Which would be better MH ballast

[moondoggy4]

I need to get two MH ballast 250 watt DE,
1) Aqua Medic M80 cube 250 watt X 2
2) Sunlight Supply BW II ballast Bluewave 7 dual HQI 250 watt
3) I will be running Phoenix bulbs

 

[Aquatron]

Not sure which is better I have a Blue Wave 7 that will be running my Maristar 2 fixture.

 

[moondoggy4]

I have the same fixture. I am concerned with the reliability of the SS ballast I guess the new switchable's ones are having problems and then of course no warranty.

 

[rc1626]

I currently am running both pushing 250 watt Radiums. With the Blue wave 7 the ballast is a tank and I've been running it for a couple of years now with no problems. They are hard to get these days due to not being manufactured anymore. Because it is a dual ballast I don't think you can run just one bulb. When I've tried the ballast hummed like crazy. The bulb fired but because of the hum I didn't want to hurt anything.

The AM Cube I just got and put on my frag tank. So far so good. It looks well built, is small, and is well ventilated with a fan. They seem to be readily available also. I just picked up two brand new ones for $60 a piece from an online vendor. I've seen them selling for up to $120 - $130 each on some other vendors sites. Fires the Radium perfectly as it would the Phoenix as well.

I don't think you can go wrong either way. It seems that parts are readily available for both as well should one of them go down.

HTH

 

[moondoggy4]

I would definitely like to stagger the lighting I would not want to run both 250's at the same starting time.
Both ballast are the same price, so I guess I cannot go wrong.

 

[AcroporAddict]

Hamilton sells the same type ballast as well, but I think they are more expensive than the AM cubes. The Hamilton ballasts are compatible with sunlight supply reflectors.