best ballast for the buck

[xdusty6920]

i have an upgrade coming up. the tank will be 30" deep and i plan to use 250w mh's on it. i know i want 20k xm se bulbs, and i know im going with LAIII's for reflectors but im undecided on what the best ballast to get while still staying cost effective. im leaning towards pfo but if there is a better option id like to hear it. TIA

 

[xdusty6920]

anyone?

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

m58 is the way to go - imo

 

[xdusty6920]

i have a few m-58 ballast right now that came with a hamilton technologys setup. where can i find just the ballast?

 

[want2reef]

I've been running EVC ballast going on 3 years now, luv em.

My setup is Phoenix bulbs with ROIII pendants, best setup I have had so far.

 

[Naturebatslast]

hellolights.com
Check it out.

 

[horkn]

i have heard good things about the EVC ballast.

good enough vs other ballasts that I will likely get one for my mh/t5 lit 90g.

 

[ddenham]

Would most of you guys prefer EVC ballast over Icecap electronic?

 

[strittmatter]

I would take IC any day of the week. They have awsome Customer Service and really stand behind their products.

 

[xdusty6920]

im pretty unfamiliar with the evc ballasts. do they fire SE bulbs? would this be a good ballast to push xm 20k's?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7416891#post7416891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by strittmatter
I would take IC any day of the week. They have awsome Customer Service and really stand behind their products.

they dont make the ballast, they just re sell it.

there are a few threads on the IC ballast not firing certain bulbs. Also, if you look at sanjays website, you will find the IC doesnt make the best PAR either.
but i do like the fact that they stand behind what they sell.

 

[M. Python]

Go to an electrical supply store and get a 250 watt or whatever watt you want ballast for around fifty bucks.

 

[zapata41]

i would go with the IC ballast. the 400w version are the same as the EVC tech and the reef fanatic.

Tim

 

[xdusty6920]

im only doing 250w's all around though.

 

[powdertang05]

i have used icecap and PFO for all my tanks and friends tanks they are the best overall cheap but you need to keep in mind also that if you buy a cheap ballast it may work but how long compaired to what you would get out of the life of a icecap or PFO ive had a PFO for almost 5 years not a single problem ive had the ice caps for sometime now and in my mind they are the two best ones money can buy.

 

[HaroldT]

I would go with the M58 ballasts - either PFO or Hamilton. I have had good luck with both.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7418276#post7418276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
they dont make the ballast, they just re sell it.

there are a few threads on the IC ballast not firing certain bulbs. Also, if you look at sanjays website, you will find the IC doesnt make the best PAR either.
but i do like the fact that they stand behind what they sell.

IC dont make the most par because they dont draw NEARLY the same amount of energy as the Magnetic ones.

An icecap is drawing 250w. A magnetic? Like 330. The 10% difference in Par is OK by me.

 

[eckrynock]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2004/review20.htm

Looks like M58 is the way to go for these bulbs. PFO ballasts are nice but if you're any kind of DIYer, I buy "naked" Advance ballasts from hellolights.com and build my own ballast box.