what bulb for my ballast?

[Samper]

I need a new bulb....I wanna try a 12 or 14k but don't know what my ballast will and won't fire. I bought the Aqua medic ocean light 250 that comes with the ballast and all..magnetic I assume due to the price. Am I limited to the bulbs I can buy with this setup?

[Reefland]

I don't think you will be. I think a Hamilton 14k would fire right up.

[saltjunkie]

i am sold on the hamilton 14k.. i have had troubles with my pfo ballast for years.. getting bulbs to fire..
Ushio, AB aqualines etc..
the abs just wont fire.. the ushios, fire slowly, go off for about 10 minutes the fire back up..
the day i bought my hamilton 14k i called home and told them to turn my balast off.. when i got home, pulled out the old bulb, put in the new one.. flipped the switch and the light fired instantly~ and has yet to fail since day one.... today in fact i had to pul the plugs real fast like.... when i plugged them back in my light was back on within 4~5 minutes if not less!I like hamilton!

[charlie]

I would think that you should be able to fire anything with that ballast. You could check with the manufacturer to make sure. Doing that would probably save you a little money also!!

[Samper]

That's the bulb I'm getting then...should be here next Monday.
I hope my growth doesn't increase too much though or I will have to upgrade before I'm ready...or do a lot of trimming. I also hope I'm able to retain some of my more vibrant colors. So far the 20k is awesome for coloration but that's about it.

[charlie]

Make sure you give us some before and after pics. I might be interested in changing a couple of mine out real soon. I run all 20k's, and could probably put a couple of 14k or 15k in the middle for a different effect.