Mercury vapor??

[Reefdude]

I've been doing alot of research only to find that the 6500 iwasaki is meant to be run off of a mercury vapor ballast. Does anyone have this setup and if so how do they like it?? Also, where is the best place in S.A. to find one of the ballast..I already checked Lowes/H.D. and they didnt have any.

ben

[TexasState]

I don't know where to find it around SA. But, they run fine under regular ballast. I would use a regular balalst so you are not stuck with the Mercury Vapor ballast if you don't like yout 250W Iwasaki.

Check out my old 29 gallon tank, with regular PFO ballast & 65K Iwasaki:
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/pfo29-takendown.jpg
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/29gallon-takendown.jpg
Check out some of those same corals, under VHO:
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/40gallon-alreadysold.jpg

Check out some of those same corals under a 175Watts Hamilton Ballast & 10K Bulb:
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/20gallon-mhpendant-alreadysold.jpg

Check out some of the same corals under under the 65Watts Lights of America PC from _______. The LOA didn't last too long, it's now a blinking Strobe light after I dip it in water.
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/20gallon-loa-65w.jpg

Dont' get stuck with that MV ballast.

[Reefdude]

I am running a PFO ballast right now with my iwasaki and its a new bulb...is that why its so yellow compared to your picture?? will it whiten up???

[TexasState]

MV does burn your bulb a little more whiter. But if you're used to seeing 20K Radium, or 10K b4 you run your Iwasaki, your bulb will look yellow with either ballast choice. Don't expect MV to burn your Iwasaki to look like 10K bulb. Instead of buying another ballast. Get some actinic light for you tank to add to the 65K. Adding Four VHO is best( but might run you into heat problem.)

IF you can't afford to add 4 VHO, add two T8 Actnic Blue bubls. The Blue help to ballance out the yellow best. Of course, Blue might not give you the best Florescent effects when compare to URI Superactic 03 (purple.)

[Henry]

If your looking for a mercury vapor ballast, one can be located at Graybar, which is located at 1223 N hackberry here in san antonio
I used them to make a diy kit for two 250 watt setup, total price was about $150. there is a link to another website for this diy project.

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/rpi.html

good luck

Henry

[dow]

Henry,

How do you like this DIY system? Are you running with actinics? How is coral growth with these lights? Do you have any complaints?

Thanks!

[dow]

Gene, are you using any additional lighting? how would you compare the way your tank looks to one running 10,000k lights? Did you get your lamps locally too, or just the ballasts?

[Henry]

Dow,
I loved the setup, it was very easy to use and install(not to mention light on my wallet :D ) and my corals loved it. I also runs some actinics as well. I recently sold my setup to a friend but i'm going to build one w/two 400 watt bulbs if possible. Also someone on ebay is selling the same setup already wired w/the same ballast that i used. (advanced transformer). If your not sure about doing the wiring you might want to check out ebay, I think they also come w/some kind of warranty. Let me know if I can help.

Henry

[R.Allard]

Anyone looking for the advance ballast to run the 6500 250w iwasakis
i have a place i can buy the balast for $46.10 ea.
also i found a vho ballast that will run 2 48in atanic blue VHOs for arround 70 bucks its not an icecap but youll save about 130 bucks...

[Henry]

R. Allard

Do you know of a good price on the 400watt dual advanced transformer? Thanks

[R.Allard]

Henery ill ask it would help if you had a # for the ballast your looking for.
Ill ask my supply ppl though.
R

[Henry]

Sorry, here is the ballast number. Ballast Part # 71A4300 advanced transformer. thanks for the help

Thanks


Henry

[djdubdub]

Hey Reefdude...

Lowes at 1604 and Blanco has a Mercury Vapor lamp... Is this what you are looking for???

They also have 175w, 250w and 400w mogul MH bulbs... Are these the bulbs everyone is using on their tanks??? What are they comparable to??? How would you go about finding a ballast to run them???

Thanks...

[MikeP]

Djubdub - might want to check the temperature on those bulbs most of the ones I've seen the chain stores carry are <6500k.

[djdubdub]

How do you go about determining the temp of a bulb????

If it's not on the package, is there another way???

[R.Allard]

Here is the number for the metal halide 250w 65k iwasakis..
this # must be on the box the lamp comes in ..
MT250DLE-39/41R
the 41R is the designation for reef or so im told ....

[djdubdub]

Thanks R.A...

I was curious thought how to determine the temp of a bulb at Lowes... They had some 175w, 250w and 400w moguls...

And if they were "good" bulbs, how would one go about getting a ballast to run it???