Metal halide/sfiligoi experts help!

[Hoodrich]

Hello all. I am currently running a sfiligoi xr4 with a 400w icecap ballast and 400w radium bulb. I was wondering if I switch out the ballast with 250w e ballast and switch out my bulb to a 250w radium bulb woud it work? Are the sockets interchangeable between a 250w and 400w bulb? Is there anything else i need to do to the fixture for it to work? I have searched this subject and can't find anything on it. I can't even locate a sfiligoi manual online.

Thanks

 

[sirreal63]

Yes you can, the socket is the same and you can also get a ballast that is switchable between 250 watt and 400 watt so in the future you only have to change the bulb and the switch on the ballast.

 

[Hoodrich]

I don't need to mess with any jumpers in the fixture? I was reading something about jumpers but I can't find a manual online.

 

[sirreal63]

You are not using a Sfiligoi ballast, there should be no jumpers between your bulb and ballast, nor anything to "jump".

 

[Hoodrich]

Would u rather use a 400w radium on am icecap ballast or a 250w on a m80? This is for a 36x36x24 cube?

 

[sirreal63]

The 400 will have a little more PAR but not a massive amount, what it will have is 150 watts more heat. You may like the color better with the 400, some do prefer it but either way is perfectly fine. With the T5's you will be able to tailor the look to suit you with either bulb. The 250 with M80 is a great combination and if it were my tank it is what I would use along with T5 Actintics. It is a matter of preference and electrical consumption. The reflector on that fixture is a great one so there isn't a lot to be gained with the 400 and you may find the bulbs last longer with the 250.

 

[Hoodrich]

Ok. Ty! Any reason why actinic supplement over blue plus?

 

[sirreal63]

The Radium is short on 420nm and it is an important wavelength.

 

[Hoodrich]

Ty sir! I appreciate your advice! Have a good day.