Im interested in putting a MH on my 20H tank. I would like to ask you guys where i can get the cheapest HQI ballasts--i can put it together, THE CHEAPEST place to order from....Thanks!
Depending on where you live, you might have some sort of lighting supply store near you.
I live in Milwaukee and we have a lighting liquidator here where I picked up a couple of 400watt MH ballasts for $43 each (unassembled ballasts).
I think you can buy from them either over the phone or internet. Their website is:
By "HQI," you want a M8X series ballast (70W, 150W, and 250W); these run double ended bulbs we commonly call HQI. Sometimes we also call pulse rated ballasts "HQI." This would be true for 400W ballast. Pulse rated ballasts are M13X series. Look for these ANSI numbers online and I'm sure there are a ton of OEM manufacturers that sell them cheap. For pulse rated ballasts, these guys are pretty cheap: http://www.hidirect.com/end_user/endballasts.htm#psmhb