What is this ? Coralife.

[RandomGemini]

Picture one is NOT metal halides. Yes, you can use the tek light for orchids. I'm not sure why you would spend extra money on a marine fixture. Aquatic fixtures are often twice what you would pay for a plant fixture from Hydrofarm.

[Trollsvans]

RG: If you look closely, yes it is. They're hard to see with the glare from the moonlights, but they're there indeed.
Had the halides been turned on, it would of course be another matter.

The other part I fully agree with: if you don't already have the teklight, get a cheaper one, or build your own.
Marine aquatics tech is usuriously overpriced.

[Ashleyma23]

I found these on the curb around my house and I didn't know what they were but thought I could you them for orchids or fish.

[Trollsvans]

Freebies!
As long as they actually work, go ahead.
Or, check the function, then sell them to a reefer; they're often willing to spend half a kidney on tech.
Buy something more suitable for the winnings.

They're most likely overkill for everything except the most lightloving species, and they're not exactly cheap to run, neither regarding the leccy bill nor new lights.

That's probably the more "correct" end to begin in: what plants do you intend to grow?

[Ashleyma23]

Originally Posted by Trollsvans

Freebies!
As long as they actually work, go ahead.
Or, check the function, then sell them to a reefer; they're often willing to spend half a kidney on tech.
Buy something more suitable for the winnings.

They're most likely overkill for everything except the most lightloving species, and they're not exactly cheap to run, neither regarding the leccy bill nor new lights.

That's probably the more "correct" end to begin in: what plants do you intend to grow?

That was my intention either they were ok to use or sell them.

If they are expensive to run , I wouldn't use them for any plants unless I had solar panels.

I don't have too many orchids , catts, two dends, B Nodosa, oncidiums, zygos.

It was just an idea.

I appreciate all the input ! Thanks All

[Trollsvans]

In that case, you're a fair few steps out into Overkill Country with 430 watts of lighting.
Not sure about prices in US, but over here 54W T5's cost the eqivalent of $20-25 and metal halides some $80-90.. and they all need to be changed annually... and then add the leccy bill to that

Unless you've got really crappy weather conditions most of the year, I'd recommend you sell them (to buy more orchids, of course)

[RandomGemini]

Metal Halides are not cheap to run. I had them over my aquarium for years. When I shut down the tank, the power bill the next month was a hundred dollars cheaper. Power is pretty cheap where I live, since most of it's hydro.

Apparently, I just couldn't see the MH bulbs in the first pic on my phone. So yes, that is an MH fixture. My apologies.

A few things about MH. They get hot. You will need sufficient air movement around the bulbs. They require a pane of glass between the bulb and your skin and even then you CAN get sunburned under them. If the glass is not installed, this fixture is USELESS for MH. I would not run these around small children whether the glass is there or not unless it is contained inside some kind of canopy where children and pets cannot access it. They will burn themselves on those lights. I got so many burns just by brushing my arm against my lights when I went to feed my fish.

Metal halide bulbs vary in expense, depending on the type. This unit has HQI bulbs in it. You're looking at around 50$ a bulb, and they do have to be replaced annually. I would not buy bargain basement on these bulbs. These bulbs can and do explode if even one thing is out of place in manufacture. I would get Ushio or XMs and I had the best luck with the Ushio bulbs, but I believe they have been discontinued. You might get lucky and find a few of them on clearance racks.

The other issue, is that the color temp on these lights is optimized toward the blue end of the spectrum, more often than not. Corals need actinic light. Orchids, do not. You'll be wasting some energy on that.

You can, however, just not operate the MH portion of the fixture and use the power compacts to light your orchids. Bulbs for that run much more into the spectrum needed to grow orchids and start at 15$.