look at Sanjay Joshi's spectral analysis of various MH bulbs and ballasts,
this is the best way to decide on your lighting:
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/s/b/sbj4/aquarium/ballast%20comparison/b
allast-comparison.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 1:01 PM
Subject: RE: lighting question
> I have seen a tar ballast and an E ballast with the same lights (same age
> to) next to each other, and I can tell you, the ones on the E ballast burn
> brighter. You can see it with the eye. There have also been numerous tests
> done, and they show the bulbs burn brighter and hold thier specturms
longer
> when run by an electronic ballast. I looked into all of that when I made
my
> purchase. I am glad I went electronic. The ballasts run very cool, they
run
> the bulb itself cooler (helps with heat issues), they burn brighter and
hold
> their specturm longer. Thos are all benefits of running an E ballast, not
to
> mention that they do use less electricity. That may not mean much if you
are
> only using one bulb, but once you start running multiple bulbs, it does
add
> up.
>
> Also, you can have a restart intsalled into an icecap ballast that will
> cause the ballast to try and restart the bulb if it fails. It will
continue
> to fire it again and again until it lights. I have that in both of mine
> (they installed it for free when I sent the ballasts in to be tuned with
> these bulbs). So that takes care of the failure issue.
>
> However, as Craig points out, the tar ballasts are a lot less expenisve up
> front.
>
> IMO, E ballasts cost more up front, but if you can afford it, they are the
> way to go.
>
> FWIW
> Shane C.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Neptune [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2001 12:05 AM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: lighting question
> >
> > Why do you want to use an electronic ballast? They will cost you a lot
> > more
> > money, and IMHO they have a better chance of failing compared to a TAR
> > ballast. They probably use a little less electricity and produce less
> > heat,
> > but I don't think they have any affect on the light output. The bulbs
are
> > rated at a certain wattage and voltage. That's all that matters. I
have
> > been running two 250 watt 6500k Iwasaki's off of standard TAR ballasts
> > from
> > a local electrical supply store for over 5 years now. They cost me
about
> > $65/each. FWIW
> >
> > Craig
> >
> >
> > > The main reason i'm asking is because i want to use an electronic
> > ballast.
> > > The icecap will only use 250W Iwasaki bulbs, and the other company
> > (ocean
> > > motion i believe) works with only 400 Watt bulbs. I know the Iwasaki
> > bulbs
> > > are great, but will it provide enough light for sps, clams and the odd
> > lps?
> > >
> > > While i would like to try comparing the two different bulbs the
ballasts
> > > won't allow it.
> >
> > ________________________________________
> >
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