How do you like the Icecap 250w Metal Halide ballast

[jman77]

Hello Guys,

I'm trying to decide what to do. I have a 58g tank with dual 250hqi's and think it's a bit too much. I'm thinking of switching the ballasts to Electronics. Do you think this will run the bulbs noticeably cooler ? Also, have anyone of you that have gone the HQI to E ballast route notice a big difference in your light bill ?

 

[thereefgeek]

Love 'em (I'm running three 250's and a 660 for my VHO).

They run cool to the touch (maybe 110-120 degrees) compared to the cap & core style ballasts. I don't know about running the actual bulbs cooler.

 

[MarksReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7507004#post7507004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thereefgeek
Love 'em (I'm running three 250's and a 660 for my VHO).

They run cool to the touch (maybe 110-120 degrees) compared to the cap & core style ballasts. I don't know about running the actual bulbs cooler.

Same here.

 

[horkn]

2x250 on a 58g?

that is a ton of light.

and heat.

the only way to drop a good amount of heat is to drop the wattage of your MH bulbs.
the e ballasts will run cooler than the magnetics, but the ligths still are going to be hot

 

[jman77]

Don;t the HQI's put in an exrta 40 watts into the bulbs...so they run them hotter ? ??

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7507070#post7507070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by horkn
2x250 on a 58g?

that is a ton of light.

and heat.

the only way to drop a good amount of heat is to drop the wattage of your MH bulbs.
the e ballasts will run cooler than the magnetics, but the ligths still are going to be hot

1x250 on a 58 is tough without going to a lumenarc or similar, just not enough spread.


You're dropping 100 w+ going from cap and coil to electronics, so yeah, you'll lose like 1/6th of the heat.


I run a similar setup, but one Icecap, one ARO. I can't see a difference.

 

[jman77]

Is the Aro a HQI ballast ....

 

[oneil]

my bulbs hood seems to have more heat with my icecap balast but i still love em.

 

[jman77]

I'm going to go the icecap route as soon as i can sell off my HQI ballasts

 

[richfavinger]

I run 2x 250 XM10k SE Lamps off my IceCap 250's
IceCap 660 for the VHO's (2x 110w URI's)
Love the setup on my 75g... and IceCap support is A+

 

[smcdonn]

Check out affordablelighting.com. I bought the electronic ballasts that they sell and there are rumors that they are the exact same ballast as the IceCaps. I love mine.

Sean

 

[jman77]

Where did you hear that they might be the same ballast ?

 

[scbadiver]

I have 3 250W MH and 16' of VHO (660) from icecap and have been very happy with them. I'd buy them again.