Any recommendations for a 250W MH ballast?

[AquamanE]

My Gallaxy electronic ballast just died after many years of operation. They are out, as is Icecap.

As I start looking around for one it seems the choices are VERY limited. I couldn't believe it. I know many have gone to LED's but there still have to be many thousands out their using MH. :)

Any recommendations on the currently available ones. Ive found Lumatek somewhat available with good reviews but mostly sold be "hydroponixs folks", and Coralvue. Cant find any others... :mad:

And PLEASE, I dont care to make this an LED vs MH thread. ;)

I just want to find a good replacement.

 

[Acrononomus]

My Gallaxy electronic ballast just died after many years of operation. They are out, as is Icecap.

As I start looking around for one it seems the choices are VERY limited. I couldn't believe it. I know many have gone to LED's but there still have to be many thousands out their using MH. :)

Any recommendations on the currently available ones. Ive found Lumatek somewhat available with good reviews but mostly sold be "hydroponixs folks", and Coralvue. Cant find any others... :mad:

And PLEASE, I dont care to make this an LED vs MH thread. ;)

I just want to find a good replacement.

I use the lumatek ballasts but they are hard to find as well, that's weird galaxy's is out? I just bought a bunch of them not long ago

 

[AquamanE]

Yes. Hard to find. Marine Depot ETA is 2-4 months!!!!

My Galaxy's have been in my possesion and use for 7 years. Bought them used so who knows. I think thats reasonable, just wish it had warned me, LOL.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Man it's been forever since I have looked for MH equipment. I still think MH is an awesome choice for tanks though. :)

 

[AquamanE]

@Acrononomus - I was finally able to get some info after a few hours on the phone.

Called Lumatek, no answer. On the website distributors are 2, bloomington garden, blah blah supply, and Sunlight Supply. Sunlight supply is out of business. Called Marine Depot..they informed me Lumatek was being less than helpful even with them, and the CoralVue ballast was being slow at CS also. Only thing left was Reefbrite. I know them as a LED company with good products but 1. Not sure about there MH products, and 2. The plug is different then what I have. Called Bloomington, they asked me to call local shops that would be able to order or look at old inventory.

I learned: Galaxy now only makes >400W intended for Hydroponics. Many good Hydroponix ballasts are on the market but few <400W. I got a recommendation for a Hydrofarm Phantom 250W ballast, its known in their industry as one of the best. So I ordered one. Ill let you guys know how it goes.

BTW- I mentioned to the guy in Bloomington: "i guess more folks are growing weed than corals", he said "no.., more people are growing tomatoes", LOL

 

[AquamanE]

Man it's been forever since I have looked for MH equipment. I still think MH is an awesome choice for tanks though. :)

Rev- Ive been around since the days of undergravel filters with crushed coral, and bleached dead coral as decoration for our fish only tanks. Lights where flouresecents. Then came wet-dry, then Berlin etc....

I prefer you young folks do the experimenting. MH has been around for decades, and they work. LED's will get there eventually...at that point ill CONSIDER it., LOL. @revhtree

 

[Acrononomus]

I seen a video where the phantom ballast put down more par than the lumatek and Galaxy was done by an outside source so no favoring , same bulb and ballast... So phantom may be a nice choice! I know there sexy ... As far as equitment goes, I'm a junky.... But I run all lumatek ... :)

 

[AquamanE]

I seen a video where the phantom ballast put down more par than the lumatek and Galaxy was done by an outside source so no favoring , same bulb and ballast... So phantom may be a nice choice! I know there sexy ... As far as equitment goes, I'm a junky.... But I run all lumatek ... :)

Thanks for the help Sir.

I just posted on here about a bulb I found while surfing the hydroponics stuff. Ever tried it?