Megaray 70watt Metal Halide Setup Review

[jaf2212]

Speedy has been under his new bulb now since Sunday with big improvements he has gone into a full shed within 2 days and seems much more colourful.

This is how he looked when I first moved him



Since he has started shedding, he has gone a lovely lime/yellow colour (will post pics one he's finished shedding)

[jaf2212]

Just a quick update, will put more pics up soon. Speedy has gone into another shed already and eating me out of house and home, upto 2 bowls of salad a day some days.

The lamp has shown a big improvement in the activity and feeding habbits. I have found that these also need good connection and if in an extension lead would suggest they are in the 1st socket as they require a big charge to fire up. I did wire both MH to the same plug which caused a few issues, flickering and dullness, now wired to sperate plugs and working with no flickering

[jaf2212]

A quick update, not had the chance to get any upto date pics as Speedy has only just finished shedding for the second time in 8 weeks and I've been busy with work. When he gets fired up he is going a lovely lime/yellow colour and is far more active and eating loads (i have to hide anything yellow now as he see's it as food).

Atfer putting all my BD under Mega Rays, i will not be going back to normal uv tubes.

Will post new pics ASAP

[jaf2212]

Just a quick update, the test bulb and ballast packed up this month, I already have a replacement bulb and ballast fitted. The test bulb lasted around 17 months, however the newer bulbs seem a lot brighter than the 1st 2 batches of bulbs sold.

[BuzzzKilllington]

Is there an initial burn-in period needed for these metal halide bulbs? Is is possible to safely use one in an Ex48 Vivexotic (only 20" high)?

[Alon93]

How does the light intensity of this bulb compares to that of the 160W Megaray?

[jaf2212]

Originally Posted by BuzzzKilllington

Is there an initial burn-in period needed for these metal halide bulbs? Is is possible to safely use one in an Ex48 Vivexotic (only 20" high)?

There is no burn in period with these bulbs. It needs to be a min height of 2ft to use at the safe min distance anything smaller and it would not fit unless mounted on top of the viv

Originally Posted by Alon93

How does the light intensity of this bulb compares to that of the 160W Megaray?

The light is much brighter as these bulbs produce a higher lux outout

Originally Posted by UV Guide Review

At 12 inches, BMH11 is emitting approximately 70,000 lux and the two new lamps are emitting 110,000 – 120,000 lux.
For comparison, direct solar readings (the meter sensor pointing directly at the sun) five minutes after sunrise reach 3 – 5,000 lux.
Levels of 50,000 are reached within half an hour, and 100,000 lux is often recorded 2-3 hours later. In clear weather, mid-day direct
solar readings of 120,000 to 150,000 lux are often seen. Hence, these metal halide lamps produce the equivalent of full morning
sunlight at 12 inches distance.
In contrast, a typical 18-20watt UVB fluorescent tube produces around 500 lux at 12 inches distance, and a typical MegaRay 100watt
mercury vapour lamp produces between 12,000 – 16,000 lux at 12 inches.

[BuzzzKilllington]

Originally Posted by jaf2212

There is no burn in period with these bulbs. It needs to be a min height of 2ft to use at the safe min distance anything smaller and it would not fit unless mounted on top of the viv

Oh, is it a very tall bulb?

[jaf2212]

Originally Posted by BuzzzKilllington

Oh, is it a very tall bulb?

The bulb an holder are about 7inches in height

[BuzzzKilllington]

Originally Posted by jaf2212

The bulb an holder are about 7inches in height

Wow, that's pretty tall... I just hope they can cancel that viv order