Metal Halide and Home Depot?

[da1jewfish]

Hi all,
I went to Home Depot today and looked at some halogen fixtures. Would these work for like a 250 watt bulb? Since halogen produce a lot of heat, I could take a wild guess and say it might work, any ides?
Also, what are the differences between HQI and metal halide?

[Reefscape]

The normal halogen bulbs that you buy from home improvemnt store are not the correct bulbs for marine tanks. The colour temp is all wrong....

I wish they would work..i would be able to make 250w fixture for like $40..

one of the main differences between HQI and Metal halide is that HQI bulbs are not encased in glass, so they have to encorporate a UV shield..HQI are common for emitting UV rays...That is my understanding of them..Am totally sure that if that is not correct, some one will shout up and say...

Niko

[da1jewfish]

ok, so the UV shield is better than the glass on metal halides?

I'm sorry I think you missunderstood me.... I am talking about the fixtures, do you guys think that a 250 watt metal halide bulb would work in a halogen fixture from like Home Depot?

[LordsSoilder]

At $50 a pop on good Halide bulbs I wouldn't risk it...

Halides need the right amount of voltage to start up and then considerably less to keep them running... they are like flourescents... If you don't get it right youll either blow your bulb, fty your ballast or it simply won't work...

So to answer your question ( NO DO NOT USE HALLOGEN BALLAST/FIXTURES W/ HALIDE BULBS )

Just My Opinion of course... I've never tried it...
But I've never tried bathing with a hair dryer either and thats worked out for me so far...

Halides are great and you can get them for a good price online..
-LS

[Germanman]

it may..but i would go with the real ballast at least...sockets arent to important as long as they are in the right range...but a homedepo ficture...bad idea in my book.