Emergency Help withh Lights

[Fishdisease]

Hi Everyone, I've got a problem and need help. My ATI 8-bulb fixture just bit the dust and I need something new asap. Of course this happens after black Friday. This morning I was downstairs when the lights were suppose to turn on and I heard a pop and then the smell of burning electronics. 2 of the 4 ballasts in my fixture are toast. The problem is that these are the 3rd and 4th ballasts that have gone this year. ATI told me last time they couldn't provide any more ballasts. I've had the ballast for 2 years and have had nothing but trouble with it, I've walked through the setup twicve with ATI and I know it's not a heat problem. It's probably something I'm doing, but we couldn't figure it out at all. I'll run 4 bulbs for the time being but I'll need full power soon. The tank is a 180 mixed reef and used to the output of the 8 bulb fixture.

I'm thinking about LEDs (haven't really researched them too much). But have a limited budget due to the time of year. Been looking at the Mars Aqua 110W LED and I figure I need 3 of them for that tank. Any advice or reviews on that?

SB Reef Lights look great and have been recommended to me before, but cost 3 times as much and I'm in Canada so shipping is an issue. Are they really that much better? Are there any other lights I should consider?

Thank you

 

[Zos4me]

can you go to the local electric warehouse and find something that will work?

 

[Fishdisease]

can you go to the local electric warehouse and find something that will work?

The last time I lost a ballast I scoured the area for one. The best I could do was a 54W T5 ballast but even then they had to order it in.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi Everyone, I've got a problem and need help. My ATI 8-bulb fixture just bit the dust and I need something new asap. Of course this happens after black Friday. This morning I was downstairs when the lights were suppose to turn on and I heard a pop and then the smell of burning electronics. 2 of the 4 ballasts in my fixture are toast. The problem is that these are the 3rd and 4th ballasts that have gone this year. ATI told me last time they couldn't provide any more ballasts. I've had the ballast for 2 years and have had nothing but trouble with it, I've walked through the setup twicve with ATI and I know it's not a heat problem. It's probably something I'm doing, but we couldn't figure it out at all. I'll run 4 bulbs for the time being but I'll need full power soon. The tank is a 180 mixed reef and used to the output of the 8 bulb fixture.

I'm thinking about LEDs (haven't really researched them too much). But have a limited budget due to the time of year. Been looking at the Mars Aqua 110W LED and I figure I need 3 of them for that tank. Any advice or reviews on that?

SB Reef Lights look great and have been recommended to me before, but cost 3 times as much and I'm in Canada so shipping is an issue. Are they really that much better? Are there any other lights I should consider?

Thank you

What size tank? I run three 165w Mars units over my 125 gallon, 6'. Had them going on 5 years.

 

[NanoDJS]

Fullham workhorse ballast from grainger or the like , just match the wattage to your unit and it should be a drop in replacement if you can do simple wiring.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Does this unit have external ignitors or are they in the ballast?

 

[Fishdisease]

Does this unit have external ignitors or are they in the ballast?

in the ballast

 

[MixedFruitBasket]

There is an eBay seller, TopDogSellers, that I have bought inexpensive T5 lights from over the years. They're cheap and they work. Although I have had to replace them due to the bulb holders aging and snapping off but not because the lights quit working.
They have many sizes. When I had a 180 the 6 foot light fixtures were 2 years old when I sold it and working fine.
They also come with marine bulbs, cheap, but bulbs.

Security Measure

www.ebaystores.com