Opinions on MH Ballasts Please...

I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

There is a good thread on RC about this,

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=201570

and here is one on lamps

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=254667

informative reading.

BR549


"Mort" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

I have been very happy with my IceCap electronic ballasts. They are the new
type, and have performed very well. I have a very small fan blowing over
them and they run very cool this way.

Ken N.
"Mort" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

I recently switched from a magnetic to a Ice Cap. I really like the IceCap.
I am using a radium 20k and it did not work with the magnetic ballast. No
problems with the IceCap glad I switched.


"Mort" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

I've had both. I had to replace one of my 400w tar/coil ballasts once and
got a blueline electronic ballast to replace it. So for another 1.5-2yrs I
was running 1 400w on a tar/coil and 1 400w on an electronic. (I've since
moved to PC). They gave the same color from the same bulb type (You couldn't
tell the difference) and the electronic ballast ran cool to the touch (where
the tar/coil was quite hot). The electronic is also much more engery
efficient. I see no reason to go tar/coil even if up front cost is cheaper,
you'll pay more in the long run through your electric bill

As far as brands, I liked my blueline. Never had a problem with it. You can
find them he

http://www.championlighting.com/e/en.../eballast.html

I've never had any problems with these guys either. I had a bulb get broken
in shipping once and they sent me a new one no questions.

Greg

"Mort" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

Hey Greg, do you recall how well they lived up to their shipping
commitments?

Like, if they said it would ship in 2 or 3 days, did it ship on time?

Also, was their tracking page the same then as it is now? If so, how well
would you say it worked for you?

TIA!

~Mort


"Greg" wrote in message
...
I've had both. I had to replace one of my 400w tar/coil ballasts once and
got a blueline electronic ballast to replace it. So for another 1.5-2yrs I
was running 1 400w on a tar/coil and 1 400w on an electronic. (I've since
moved to PC). They gave the same color from the same bulb type (You
couldn't
tell the difference) and the electronic ballast ran cool to the touch
(where
the tar/coil was quite hot). The electronic is also much more engery
efficient. I see no reason to go tar/coil even if up front cost is
cheaper,
you'll pay more in the long run through your electric bill

As far as brands, I liked my blueline. Never had a problem with it. You
can
find them he


http://www.championlighting.com/e/en...Products/Light
ing/lighting.html?link=/Products/Lighting/eballast.html

I've never had any problems with these guys either. I had a bulb get
broken
in shipping once and they sent me a new one no questions.

Greg

"Mort" wrote in message
om...
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new
180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort

I have the CoralVue 250W ballast (three of them, actually) and am very
happy with it.

Eric

Mort wrote:
I'm getting very close to investing in a lighting system for my new 180gal
reef.

I need some input on MH ballst brands.

I'd prefer to get the electronic vs the coil or magnetic type.

Any suggestions?

Particularly, what do you think of the new CoralVue 400watt and the
E-Ballast?

TIA

~Mort