[RFL]

I plan building a ~100g reef tank and would like inverts and possible corals, so I plan to use MH lighting. I found 250W ballasts for under $50 and bulbs for between $50-75. How do I know that the ballast will run the bulb (elec. or mag. ingition)? Once I have the parts, I can usually put things together, but I want to order the right parts the first time. Any help would be great.

[scubadude]

Hi RFL and welcome to RL

Do you have an ansi code from the ballast? The ansi code is usually a Letter then a few numbers. Like M58 or M138 these are ansi codes for some 250w ballast. If you cannot get the codes then some pics might helps us decipher which ballast it is. Then we could go from there.

[RFL]

I have two ballasts that I am looking at the ansi and catalog numbers are listed

Catalog code: BS/0250PSMT ANSI M138, BS/MH0250MT ANSI M58
I would like to run a Iwasaki MH bulb MT250DL E-39/41R. I am told that it will work well for not a lot of money.


ANSI M58

Originally Posted by scubadude

Hi RFL and welcome to RL

Do you have an ansi code from the ballast? The ansi code is usually a Letter then a few numbers. Like M58 or M138 these are ansi codes for some 250w ballast. If you cannot get the codes then some pics might helps us decipher which ballast it is. Then we could go from there.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by RFL

I have two ballasts that I am looking at the ansi and catalog numbers are listed

Catalog code: BS/0250PSMT ANSI M138, BS/MH0250MT ANSI M58
I would like to run a Iwasaki MH bulb MT250DL E-39/41R. I am told that it will work well for not a lot of money.


ANSI M58

The lamp you are considering is the standard mogul based 250w Iwasaki 6500K metal halide that is quite popular for reef tanks: http://www.eyelighting.com/cleanace.html Its only drawback, if you want to call it that, is that it isn't as bluish-white as some people would prefer. Most people who run this particular lamp supplement it with actinic fluorescents of some sort. However, it will work just fine with or without the actinics. It's all a matter of personal preference.

The M58 ballast will work with that lamp.

Dr. Sanjay Joshi has done extensive testing of metal halide lamps and various ballasts and you can search his forum for data on the lamps and ballasts that he has already tested: http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...rmancedata.php

Some lamps do better with certain ballasts than they do with others. I looked up your lamp and it actually produces a lot more PAR with the M80 ballast than it does with the M58 ballast. BTW, most of us don't pay any attention to what Iwasaki says on their website about the recommended ballast.

P.S. -- I'm not expressing an opinion about which ballast is "best" for that particular lamp. You'll have to figure that out for yourself or perhaps someone who's running that same lamp will offer their advice.

[Ninong]

Check out Sanjay's most recent article on 250w mogul based lamps: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm

The Iwasaki 6500K is the 10th. lamp in that article. Notice that he tested it with three different ballasts.


Here is Part II of Sanjay's article on 250w mogul based lamps: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...004/review.htm