Metal Halide Lights
Contents:
[M] lots of questions
by rbrown-at-bbn.com (Ralph Brown) (28 Apr 92)
Metal Halides on the cheap? (found some)
by rivan-at-bnr.ca (Robert Ivan) (Wed, 24 Mar 93)
Metal Halides on the cheap? (found some) ...
Metal Halide Lights - Very brilliant and broad-spectrum lights used in some Planted Tanks for growing plant species that demand high-intensity light to thrive, and in saltwater Reef Aquariums.
Milt - Fish semen.
Metal halide lights offer very intense, high lumen lighting that requires care in use. They mimic sunlight by putting off a dancing luminescent glow that is unique to aquarium lighting.
Fluorescent Lighting
Compact Lighting ...
Metal Halide lights should not be placed closer than 30 cm to the water surface, or they will overheat the tank.
Glossary ...
Do not confuse these with metal halide lights. heater A device to warm the aquarium water. They are available as submersible heaters, over-the-side heaters, and under tank coils. internal filters Any filter operated inside the fish tank.
Another lighting option for aquariums are metal halide lights, or M.H. lighting. Metal halide lighting requires special ballasts and special fixtures, and the lights use a lot of energy and produce a lot of heat.
Metal Halide Lighting: Metal halide lights are a type of light bulb that emits very white and very bright light. They require a special fixture and ballast.
metal halide is a must have for reef tanks as the corals have a symbiotic relation with algae that lives with them, the metal halide lights promote the growth of this algae.
- Rest of Building: Lobby = metal halide lights. Offices, library, halls, other areas = 4 foot fluorescent fixtures, cool white. Auditorium = flood light fixtures on dimmer switch. Outside = flood or mercury vapor lights.
The metal halide lights are on 9 hours a day set a different time intervals and the VHO bulbs are on 10 hours a day. At night when all the lights are out, I have 2 Custom Sealife Moonlights and 2 7W blue bulbs I bought from Lowes.
Ballast: A power source required for fluorescent and metal halide lights. They are highly specialized and each type of light requires its own type of ballast.
This is particularly true if you are using metal halide lights, as these get tremendously hot while turned on. This method will not help with temperature fluctuations, but it will help if your water is getting too hot.
In most saltwater applications, the lighting intensity will be greater and if there are no competing organisms (corals, anemones), algae has all the light it needs. Many actinic and metal halide lights will require replacement after 6 months.
This assumes that you are american and that your tank is of average size and that you are using standard T8 flourescent lighting. So how does this relate to T5 or Metal Halide lights? How does it work in nano tanks or really large tanks?
online forums and learn how to use the search engines to find reviews on these expensive aquarium lighting fixtures. For example, you could use "Metal Halide Aquarium Light Review" in the google search box to pull back reviews on metal halide lights.
 See also: Metal halide, Aquarium, Fish, Water, Lighting
  
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