Lighting frustrations

[Kristy]

Ok, this month Mike and I replaced the lightbulbs over our two big tanks (LOTS of bulbs, cha ching$)! As soon as the new MH bulb went into the socket, it was dead. We switched the right side and left side bulb to test, and both the bulbs work fine, so it seemed to be a ballast issue. This ballast has had a day or two when it didn't want to turn on, then the next day it works fine, so we just figured it's really old and it appears to have given us its final flicker (250w CoralVue MH electric ballasts.) The pair was used when we bought them 4 years ago so it's not that surprising, but now this has led to a whole new series of frustrations.

We managed to switch out the bad ballast with one that a friend had lying around (thanks Justin!) and while we had the lights disconnected we seized the opportunity to do a much-needed upgrade on our reflectors (thanks Marcus!) The result was two VERY mismatched sides of the reef tank. One side was a deep crisp blue and the other a pale yellowish turquoise. Ugh. It drove me crazy. The strange thing is that the pretty blue side is the new Odyssea ballast and the horrible yellow/turquoise side is powered by the CoralVue ballast I've been using and been happy with for years. It definitely didn't look like that before all these changes.

I was trying to decide which new ballast to buy and whether to get one or two, when Lorraine suggested I should switch the bulbs again, just to make sure that somehow the color difference wasn't in the bulbs. So I did that and the nice blue side is still just as lovely, but the sickly colored side now won't light up at all. Not a spark, not a flicker.

Some basic facts:
The 2 bulbs are the same (12k ReefLux), they're brand new, and they're the color that I have preferred for the past couple of years. Both bulbs look great in the Odyssea ballast.
One side (the dead side) is a 250w CoralVue ballast I've had for 4 years, other (the nice blue side) is a 250w Odyssea ballast used but not as old.

Now what do I do... can I buy one new Odyssea ballast to match the side that looks great or would the difference in age between the two ballasts result in differences in color? Do I need to buy one new ballast or two? And would you go with the Odyssea ballasts based on the color results seen so far or a more reliable brand with a better track record? Any other thoughts or suggestions? Anyone thinking this could be a problem with the socket? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!:at_wits_end:

[allan]

Seems like the sickly yellow ballast isn't pushing the bulb like it should be.

When we were there Saturday it looked like both bulbs were putting out the same amount of light. :)

[kkiel02]

Kristy if you need another coralvue to try I have one. Just let me know.

[alton]

Kristy I have several 12K Reeflux lamps laying around if you want to try them on the ballast. It does sound strange because normally an electronic ballast works or dies, not like a magentic ballast which dies a slow death. Also most ballast today are made in china and probably by the same commpany, coralvue reps most of them, if not all. 4 to 5 years is standard on an electronic ballast life, although I still have my two original coralvue ballast from 2004 which work great. So much for American made?

[Kristy]

When we were there Saturday it looked like both bulbs were putting out the same amount of light. :)
That would be because only the T5s were on at that time. The MHs kick on in the afternoons.

[Kristy]

Might try switching out the ballast just to see what it does, Kevin. Thanks! That's a good idea. Is it plug and play? Ours were pretty well loved when we bought them used four years ago so I feel like we've gotten plenty of use out of them. I am just trying to make sure I am solving the right problem here, before I throw a bunch more money at this.

[Bill S]

Before you pay good money for new ones, you might want to contact David at Coralvue. In the past he's been real good about discounting replacement ballasts out of warranty. It's also possible that it may be able to be repaired. What color is your Coralvue ballast?

If you can, try switching the socket, too. Just in case. Wouldn't be the first bad socket. They do get corroded, and will sometimes light one bulb, and not another.

If I were buying a new ballast, I'd buy Coralvue.

[alton]

Bill hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I contacted them a while back and David is still there but Jeremy is the contact now and although great at returning emails and answering questions it seems it has become a very large business just like everything else. Here is one of his return emails when I asked him a question about the difference between Luxcore and CoralVue:

The LuXcore ballasts are selectable wattage ballasts. Like the one I use, I can choose between 250w,250 HQI (overdrive), 400 and 400w overdrive. They also seem to push the lamps a bit better than the CoralVue ballasts.

Jeremy Rykiel
Vue Technology
CoralVue Lighting & Octopus Aquarium Products

(985)781-9078 \ www.CoralVue.com

[allan]

That would be because only the T5s were on at that time. The MHs kick on in the afternoons.

Hence the smiley face:)

[Kristy]

Hence the smiley face:)

Ah! Missed that... operating on about 4 hours of sleep and I'm too old for this!

[Gseclipse02]

I wouldnt run anything oddsey after seeing them catch on fire... Well melt the wire harness really , explode in so.e ones face just not worth it to me

[Kristy]

Ok, I had forgotten that Odyssea was the brand that did that. Thanks for jogging my memory, JT! I knew there was a reason I had such a negative association with the brand. So, that would be a vote for two new Coralvues then? :)

TODAY'S UPDATE:
Walked in the door this afternoon and the ugly Coralvue side has randomly decided to work again.... which kinda leads me back to the conclusion that I need two new Coralvue ballasts. If any of you see a different foregone conclusion in this data, please let me know asap because I think I'm about to go ballast shopping.

[Gseclipse02]

np

[alton]

Sorry Kristy I forgot to post this but David from coralvue used to say if your electronic ballast messed up, unplug it for 20 minutes and plug it back in. Also never unplug the cord from the ballast to the lamp while it is on, it can mess up the ballast (that came from one of my lighting reps Holophane).

[Zack]

I wouldnt run anything oddsey after seeing them catch on fire... Well melt the wire harness really , explode in so.e ones face just not worth it to me

The Halide fixtures they sell are pretty bad however they sent me a replacement T-5 fixture after my Halide ballast fuse blew and honestly it wasn't terrible. The bulbs were junk but everything was wired extremely well and I got some good use out of it.

[Kristy]

Thanks for all the input guys. Found a really good deal on two new Coralvue ballasts. Should have them early next week.

[Gseclipse02]

The Halide fixtures they sell are pretty bad however they sent me a replacement T-5 fixture after my Halide ballast fuse blew and honestly it wasn't terrible. The bulbs were junk but everything was wired extremely well and I got some good use out of it.

i seen the wires on the leds from odessy both crossing each other exposed and all .... if they were willing to selll a product like that before i wouldnt trust them now

[Bill S]

i seen the wires on the leds from odessy both crossing each other exposed and all .... if they were willing to selll a product like that before i wouldnt trust them now

Well, I hate to say this, but you wouldn't believe the insides of the original Coralvues... This what they used to use to hold their heatsinks in place:

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Metal-Binder-Clips-Black-Assorted-Capacities/product_378813