Halogen Lights

[Pinkfish]

Im kinda strapped for cash at the moment, could one use Halogen floodlights instead of Halide lighting or is there a big difference.

I have found 500W Halogen floodlight for 8.99 at argos surely they can be addapted for marine use or not ???

Or would I be better off buying a halide floodlight and changing the bulb?

Whats the difference .... effect on a tank for 10000k, 14000k and 20000k bulbs


...... I have a steep learning curve :O
Many Thanks in advance
Mike

[Pinkfish]

I currently have an Arcadia I bar T5 60inch long with 46inch marine white 14000k and Twin 46inch Actinic Lights for a 60x24x18 tank.

For the sump I am using Twin T8 lights that I aquired.

[Dons1903]

I think the problem with Halogen is that the light will have the wrong colour spectrum. They are designed for outdoor use and so will have a low colour temperature of around 3000K and give a very yellow light. I believe that corals need light closer to natural sunlight at 6400K or higher.

The higher the colour temperature the 'bluer', and hence more natural, the light will look. However the higher the temperature the more light moves outside our visible spectrum, so a 150W 20,000K bulb will not look as bright to us as a 150W 10,000K bulb (but it will to the fish/corals).

You can save money but building your own MH lighting system. You can use outdoor enclosures, but will need to by metal halide starter units and bulbs.

[Tangman]

Hi Mike, Have you thought about Lowbays they are ok for fish/ corals etc and dont cost the earth, most of the large systems use them do a search on Google. HTH. Eric

[Pinkfish]

Cool, have checked them out, many thanks, they come out at around 100pounds per light inc marine bulb. I think I will check out the discarded lights at work and see what I can salvage ... glass screen broken wires cut ect.

I know that they where halide floodlights with D/E bulbs will have to wait until I get back from the algarve in 2 weeks time


Cheers Tangman, and Dom, u guys truely are a wealth of knowledge ;) ;)