need input on cheap mh idea

[pitahall]

so I have been thinking about a cheap idea for mh for a new tank setup.
what about the mh lamps you can buy for your living room or the shop light kind. my idea is to take the ballast and reflector and put it in a box. seems like it could work and you can get them for a little under 30$. beats 230$! even with the purchase of a new bulb at the right spectrum.

give my your ideas and thoughts but I think it could work

Pitahall

 

[Trogdor]

it should work. just be sure to get a new bulb that fits the socket. I would be sure to get some kind of cover to protect the bulb from splashing too.

 

[reefman23]

Which fixture are you looking at? Are you sure it is a metal halide lamp and not a sodium or mercury lamp?

Jesse

 

[pitahall]

what would the deference be between mh sodium or mercury the ballast shoud still work?
pitahall

 

[reefman23]

Mercury vapor and HPS (high pressure sodium) are not going to give off the proper spectrum and their ballasts wont work with MH lamps. I would check out illuming.com for some good quality MH retros. I have a 70 watt illuming retro that I can sell you if you would like. It comes with a 3 month old 20,000k Ushio lamp and electronic ballast. PM me if you are interested.

Jesse

 

[roughnready]

get a 500w quartz light from home depot and a mh 120v mh ballast from your local electric supplier of the wattage you want. and order a bulb off ebay or something like that just make sure it is a DE mh bulb.

Quartz fix- $25
ballast- $30
Bulb-$20

i have a few of these on my 600g and it works great! you might need a little help from a electrican to get it wire right. I am a electrcian it is completly safe. If you need help wiring it just PM me