Ballasts!!! Ahh, Too Many Choices...

[drummereef]

I'm in the planning stages for a 180 (72x24x24) build. I know I want 3 Lumenarc Mini Reflectors. I'm pretty sure I'm going with Hamilton 14k bulbs. But WHAT BALLASTs would you get to run this system? I don't even know where to start there are so many choices.




And, yes, I've read the FAQ.

 

[Jar*Head]

Are you planning on 250w or 400w? With hamilton bulb, you should go with Standard Magnetic ballast unless you want to over drive the bulb then go with HQI

 

[drummereef]

250 watt MH. Sorry, just a minor detail. :lol: Magnetic, really? Why not electronic ballasts with that bulb?

 

[Jar*Head]

Electronic is fine too. But don't expect much par out of Hammy 14K

 

[drummereef]

Any specific ballast brand you recommend? Ease of use is always a plus for me.

 

[Jar*Head]

For E-Ballast i like Ice Cap, for standard magnetic ballast or HQI ballast i like PFO even though I'm using Sunlight Supply Blue Wave VII in my tank now cuz i have no choice

 

[drummereef]

I've researched the Blue Wave ballasts some. What's the deal with them, why so special?

 

[Jar*Head]

Nothing really beside the Capacitator burn out a bit quicker then other ballast

 

[drummereef]

:lol: Ok. So I'll stick with IceCaps then.

 

[Jar*Head]

You may have to pay a little bit more compare to other E-Ballast but it worth the extra bucks. Awesome customer service........

 

[drummereef]

Are the 'pre-wired' ballasts in a box worth the extra cash? The only thing about IceCaps that scare me are the bare wires.

 

[Jar*Head]

If you are clumsy like me, i would go that route . couple extra bucks would safe you from getting shock. I got Zap a few times it is not fun.... esp with 400w HQI.

 

[drummereef]

Ok. Who makes a good Electronic in a box ballast then? PFO?

 

[Jar*Head]

I thought Icecap also offer prewired ballast. SLS has the galaxy ballast it is electronic, prewired, well built. Eric owner of Fragfarmer use them on all his system and he likes it.

 

[drummereef]

How about Coralvue? They are fairly cheap.

 

[hahnmeister]

PFO actually sells the Icecap ballast inside one of its aluminum boxes...
code 'IC'...
http://www.pfolighting.com/AqBallasts.aspx

Otherwise, I like the EVC ballasts... cheaper, and if you compare to the other e-ballasts on Sanjay's site, it outperforms the Icecap on almost everything... even outdoes HQI on a couple bulbs. And unlike other ballasts where the spectral curve just moves up and down, some bulbs, the gain in output seems to augment just the blue/actinic spectra... its very unusual, but welcome.

For $99, its hard to beat.

On another note... why SE bulbs anyways? Now that you can get lumenarcDE fixtures, you can have the 'lumenarc' advantage added to all the advantages that DE bulbs have over SE bulbs. Then you can go HQI all the way...

 

[drummereef]

bump

 

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9295330#post9295330 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
PFO actually sells the Icecap ballast inside one of its aluminum boxes...
code 'IC'...
http://www.pfolighting.com/AqBallasts.aspx

Otherwise, I like the EVC ballasts... cheaper, and if you compare to the other e-ballasts on Sanjay's site, it outperforms the Icecap on almost everything... even outdoes HQI on a couple bulbs. And unlike other ballasts where the spectral curve just moves up and down, some bulbs, the gain in output seems to augment just the blue/actinic spectra... its very unusual, but welcome.

For $99, its hard to beat.

On another note... why SE bulbs anyways? Now that you can get lumenarcDE fixtures, you can have the 'lumenarc' advantage added to all the advantages that DE bulbs have over SE bulbs. Then you can go HQI all the way...

I hate you bro for knowing too much

 

[hahnmeister]

what juicy little tidbit did I elude to that got you hating?!?! Lol.

But yeah... the new lumenarc DEs are the bees-knees... best thing to happen to DE since the pheonix 14,000K IMO.
http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm
Priced to move too... $99 for the 150-250wattDE reflector only version, $129 for the full pendant for 250/400wattDE bulbs. FWIW, design-wise the Lumenarcs always seem to pull ahead of the lumenmax reflectors, or I would suggest the lumenmax3 as well... but Im sure REEFER714 can attest to the lumenarc's superiority as well.

 

[Jar*Head]

Oops, double post.