled with algae. I swore it was a metal halide bulb but they made it sound cool by calling it HID.


Ohh, and just so you know, last night I installed HIDs with my friend in my car, 10k by xtreme HIDs. Do not buy anything from them. Garbage. They look REALLY nice and the bulb is exactly what I wanted, but a nightmare installing it. Took from 6 pm to 12am to finish....

My HIDs where bulb size specific, didn't have to much problems hooking them up... Mostly plug and play, only thing that was a bit of a pain was that I had to drill my head light back covers to that the cables could go through them... And finding a place for the converters... Them things are tiny buy the way... Size of a credit card and about 1/4" thick...

 

[NYC Joe]

Also, what about the glass.
I would think you need some sort of UV protective glass too.

I think the light spectrum wouldnt really work. Dont know for sure, but its a guess.
also you would need a reflector.

Seems more trouble than its worth.

 

[stage3-S4]

wow this thread makes me laugh. HID = High Intensity Discharge lamp:

All examples of HID lamps:

Mercury vapor lamps
Metal halide (MH) lamps
Ceramic MH lamps
Sodium vapor lamps
Xenon short-arc lamps
Ultra-High Performance (UHP)


I assume you are referring to the xenon lamps used in cars. I doubt they would be any better than MH due to high heat radiation, shorter life span, and DC power requirements. They really don't make any sense.

 

[Didac]

wow this thread makes me laugh. HID = High Intensity Discharge lamp:

All examples of HID lamps:

Mercury vapor lamps
Metal halide (MH) lamps
Ceramic MH lamps
Sodium vapor lamps
Xenon short-arc lamps
Ultra-High Performance (UHP)


I assume you are referring to the xenon lamps used in cars. I doubt they would be any better than MH due to high heat radiation, shorter life span, and DC power requirements. They really don't make any sense.

1++

HID's is the smaller version of a M/H. To fit in a car.. And only take about 5-10minutes per head lamp..

 

[batt600]

Lmao i smell a fire or dead corals