250 bulb on a 400 watt ballast?

[Paradox]

Can you use smaller wattage bulbs on higher watt ballasts? Im looking at purchasing a used 400 watt MH ballast for my 50 gallon reef, but Im concerned about it being overkill. Can I put a 250 watt bulb in the ballast?

Thanks!!

[cyberchef]

No... Ballasts and bulbs must be matched by wattage and in some cases (depends on the ballast) even by type of bulb.

[Ray1214]

Dang I just asked the exact same question. I had hoped to use a 250 watt bulb with a 400 watt ballast. I am guessing it isn't like PCs. You can use a 65 Watt bulb in a 55 watt setup. Just wont be as bright.

Ray

[tdwyatt]

Originally Posted by Paradox

Can you use smaller wattage bulbs on higher watt ballasts? Im looking at purchasing a used 400 watt MH ballast for my 50 gallon reef, but Im concerned about it being overkill. Can I put a 250 watt bulb in the ballast?

Thanks!!

NOPE. If you're just getting into MH, save yourself the butt-kicking and find one of these ballasts, as the Cap and Coil units are just expensive, oversized, too bulb-specific, and wasteful (electricity) in the long run, and MAN do they get hot (and loud) !!!

[wanareef]

I would reconmend getting the PFO HQI ballast, some may say it's over kill but with it you can burn any bulb, over drive them and burn HQI's just in case you want to try different types (SE, DE) of bulbs. If not then one of those electronic ballasts - same as the PFO but not over drive them.