Ballasts

[fatboyt123]

well i am setting up my 155 gallon bow-front and trying to figure out my lights.The one thing i really need to know is what brand of ballast to get.I am going to be going with 3 250watt on this tank.

What brand do you guys like that are 250watts.Something that is not very loud,not to heavy, and doesnt take up to much space.

and not very pricey

thanks

 

[jjk_reef00]

What type of bulbs are you going to use?
That makes a big difference.

 

[fatboyt123]

SE

 

[fatboyt123]

nobody likes ballasts

 

[James77]

Is there a specific brand of bulb you are wanting? That would dictate electronic or HQI. If you are going electronic Icecap, galaxy, aro are all good names. HQI would be Sunlight Supply Bluewaves.

 

[mg426]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14937522#post14937522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjk_reef00
What type of bulbs are you going to use?
That makes a big difference.

That how I see things too.

 

[HaroldT]

I dont like Sunlight ballasts - too many issues I had with those. Bad capacitors and problems with their switches.

 

[reefdude135]

If you use SE and magnetic ballasts (hamilton, PFO, etc) use a non-HQi because magnetic HQI sucks a lot of electricity, overdrive bulbs, and run hot. The XM 20k works great. Avoid the XM 15k.

On electronic ballasts, a lot of people really like the Radium 20k.

Both of these can run with limited or no actinic supplements.

 

[derek4real]

Lumateks, have my vote.

 

[James77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14939835#post14939835 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefdude135
If you use SE and magnetic ballasts (hamilton, PFO, etc) use a non-HQi because magnetic HQI sucks a lot of electricity, overdrive bulbs, and run hot. The XM 20k works great. Avoid the XM 15k.

On electronic ballasts, a lot of people really like the Radium 20k.

Both of these can run with limited or no actinic supplements.

Radiums run at their spec wattage on HQI ballasts, as will any HQI bulb. Running the Radium on electronics causes it to run blue-er with a loss in output.

A HQI ballast running radiums will draw 333 watts from the wall- and mine barely gets warm.