The bulbs and ballasts mentioned in that RC thread and in the linked article are actually a modified Mercury Vapour bulbs (they are called metal halide conversion bulbs). These bulbs can run on hetal halide ballast but are often run on MV ballast because they are cheaper. MV ballasts, however, can only run MV bulbs. A metal halide ballast should fire any apropriate wattage MH bulb regardless of colour temp with the exception of double ended (HQI) bulbs and Radium branded bulbs. Double ended bulbs require a special ballast and Radiums require pulse start.
A word on those sun aquatics bulbs; If you have fans in your hood dont point them directly at the bulbs. On some bulbs, the color and intensity drops dramatically if there is a fan blowing on them.
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