?'s about retrofits

[hamdogg08]

I was looking at bulbs for retrofit kits. Up until now, I've been a fan of the sleek, overpriced big fixtures. My question is: what do you need? I assume

-Reflector
-Bulb
-Ballast
-Wiring

-How about a socket?... Or is that bart of the reflector

Also, could I run a 70 watt bulb in a 150 watt fixture, or would that fry the bulb right quick?

[cwk132]

You're talking about halides correct? Your list is correct with all that you need, and normally the reflector that you buy will come with a mogul (if using single ended bulbs) and a socket (double ended bulbs). If they don't you can buy them seperately as well. The retrofits will usually get you more bang for the buck compared to the fixtures which can get very expensive but look a lot nicer. More experienced people should be able to help out, but my brother and I have always used retrofits and always liked em. What size are you looking at getting?

[hypertech]

You will need a socket unless it comes as part of the reflector. I believe 70/150 use the same socket. There is a cheap DIY conversion for those $10 halogen shop lamps you can do for a 70W.

Remember the DE bulbs don't have UV protection so you will need it to be behind a piece of glass.

If you run a 70W bulb on a 150W ballast, I would expect it to blow in short order. I don't know why you want to do that. If you want a 150, get a 150 bulb/ballast - otherwise get a 70 bulb/ballast.

[74oldsguy]

Reflectors make a big difference as well. If you can afford a reflector like a luminarc rather then spider reflectors. Luminarcs comewith glass to shield UV if you get double ended bulbs and you would have far better growth and would be much brighter.

[hamdogg08]

The reason I'm asking is that I'm taking down my 20H, and making a 10 gallon Zoanthid tank, and a 75 gallon softy tank. I have a 150 watt double ended sun pod for the 20, and a Compact Flourescent for the 75. I'm thinking 150 is a bit much on a ten gallon tank, and am weighting the cost/benefits of keeping the sunpod versus trading it off for something else.

[hamdogg08]

So would the 150 MH light over a ten gallon tank be too much, or am I OK with doing that??

[hypertech]

I would use what you have. The worst case is that you would need to lift it up a little higher.

I've seen some of the knuckleheads who need to prove how tough they are in the "watts per gallon" pissing contest put a 400W over a 10G and sometimes smaller.

[gitsumpottery]

I would use what you have. The worst case is that you would need to lift it up a little higher.

I've seen some of the knuckleheads who need to prove how tough they are in the "watts per gallon" pissing contest put a 400W over a 10G and sometimes smaller.

But that's ridiculous and you would have to really lift that light off the tank! (400w I mean)


I did a 70w and 150w over a 7g and I prefer the 70w. Especially for zoas...

[wes]

use whatchu got. otherwise, you can use the same socket, reflector and wiring from your 150 and just swap out the bulb and ballast for a 70.

[hamdogg08]

I've seen ballasts that read "will run bulbs up to: XXXwatts" Does the bulb fry the ballast, or does the ballast fry the bulb?

From the sound of it, I can't just switch the bulb out to something that's a little less harsh/hot, correct?

[hypertech]

The ballast will fry the bulb and/or cut down on its useful life. If it doesn't blow it, it will seriously overdrive it. Plus, the arc to start it could be way to strong - I'm not sure what the differences are between 70/150.

Seriously, just run the 150. If you have to, put it 8-10" above the tank.

[hamdogg08]

K, just didn't want to have some Zoanthid soup simmering or anything like that.

X_x

[hypertech]

That's not likely with an open top like you would have with a sunpod. Mine is in a closed canopy in the BC29 and my temp seems to stay around 82-83 now that I've got my fans working right again. Open up the top and you won't have heat problems.

[wes]

I had a 70 just a few inches from the surface with zero heat gain. It's all about keeping the air moving.

FWIW you can fire 150 bulbs at 100watts with a 100watt ballast, and 70 watt bulbs at 50 watts with a 50w ballast. it's not quite as efficient, but if you're looking for something in between, there are options. You could just buy a 100 watt ballast and otherwise use the exact same setup for a little less heat/energy/power.

[hamdogg08]

I think I'll just go with the 150 sunpod, and keep and keep an eye on the temp for the time being.

I remember someone saying "get what you want, and nothing less" in relation to reef tanks. I'm taking down the 20 for that reason, setting up two tanks with the scraps that I have laying around, and am going to be setting up a 125RR tank. That way I can have room for ca reactor, and kalkwasser, and all the other stuff to have a super sweet SPS tank, while still having fish that aren't limited to damsels and firefish. Everything cool needs a big tank, and going so small wasn't really a fulfilling experience for me.

Onward and upward!!