Who says S/W is expensive....!

[Ef3s]

Bought a 175 watt merc vapor ballast looks like a mini street light.

$26!

Bought a 175 metal halide bulb from aqua store...

$22!

Electric tape to cover the dawn/dusk sensor...
$.99!

IF I had a hood which I don't you wouldn't be able to see it's ugly silver case... Seems like this is the much more economical idea than wasting $400 on a built one....

FOR $46 I could have bought the 400W version of the mini street light...

Do people just not know about this...? Or whats the deal!!

Forgot
$2.99 for chains and hook to hang from ceiling....

 

[shavo]

we're well aware of this just look at mr.X's tank build, we call it a "science project" everything done for under the cost of what it really costs.

although he is building a new one that is being done right!!! well sorta....

 

[Anonymous]

it's still not a cheap hobby. Lately I've been getting equipment/livestock from local reefers and that's a huge saver there.

 

[Ef3s]

I would feel like a noob going to a reefkeeper meeting and being put to shame by their insane knowledge...!

 

[Anonymous]

I would feel like a noob going to a reefkeeper meeting and being put to shame by their insane knowledge...!

i am a noob, and it's a great way to learn more. I've never been to a meeting. I just met a bunch of local reefers, that's all. It's nice looking at other people's tanks and asking questions.

 

[shavo]

it's ok to be a noob, that is the way you learn! Gotta sift through the advice and opinions you get though.

 

[mr_X]

i'm still a noob :wink:

 

[mr_X]

i don't think you can use a mercury vapor ballast on a reeftank. what bulb will you power with it? the 175 watt halide bulb you bought?

 

[Ef3s]

I put a metal halide bulb in it...so it's not merc vap...

 

[ChrisRD]

I think what X is referring to is the first part of your post...

Bought a 175 watt merc vapor ballast looks like a mini street light.

Bought a 175 metal halide bulb from aqua store.

If it's actually a MV ballast, then it's not the correct ballast to drive the lamp. The 175 watt MV lamps are designed to be run on ANSI H39 ballasts. Most 175 watt metal halide lamps found in the hobby are designed to be driven by ANSI M57 ballasts.

 

[frh674]

I think what X is referring to is the first part of your post...

Bought a 175 watt merc vapor ballast looks like a mini street light.

Bought a 175 metal halide bulb from aqua store.

If it's actually a MV ballast, then it's not the correct ballast to drive the lamp. The 175 watt MV lamps are designed to be run on ANSI H39 ballasts. Most 175 watt metal halide lamps found in the hobby are designed to be driven by ANSI M57 ballasts.

your wrong... you can run 175w probe start metal halide bulbs on an h39 ballast with no problems at all it's the same ballast. the difference between the h39 and the m57 is that the m57 usually come with a capacitor but you dont actually need it

look at my website and see the pictures I have 1 running with a capacitor and one with out both h39's

 

[Ef3s]

I was told as long as it is "MOGUL" based (Biggest bulb) it will work...my friend who helped me is far from an electrician..(neither am I..) but it works...


WHen I plug it in nothing happens for a few minutes then it turns on! I am already sick of looking at it though lol...and seems like a fire hazard....

 

[frh674]

I was told as long as it is "MOGUL" based (Biggest bulb) it will work...my friend who helped me is far from an electrician..(neither am I..) but it works...


WHen I plug it in nothing happens for a few minutes then it turns on! I am already sick of looking at it though lol...and seems like a fire hazard....

that... mogul part is wrong.. there are mogul bulbs with ballast that will not fire halides... any lps/hps ballast cannot fire metal halides/mercury vapor bulbs... Ive tried :|


the reason it takes a long time to start is because you dont have a capacitor add one and it will fire faster. shouldnt cost more then 5-8 dollars

you need one thats 0.95uf, 90°c temp or higher , 120v if you want it to fire faster.. not really needed

 

[ChrisRD]

your wrong... you can run 175w probe start metal halide bulbs on an h39 ballast with no problems at all it's the same ballast. the difference between the h39 and the m57 is that the m57 usually come with a capacitor but you dont actually need it

There are plenty of cases where a ballast will fire a lamp it's not intended to operate. This doesn't make it the right ballast for the lamp.

I'm no lighting expert, but a quick look at the spec sheets at www.advancetransformer.com shows different voltage/current parameters and different capacitors for these ballasts. Also, M57 are generally CWA type ballasts where H39 are available in several versions (both CWA and HX-NPF). So, it appears that M57 ballasts <> H39 ballasts in general.

For those reading, be advised that running a lamp on the incorrect ballast (even though it may light the lamp) can lead to problems like premature wearing and/or spectral shift of the lamp, under/over driving of the lamp, unreliable ignition, etc.

If your setup is working for you, that's great - just trying to make others aware who may be reading that there's a reason for the different spec designations.

 

[Anonymous]

Bought a 175 watt merc vapor ballast looks like a mini street light.

$26!

Bought a 175 metal halide bulb from aqua store...

$22!

Electric tape to cover the dawn/dusk sensor...
$.99!

IF I had a hood which I don't you wouldn't be able to see it's ugly silver case... Seems like this is the much more economical idea than wasting $400 on a built one....

FOR $46 I could have bought the 400W version of the mini street light...

Do people just not know about this...? Or whats the deal!!

Forgot
$2.99 for chains and hook to hang from ceiling....

I wish you luck. Just because it is cheap does not mean it is the correct item for what you are intending to do. Like Chris said you may not have the correct bulb to ballast pair, the bulb you got may make you tank look like someone took a leak in it, it may not have the correct light spec to grow corals, etc, etc, etc.

This is not a cheap hobby. It is alot less expensive to buy the correct stuff the first time. I am speaking from experience on this.

 

[Ef3s]

Like Chris said you may not have the correct bulb to ballast pair, the bulb you got may make you tank look like someone took a leak in it,

I bought a 10k spectrum bulb.

that... mogul part is wrong.. there are mogul bulbs with ballast that will not fire halides... any lps/hps ballast cannot fire metal halides/mercury vapor bulbs... Ive tried

You're right! I would have bought the HPS ballast (was a little cleaner looking) but he told me it wouldn't work..!

the reason it takes a long time to start is because you dont have a capacitor add one and it will fire faster. shouldnt cost more then 5-8 dollars

Where would I add this capacitor ..?