High pressure sodium lighting?

[suicidal_maniac]

Hello there, i have just set up my first reef tank with some t5 lights....
However I have a 400 watt high pressure sodium light with ballast etc lying about somewhere.. would this be any use for growing corals etc?

 

[steelhealr]

Not sure..the key is what is the lighting spectrum...do you know? SH

 

[andywg]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that some sodium lighting (I think it may be High Pressure Sodium) is actually more efficient at lumens per watt than Metal Halide.

I also recall that the lighting temperature is more towards natural sunlight (that urine yellow colour that is great for plant or coral growth, but nasty to look at...)

I may also be a mile off track so will cease now before opening myself to look a complete fool...

Andy

 

[suicidal_maniac]

well the light was used as a grow light for "exotic" weeds and is now sitting doing nothing...I think it would be suitable for growing corals or anything really, only thing that really worries me is the heat generated by it

 

[Navarre]

The heat generalte wont be much different to the heat caused my metal halides. However, you wil be looking at a tank who's water will look a tank full of cats wee

This is great for corals as its very close to natural light but it doesnt make for great viewing. )

 

[suicidal_maniac]

yip just switched it on...damb its bright!...its a 400 watt ballast and bulb...Think i might swap the bulb for a metal halide as it is very yellow...if thats possible...Just tried it with the T5`s on as well and it didnt look too bad.... )

 

[andywg]

You may find that if you supplement it with light at the higher end of the colour range it will look a little better (plenty of 10K, 14K and above).

As Nav said, it looks a little like cats wee but watt for watt is a lot better than Metal Halide. I think someone on another forum found that he could get rid of a 250W MH and use a 75W SD and still have more actual light reaching the tank.

 

[Navarre]

Be careful about mixing metal halide bulbs with sodium balasts. Im definately no expert in this field but i think you might find that the UV output reaches dangerous levels for the corals and fish.

I would much prefer you to find sodium bulbs that are designed for 10k or above, (if they make such a thing)

 

[Ed4567]

Way out of my knowledge however here is a long post about ballasts etc. (hope everyone is ok about the link) that might be of help:
http/www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=20165
It's mostly talking about mercury vapour ballasts but says that:

A sodium vapour ballast will also normally run a MH but it will over-current the MH lamp and lower its life.

 

[suicidal_maniac]

thanx i think i have sorted it all now...Ive managed to get a 10k bulb which should work with my gear