Ballast discussion.

[JeffCo]

I wanted to start a thread about the different types of ballasts everyone is using. Pros/cons, any problems, warranty information, etc. This will be the consumer reports of Ballasts.

I have been using 250w icecap electronic ballasts for the last 2 years

Pros:
relatively small casing
energy effecient
lights hqi & SE bulbs
Great customer service

Cons:
I had a problem with them lighting up the XDE bulbs. They would not work.


Anybody else have views? Different wattages? PFO HQI, Bluline, Coralvue, Geissman..

[theedprado]

i use quad tap ballasts that fire any 400 watt mogul lamp; pulse, probe, sodium, etc. pro: versitility con: heat.

[Jenn]

How did you guys learn what ballast fires which bulb, which bulb is the whitest/bluest, etc.....
I have been reading all these threads on lighting and ballasts as well as the lighting websites and its pretty confusing. I also see that a few of you have spent $40-$60 bucks on a bulb only to not like the results.

[JeffCo]

Some of it is just trial and error. In my case I just sent the bulb back to premium aquatics and they switched it out for me. The rest is just reading and starting threads like this to see what everyone's experience is.

[alexwolf]

I have used many different kinds.
1st) Cool Touch Lighting 400w SE on a magnetic ballast. BIG BULKY and HOT
2nd) PFO 250w SE with XM 20k SE bulbs. Big, bulky, noisy ballast, but less heat. I liked the color, but was a bit blue
3rd) ARO electronic ballasts with XM20k SE. Quiet, energy efficient, and very small. No real cons that I can think of.
4th and favorite) ARO electronic ballast with 250w DE Coralvue 20k Bulbs. All of the above, virtually no heat, and the color is perfect IMO. Not too blue, not too white. I did try the 14k, but it looked like a 6500k in my tank. From what I understand, they dont fire properly off that particular ballst.