Metal Halide Question

[Les1]

Right now my lighting on my 55 gallon reef is one 400 watt Metal Halide bulb, and its pretty dark in sides of the tank. I was wondering if it would work for me to buy another Socket and hook it up, and run two 175 watt bulbs off of the 400 watt ballast?
Thanks

 

[Les1]

^

 

[Coraltank]

Les,come on man.Why do you think that would work?You can't miss match bulb and ballast wattages like that.

 

[Les1]

ok, a person I talked to suggested it, but I wasent sure, thats why I thought I would ask.

 

[pez]

Metal halide ballasts are matched to the impedance of the lamp. The wattage of the lamp affects the impedance. As such, you will not be able to ignite any wattage lamp other than the rated wattage. If you manage to get the lamp lit, I can't imagine it will run long without some thing going wrong (=very bad things).

-Tom