anyone use icecap mh ballast's?

[naser]

well im thinking of getting the 175watt ice cap system from marinedepot.com. anyone use these type ballast's?

[golfish]

Here's a good example of an IC thread.....They all seem to go this way.

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=41138

Here's another

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...hlight=Ice+Cap

[naser]

well thanks for the threads... im running pfo's on my reef and allways seem to have problems. for instance there sending me a new 400watt this week because we suppleid power it just sits there all the wires get hot and nothing happens. great fire risk. if i didnt have gfci breakers while i was at work the power would have been on all day. probably no more house.!!! remember newbie's gfci breakers rule!!!

[golfish]

You can do a search on all the BB's and I doubt you find anyone that has had problems with their PFO ballast.....well! except for you

I know Perry loves his IC ballast. I have seen them both driving a 6.5K Iwasaki side by side and the PFO blew the IC away

im running pfo's on my reef and allways seem to have problems

What other problems have you had?

[naser]

well at first it blew a bulb. they replaced the bulb then the ballast went bad they replaced that. and now there replacing for the second time. all this in 8 months.

[PerryinCA]

Icecap Icecap!!! Hehe . In reality I think they are both quality products, just depends on you wants and needs. I have never had a prob with Icecap, although others have. However there really hasn't been much in the way of problems recently as they have really taken care of the few issues they had as far as I can see. Might want to contact IC and talk about your options. Personally I would recommend the 250w. Really its not much cheaper to go with the 175, and there is a big difference in light output.

-Perry

[naser]

this is just for one coral in my shark tank. im building a island in the middle and will grow an acropora on it just for somthing else to look at other than the fish. so i wont need much light output. plus marinedepot has a sale on a whole 175 system for $199.00

[Ltspd]

I would suggest the LN ballast from lampsnow.com I am running 2 with my Iwasaki's and soon to be HQI's. They are cheaper, can run both bulb types without sending them back for mods.

http://lampsnow.com/elbalmethal1.html

[golfish]

Hey Perry, I thought I read that you had to send one of your IC ballasts in for repair ?

[DukeDog]

I have the IC mh also . No problems here No ballast heat either.
Jeff

[PerryinCA]

Originally posted by golfish
Hey Perry, I thought I read that you had to send one of your IC ballasts in for repair ?

No, I initially had the MH-C model (still have one) which was optimized for the Coralife 10k which is really not seen anymore. I sent one of the two in to get it changed to optimally run the Iwasaki, and found that both the MHC and the MHI ran both lamps perfectly. I then got a regular MH and toyed with it for my HQI....well ended up being that all three run all the lamps with no problems or flickers. Thats why I have been happy with it. I think part of the reason is that the MHC came with the re-starts installed (like the Iwasaki) and they would fire any lamp. I really think having the re-starts installed is what allows the flex. Without them is the only time I have ever seen/heard of any trouble.

The LN may be a decent alternative, but I don't know. Personally the IC havne't let me down so thats what I'll stick with.


-Perry

[naser]

well for a reflector 10k bulb and ballast it cant hurt to try the icecap 175!!! for 199.

[Ltspd]

Well I just got done wiring 2 IC 660's up for a friend. They were a PITA to wire, possibly due to the long wiring harnass we created. They are super sensitive and we have spent hours just twisting the bulbs to get them to fire. All connections were soldered except for the connection into the VHO endcap (cant solder) I did have a wire swaped on one set but even still have had to twist bulbs to get them to fire time after time. One of the ballast is bad and is blowing fuses. I know its not a wiring issue because it will blow the fuse on both sets of lights that are wired. The other ballast powers both sets with no problems after you deal with the bulb twist issue.

I will still say they are a good product, but I have found that standard ballast (Advance, Magnatek) are more realiable and MUCH easier to deal with IMO.

[ASH]

From IceCap:
I find the Model 175-MH to be our best value in terms of lumens per watt and best in light output when it goes head to head with any other 175-watt MH ballast. Check out the reviews on our web site from Aquarium Frontiers.
I even use one on my tank.
Andy