Could I upgrade Current PC fixture with MH?

I've got a 48" Current USA Orbit PC on my 120g. It's got 4 PC 65 watt bulbs in it. I got the idea to DIY it by removing 2 of the PC bulbs and installing 2 MH mogul types, probably 250w each. Keeping 2 of the PCs in there for actinic. Would probably go with Icecap ballasts. Question is whether the MH would be too hot. The light has one fan in it and the bulbs are protected with a plexi cover. Would there be any other potential problems I haven't thought about besides heat?

 

The plexi cover would definitely melt. I'm not sure what might happen with the rest of the fixture, but you may be able to make it work if you add some more fans for cooling.

 

im guessing you will have trouble fitting a retofit reflector for the MH in there and without it the bulbs will melt any plastic already in the fixture... interesting project anyway

 

I believe double end bulbs are cooler to run then moguls.. I thought I read that some where.. if you did DE bulbs, youd need to locate some small relfectors then you might beable to do it with proper cooling and glass MH cover.

 

just make sure that you put some sort of glass over the halides if you use double ended or the UV will fry things in top half of your tank over time. most single ended already have UV shielding built in (the name brands anyway)

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go ahead and get a new MH set up and sell my PC fixture instead of trying to DIY it.

 

good idea.. what MH fixture you going to get?

 

I ordered the 48" odyssea. 2 x 250 MH with 4 T5s and led moons. Will probably go with icecap ballast and phoenix 14K bulbs for it. Wanted an all in one fixture that was cheap enough where I can change out ballast and bulbs to my liking.