Choosing my lighting retro kit(PFO,HelloLights,Advance, etc)

[King Jason]

My new lighting configuration will be 2 250w's and 1 400w MH. I'm debating on which retro kit to choose. Do I get PFO, HelloLights, Advance, etc? The only thing I want that aren't usually included in many of the kits are spider reflectors.

If you like PFO over the others why?, or visa versa. Like always all comments are appreciated.

 

[madrefkepr]

I have been looking into the same thing. After talking with several people, will probably go with the PFO. Although the electronic ballasts may be more efficient, I have been told they don't drive some bulbs correctly, so they don't produce the correct spectrum.

 

[King Jason]

I have been looking into the same thing. After talking with several people, will probably go with the PFO. Although the electronic ballasts may be more efficient, I have been told they don't drive some bulbs correctly, so they don't produce the correct spectrum.

Off hand, do you know which bulbs they don't power? Are you referring to Icecap ballasts?

How much more efficient are we talking? My electric bill is already over $300 a month, I'll take every penny I can save!

 

[madrefkepr]

I would have to check my notes, which are at home. I think I remember something about the electronic ballasts causing a flicker also.

Here is a link that may interest you, however.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/ballast comparison/ballast-comparison.html

 

[consigliere]

finally woke up and realized 2 vho's aint gonna cut it ???
your aquascaping is great....but i've been meaning to post that your lighting was inadequate....glad you figured it out...
how did you secue those pvc pipes your rockwork is attached to ??

 

[mountainbiker619]

Jason,


Here you go http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_icec ... sp?CartId=

 

[King Jason]

finally woke up and realized 2 vho's aint gonna cut it ???
your aquascaping is great....but i've been meaning to post that your lighting was inadequate....glad you figured it out...
how did you secue those pvc pipes your rockwork is attached to ??

I originally wasn't going to keep SPS corals in my tank. LPS and Softies have been fine but it's time for some SPS!

 

[King Jason]

Jason,


Here you go http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_icec ... sp?CartId=

Thanks David. Icecap ballasts are a bit more expensive then PFO. What lift will I see if I choose Icecap over PFO? With Icecap I will be spending about $900 for my MH's.

My last setup was Advance ballasts. They seemed to work great, so I’m not sure what lift I will get with going with a more expensive ballast.

 

[mountainbiker619]

Jason,

You drive a Mercedes...since when has money been an issue..lol

 

[King Jason]

Jason,

You drive a Mercedes...since when has money been an issue..lol

Not a Mercedes! BMW! heh...I just don't like wasting money where I don't have to. :lol:

 

[mountainbiker619]

so a Ford Pinto could not get you from point A to point B...LOL

 

[King Jason]

so a Ford Pinto could not get you from point A to point B...LOL

Perhaps, but it wouldn't be as fun to get from point A to point B.

 

[mountainbiker619]

well..I know nothing in regards to the diff between the PFO and IceCap..all I know is my IceCap MH's are on order and enroute

 

[GSchiemer]

I use the Reef Optix III reflector from Sunlight Supply http://www.sunlightsupply.com/ with 250 watt HQI bulbs and IceCap ballast. It's very well made and has proven to be reliable. The ballast is small, light enough and cool enough to hide away inside my cabinet. I'd seriously consider this combination.

Greg

 

[madrefkepr]

Jason,

Looked through my notes quickly before I left for work. I may have been wrong about electronic ballasts causing a slight spectrum shift. At least, I couldn't find it. According to my notes, e-ballasts drive bulbs at higher frequencies than magnetic. Some claim this should increase the life of the bulbs, but 1 person I talked to had a bulb explode that was only a couple weeks old. He claimed it had not been hit by water or anything, but who knows? Could there be a possible connection? Anyway, in my opinion, magnetic ballasts have proven to be very reliable over time, while the e-ballasts are still relatively new.

As far as how much more efficient e-ballasts are, I don't know. The link I posted above might have that covered, can't remember. Good luck!

 

[King Jason]

Got my Income Tax Refund check today! Whoohooo! Time to buy some lights!

Even though it's my money to start with, it's always fun to get a big fat check from Uncle Sam!

 

[madrefkepr]

(Drum Roll........) And the final decision is......?

 

[Anonymous]

Go with a two PFO HQI 400 watt dual ballast and run Radiums. I swear, you'll worship the choice. As third light get a single 250 watt iwasaki for its PAR value. I just saw Sanjay Joshi's lighting lecture about two months ago.

The PFO parallel reflectors are the $h/t as well. Ask around on other boards and here. For the money, nothing beats the radiums and the colors they bring out are breath-taking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[King Jason]

(Drum Roll........) And the final decision is......?

That's a very good question....Too many options....I'm having a hard time making a decision.

Go with a two PFO HQI 400 watt dual ballast and run Radiums. I swear, you'll worship the choice. As third light get a single 250 watt iwasaki for its PAR value. I just saw Sanjay Joshi's lighting lecture about two months ago.

The PFO parallel reflectors are the $h/t as well. Ask around on other boards and here. For the money, nothing beats the radiums and the colors they bring out are breath-taking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If I run PFO HQI don't I have to have a pendent and I wouldn't be able to use a PFO parallel reflector?

 

[ThrillYa]

madrefkepr - Thanks for that very informative link.

King Jason - I am also looking for a new lighting solution and have 2-250 MHs in mind. I've pretty much decided to go with a PFO ballast and Reef Fanatic.com seems to have the best price on that along with the spider reflector that you (and I) want. Check em out at http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/mas/ ... type=store