Which ballast should I get?

[Myka]

Mostly just European moguls will run in an HQI; like Giesemann, XM, Ushio, . Go to "Search performance data", then "by ballast", then select the 250w PFO HQI, and you will see which bulbs will run in it, and what their PPFD is. You can click on the bulb name, and it will show you the PPFD that bulb will give in each ballast as well.

Here's the link for Sanjay's reef lighting page: http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

[andresont]

Definitely check out Sanjay reef lighting.
I would get M80 ballast for the highest light output and they hold their value the best.

[fkshiu]

I agree, if you don't mind the extra electrical usage the M80 (aka 250 "HQI") ballast with a mogul bulb is the way to go for maximum PAR.

[Chin_Lee]

HQI all the way

[sharuq1]

Hmm...Sanjay's thing is not working for me. So what brand name is good for that type of ballast? Would I only be able to run an XM or are there other types of bulbs too? Is an M80 a magnetic ballast? How long do these last?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by sharuq1

Hmm...Sanjay's thing is not working for me. So what brand name is good for that type of ballast? Would I only be able to run an XM or are there other types of bulbs too? Is an M80 a magnetic ballast? How long do these last?

a true M80 is a magnetic ballast. they last a long time. be carefull of electronic ones as they under drive the bulb but thee are some new ones that are suposed to be good. as for power savings it is minimal between electronic and magnetic ballasts.

Steve

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by sharuq1

Hmm...Sanjay's thing is not working for me. So what brand name is good for that type of ballast? Would I only be able to run an XM or are there other types of bulbs too? Is an M80 a magnetic ballast? How long do these last?

Here's the low down for both DE and SE bulbs on a PFO 250HQI (M80) ballast:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...&Submit=Submit

Remember that DE bulbs require shielding and SE bulbs do not.