halide ballast help please!!!!

[obi]

whats better magnetic ballast or electronic?Here is the fixture im ordering and its asks me wich ballast i want and i have no idea.planning on going with a phoenix bulb.any info will hell thanx

what ballast should i go with and whats the diffrence between the two?

link to fixture BELIZE SUN 36" HQI +T5 + LED Lighting System by Hamilton Technology* - AquaCave

 

[don-coraleone]

i would say electronic.

 

[Troylee]

get the electric ballast they will fire any bulbs....and there cheaper to run...
mag. ballast depending on pulse or probe start will only fire some bulbs...mag ballast like the m58 won't fire a phoniex bulb...

 

[TJ15]

Magnetic ballasts are better for HQI bulbs.

They last longer, are more reliable and produce much higher PAR ratings for DE HQI lamps.

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Magnetic ballasts are better for HQI bulbs.

They last longer, are more reliable and produce much higher PAR ratings for DE HQI lamps.

Many of the dimmable electronic ballasts will also increase their wattage by as much as 10% to drive DE bulbs better.

And then these new Lumatek ballasts are sweet!
Reef Specialty

 

[Mr E Wrasse]

I love my Icecap 250w ballasts.. all bulbs fire up simultaneously and are fully lit within 20-30sec

 

[luke33]

For the hqi bulb like a phoenix the M80 magnetic ballast gives you the best par value. The eballasts work with it just fine as well, just don't have the higher par like the M80. The M80 will drive it over 300w where as the eballast will stay around 250w. The M80 will give it a crisp blue/white look where as the eballast will give it a deeper blue look. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I run the phoenix myself and use the M80. I like the color.

 

[Sikryd]

For the hqi bulb like a phoenix the M80 magnetic ballast gives you the best par value. The eballasts work with it just fine as well, just don't have the higher par like the M80. The M80 will drive it over 300w where as the eballast will stay around 250w. The M80 will give it a crisp blue/white look where as the eballast will give it a deeper blue look. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I run the phoenix myself and use the M80. I like the color.

+1

I'm surprised to see so many people tout the eballasts for the Phoenix.

They are meant to run on the M80 ballast.

It depends on the color spectrum and par you are looking for. If you want to run a 14k Phoenix to get a 20k look and less par, then you can run it on an eballast.
If your looking for the true 14k spectrum and high par ratings, than an M80 ballast is the best.

I run mine on M80's and love the look and the par values.

You can check out sanjays lighting page on manhattan reef club to get the detailed information too. Just hit it up on google.

 

[mr_X]

electronic ballast are half the weight of the magnetic ballast and operate 10 to 17 percent more efficiently, but they don't push the lamps like magnetic ballasts do. i would say what you gain on the electric bill, you lose in the tank.

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

The new lumatek ballasts will drive the bulbs like a m80 ballast.

One ballast will adjust to 250w, 250w HQI, 400w, and 400w HQI.

 

[luke33]

Mike, do you have any data on that ballast.

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Other then what I read in the link, nothing Luke. I'm not sure if ******* ordered one or not, but when I order it I'll check with a kill-a-watt and PAR meter vs the 400w dimmable Coralvue I have and vs the 250w standard version Lumatek and 250w Coralvue ballasts.

 

[luke33]

I thought reefkeeping magazine had an article comparing 250w eballasts and used the IC, Lumatec and vertex and they all pulled 240-260w and had similar performance. But that was a few mths ago and this hobby moves 1000mph these days. I'd definately be interested in what you find with par and watts.

 

[reefpeeper]

mag ballasts run real hot

 

[luke33]

The M80 bluewave 3 and 7 ballasts may run hot but they are well vented and maybe warm to the touch. Now if you run one without a box then they get hot.