Which MH ballasts will run which bulbs?

[MntReef]

Do Ice Cap and PFO ballasts run virtually any bulb including the CV's, XM's etc? Are there other ballast options out there that can compete with Ice Cap or PFO, and of the two which is better? Are there ballasts that fire HQI as well as standard mogel MH bulbs? Thus far my reef lighting experience has been limited to PC's. I've read where 10,000K CV's have an outstanding PAR rating, can anyone verify this. And finally how do the CV's and XM's perform (I know they cost much less)? What I'm looking for is a lighting set up that can run CV's and/or XM's, but will give me the option to move to a different bulb if I dont like the results. Thanks in advance for any enlightenment and expertise!

[zhenya]

Do Ice Cap and PFO ballasts run virtually any bulb including the CV's, XM's etc? Are there other ballast options out there that can compete with Ice Cap or PFO, and of the two which is better? Are there ballasts that fire HQI as well as standard mogel MH bulbs? Thus far my reef lighting experience has been limited to PC's. I've read where 10,000K CV's have an outstanding PAR rating, can anyone verify this. And finally how do the CV's and XM's perform (I know they cost much less)? What I'm looking for is a lighting set up that can run CV's and/or XM's, but will give me the option to move to a different bulb if I dont like the results. Thanks in advance for any enlightenment and expertise!

Hi MtnReef,

I think Ice Cap and PFO can run any mogul base bulb.Now, if you would want to run an DE bulb, I would recommend getting PFO HQI ballast as it would run any bulb, DE or mogul wouldn't make any difference.I think Ice Cap e-ballast will run them as well.
Here's an interesting thread for you to read about those new bulbs.

New tank part 3

and this thread has lots of information and pictures and lots of opinions

[MntReef]

Thanks Zhenya,

Those threads are terriffic!

[zhenya]

Thanks Zhenya,

Those threads are terriffic!

You are welcome! Hope it helped you make a choice.

I think Joe's(JB NY) thread is one of the best threads ever about lighting and bulbs and it's especially nice that all the testing came from an independent hobbyist like us.I can't even imagine how much time he spent testing all those bulbs on different ballasts

[JB NY]

too much time! LOL

The only mogul or SE lamp that will not work on all the ballasts is the radium. It is the only lamp that is a pulse start. All others are probe start and will work on any ballast. The radium needs an HQI ballast or one of the electronics.

HTH

[AquaticCo]

Hi everyone,

For the most part JB NY is correct, there is a couple of other exceptions such as the true german 20K which runs off a HQI ballast only, The Iwasaki runs on a probe start but does better with it's own ballast, since its a mercury vapor bulb The IceCap will Run any type of Mogul or double ended bulb. Most Magnetic ballasts will run either this type or that type but not both.

Check out the attached link, this may answer some of your questions

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=201570

Doug