MH Ballast Question

[dpnshnks]

Right now I'm running a 250x2 Watt PFO EYE ballast with Aqualine 10ks. Yes, I realize that this is a problem and I would like to correct it, preferably before I fry $200 worth of MH bulbs.

So, I've got a 2 part question:

1. What ballast would you recommend to power teh Aqualines, or perhaps some XMs in the future?
2. Are there any advantages to running an HQI ballast?

Thanks for the help!

Eric

 

[Liam]

The advantage of running the hqi is increased output especially with the xm's,however they do use considerably more electricity and decrease bulb life.To run AB's correctly you need a pulse start ballast,they will run on the hqi also.The eye ballast you are using is typically for running Iwasaki's.
If you look a couple of days back in the reef talk forum i posted a link to Sanjay Joshi's lighting pages.Sanjay has done extensive bulb and ballast testing and this info is the gold standard for making selections.There is a calculator on the link that allows you to pick bulb and ballast combos and then the data for that combo will be displayed.
Hope this helps.
-Liam.