METAL HALIDE AND SODIUM LIGHTS

[qjim206]

so @ work we just finnished a lighting upgrade and replaced all of our halide lights and sodiums with t5ho Fluorescents for energy savings. well i was thinking abought using a few of these for my tanks any ideas on what i would have to do in order to make these work?

 

[Lateral Line]

I think the question really is what kind of tank do you have in mind?

Commercial producers use Sodiums, but they are not interested in colour rendition, where Sodiums are very poor. Halogens produce a lot of high energy radiation which stimulates algae. Both run very hot and in an enclosed hood can create real problems.

 

[qjim206]

i curently have a 55g african cichlid tank im thinking about using them on and maybe setting up a fish only sw tank.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

isnt this kinda dangerous? Na is an alkali metal, and all alkali metals react violently with h20 or moisture. ive never seen a sodium light before though, so i might be wrong

 

[Lateral Line]

I expect you have seen thousands of Sodium lamps, you just didn't realise it! Sodium lamps come in 2 basic types low pressure and high pressure. Low pressure Sodium lamps are the "yellow" street lamps that were very common in past decades. They produce a lot of light for the power and last a long time, that is why they were so popular.

High pressure Sodium lamps are now used for street lighting and in warehouse type situations. They have many of the desirable characteristics of low pressure lamps, but have a better colour rendition, although compared to natural light, it is still very poor, things look weird colours under them, although not as weird as the older models.

 

[andywg]

Halides are a favorite for reef tanks, and I have recently installed them on my FW planted tank, though I'd make sure their not overpowered. I use 150W on an 18" deep tank. Much more would be overkill.

You will have to watch the temperature and algae growth with the extra juice though.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

only ones that ive seen are in street lamps i guess. never acualy got to see the bulb though.

 

[Silly me]

Metal Halides lights comes in all sorts of colors. 2700K, 4100K, 5500K, 10 000K and 15 000K

If you could use the starter unit, you have the expensive part. you could just get a new 5500K light, and you would have what most plant keepers dream.

 

[Lateral Line]

You'd still have the heating problems in an enclosed hood. A lot of people that use halides have open topped tanks and the lamps in a pendant type arrangement.

 

[Silly me]

if you get them for free I would still get them, you never know, one day you, WILL, use them. lol

 

[Lateral Line]

LOL. I used to have a philosophy like that.... until the garage was completely full.

 

[Great Lakes]

Depends on what kind of Halides they are. Sodiums are really not worth the effort, but Halides can be.

You could be sitting on a gold mine really. Find out what wattage the halides are, and what kind of wiring they have. They are most likely 220V which will make them even less desireable, but you never know.

GL