Matt what happens?
Does it just not light at the correct spectrum? Or does the bulb burn out premature?

I have a 175W 20,000K on a 250W ballast for at least 3 months trouble free. It was given to me and had a new bulb. The last owner explained it Like Oldsalty did, he said that it was fine because the bulb pulled less current than the ballast?

Is my light going to burn out sometime soon?

Thanks,