Although it's always worth checking into, it's somewhat doubtful to find much in the 175W size at the hydroponics stores. 175W is of limited use for the plant growers -- they like 400W and 1000W usually. You mmmmight be able to find 250W ballasts if you call around. The reason I got such a good deal on the 250W ballast that I purchased was that none of the plant growing buyers were interested in it, thus the store was really all too happy just to unload it when I called and asked for one.

Tony.
With that 250 watt ballast from the hydroponics shop is there anything you need to look for or is a ballast a ballast. I would assume this ballast you bought would be similar to a standard PFO single bulb ballast.

Josh

Josh, what bulb do you want to run with this ballast?

Good point Brad.....these ballasts run 10kk REAL yellow Josh, if you were leaning that way.

I've not heard many good things about 10000K bulbs in any brand in the 250W size. I shouldn't say that. What I mean is, I've known a few people to be disappointed after switching to 10000K's in the 250W size (Deb switched from 14000K [then switched back, what, about 6 hours later]. :P And DJ88, who was switching from 250W Iwasaki! You'd think it'd be the other way around.) I've heard good things about the 400W size (DJ88 switched to 400W 10000K and LOVED it, I saw his tank in person and agree the colour was sweet). I know I love my 175W 10000K's and I just run them on typical Phillips M57 ballasts which I picked up from HD at what ... $30 a ballast or whatever silly deal it was (boy I wish they still sold MH ballasts ... I notice they still sell HPS ballasts but I guess us aquarists cleaned them out on their MH stock). Not the least bit of yellow (in my opinion). Granted, it's not as blue as Deb's tanks, it's more of a "crisp white" colour. In my opinion, anyways. For all I know I'm colour blind .... 8)

.

That would be 15th Avenue, because E Trail is a street. I just drove by on my way to Pisces, and I can't recall if it is before 16th Ave, or past.

looks like it won't matter. i've found a guy in the united states that will sell me a dual 400w setup with new iwasaki 10k bulbs for $150 US. i'm going to have to shipped through my companies broker on the border and i doubt shipping will be more than $100. sounds like a good deal to me, now i can start designing my canopy.

Iwasaki's are a 6500k bulb?

they don't come in 10k at all? i'll have to check on that one. either way i'm planning to go with actinics as well so i think i'll be ok.

rcipema correctedthat would be correct. I lived in Red Deer too long...and now I can never get the streets and avenues correct (in either city)