Mercury Vapour Lowbays

[johnlfc]

Found this link through a search.
I have 2 lowbays that I purchased which have Mercury Vapour ballasts that I thought I could not use. But after reading this I am hopefull I can actually use Iwasaki bulbs 6500k.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=624185

So I suppose I have 2 questions.

1. Have I read the detail properly that means I can use the lights.
2. Does anyone currently use the Iwasaki bulbs?

I suppose at 6500 they may appear quite yellow? But I could always run additional actinic lighting to achieve the correct balance I asume.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers
John

[Reef bloke]

I wouldnt be to sure if id like to try mate.I cant find any text to suggest that Iwasaki's run on mercury vapour ballasts in those links as they are quite long threads.The lamps would also need quite a bit of actinic to balance out the look of them though,growth would be excellent mind.

[johnlfc]

I took the text from the first link http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=201570

It listed EYE ballasts are Mercury Vapor Balasts and run Iwasaki bulbs.

I am asuming this is the type of ballasts in the lights I incorrectly purchased but will need to check when I get home tonight.

Further into the thread it states Iwasaki Bulbs are in fact still classed as MH bulbs but should be run on Mercury Vapor ballasts.

Dont mind having to supplement with extra actinic if it means I can make use of the lights I had purchased that I had asumed had turned into wasted money.

The tank will be behind a wall so I can hang as much as needed over the tank without worrying about the look.

Cheers for the reply.
John

[Reef bloke]

Interesting,SiG is more experienced in such matters than i am so hopefully he(or another member in the know) will come on later.If the info is correct then those lowbays might be in for some use mate.
Fingers crossed Tony

[ickypimp]

as i remember (this coult be total *******s so dont take it as law) mercury vapour ballasts change the spectral output of MH lamps ... i seem to remember it ups the UV emmision by too much

[kim]

It's true that the Iwasaki are designed like MV lamps so will run on an MV ballast. Whether this will affect the UV output ?

I think that you'd better ask Iwasaki.

kim

[johnlfc]

Cheers for the replies fellas.

I have spoken to Yoshi at Iwasaki today and he has assured me that so long as I am using glass cover shields (which I have) and the light fitting does not have an Ignitor (which I need to check) then all will be fine and their 6500k bulb will be suitable.

If the ignitor is fitted in the lamp I just need to remove this as the bulb supplied has the ignitor within.

Just wanted to report back with the answers as this may benefit others in a similar situation.

Cheers
John