Howdy...
I'm in the planning stage of a 20g prop/grow out tank and the biggest hang up for me so far has been lighting. I've pretty much decided that my main focus for a while will be softies and LPS, but I don't want to preclude the propping of SPS down the road. So, I have pretty much decided on a cheap MH setup, and for a tank this size was thinking I could use a 150w system.
As cost is somewhat of a concern I plan on using a 150w Iwasaki bulb, and contacted Aquatic Lighting Systems (http://www.aquaticlight.com) about the possibility of them getting me a ballast that could power a 150w bulb. They replied that their 175w ballast can also power 150w bulbs (specs on ballast itself say this too I was informed). My questions are:
(1) Has anyone used a 175w retro from Aquatic Lighting to light a 150w bulb?
(2) Is the ability to power 150w bulbs limited to medium base bulbs (like the Iwasaki) or can it also power HQI (double-ended) bulbs like the Ushio 10K HQI?
(3) Can anyone out there who is using the 175w ballast confirm that the specs on the ballast state it can also run a 150w bulb?
(4) Is there anything in particular I should know about using this ballast as described above?
Thank you all for the help!
Chris
I'm in the planning stage of a 20g prop/grow out tank and the biggest hang up for me so far has been lighting. I've pretty much decided that my main focus for a while will be softies and LPS, but I don't want to preclude the propping of SPS down the road. So, I have pretty much decided on a cheap MH setup, and for a tank this size was thinking I could use a 150w system.
As cost is somewhat of a concern I plan on using a 150w Iwasaki bulb, and contacted Aquatic Lighting Systems (http://www.aquaticlight.com) about the possibility of them getting me a ballast that could power a 150w bulb. They replied that their 175w ballast can also power 150w bulbs (specs on ballast itself say this too I was informed). My questions are:
(1) Has anyone used a 175w retro from Aquatic Lighting to light a 150w bulb?
(2) Is the ability to power 150w bulbs limited to medium base bulbs (like the Iwasaki) or can it also power HQI (double-ended) bulbs like the Ushio 10K HQI?
(3) Can anyone out there who is using the 175w ballast confirm that the specs on the ballast state it can also run a 150w bulb?
(4) Is there anything in particular I should know about using this ballast as described above?
Thank you all for the help!
Chris
