help me decide on a new 250w ballast

[mattseattle]

I've been reading and researching a new ballast for my setup. I currently have a standard 250w dual PFO ballast that I've been running 10k XM's on for the past 8 or 9 months. I'm looking to upgrade my ballast. I'd like to switch to Hamilton 14k's but after reading the lighting report it shows the par for these bulbs on a standard pfo ballast around 214 or so. seems really low so i'm considering upgrading my ballast to get a better par with these bulbs. i'd also like to be able to use any bulb out there on this ballast. i know i can't currently do that with my standard pfo ballast.

i've been looking at the pfo hqi, blue wave vii hqi, ice cap and a few others.

any recommendations on what i should buy to be able to drive any bulb at, above or near the bulb specifications?

 

[mfinn]

Matt, I have had very good luck with IceCap ballasts for a long time.
I have used the vho ballasts for more than 12 years and I am now using the mh IceCaps.
The customer service is excellent.

 

[mattseattle]

yeah, i've heard great things about the ice caps. ice caps don't overdrive the bulbs,right? and they run them more to the specs the bulbs should be run at?

the new ice caps will run any bulbs including xm's right?

 

[Elmo18]

ARO electronic are my ballasts of choice.

- Elmo

 

[mattseattle]

thanks Elmo - I'll look into those as well.

 

[mfinn]

They say that the IceCaps will fire every bulb. I'm using some XM's now.

 

[NaH2O]

Matt - I have the 250 watt ARO E-ballast on my tank with the Ushio 10Ks (plus actinic supp.). I recently purchased a PFO HQI dual 250 ballast, and am in the process of figuring out what bulbs to use. I'm hanging out on this thread for info....

 

[mattseattle]

hehehe - hey Nikki!

well I ordered Hamilton 14k's yesterday. I've read great things about them. I've also read good things about the Aquaconnect 14k's or the Phoenix 14k's I think.

I'm going to see how my standard pfo fires the new bulbs but I think they are going to be a little dim on my old ballast. If that is the case I'll probably order a dual PFO HQI ballast.

Can the PFO HQI ballast fire any type of bulb?