Lighting to go with my MH's?

[br0ken68]

Hey eveyone. As many of you know I've been slowly putting together the stuff for my 55G reef tank. Today I got 2 new 250w MH (sylvania 47737) ballast kits for under 50 bucks. I didn't get to research as much as I would have liked due to auction ending so I rolled the dice and hope this will work. Anyone know if I can use a standard mogul base with these? I believe where I read they were pulse start somewhere. I don't know much about mh's, but couldn't pass up the price if they will work. I figured if its not what I need since they are new and sealed, I could always resell to get my money back. I'm not sure what I need to order (M58 base or ???) I also picked up an Icecap 660 ballast for supplemental lighting when the MH's aren't on. What do you guys reccommend I run when the MH's aren't on? Since the Icecap 660 will run any florescents I was thinking 4 x T-12's (2 x atintics and 2 x 50-50's). My tank is 48"x13"x18" deep. I'll be making my own canopy, but I need to know what I'll be running first before I draw everything up. Anyone have a good site for DIY canopy making?

[br0ken68]

/bump

[Johnny5]

I run 96 watt power compacts. I think these would work well when your halides are off.
I don't know the cost difference though between the T12's, and compacts.

Not sure on the ballast kits. Should say if they are mogal, or double ended.

[Jadinop]

I searched last night when you posted but couldn't come up with much on that ballast kit. Got a link or any other info on it? I'm guessing it's a magnetic ballast.

[Fat Tony]

You can use them for either... it doesn't matter how the bulb mounts. it matters how the bulb is constructed. There are two types of bulbs, probe start and pulse start. Probe start bulbs have an identifiable feature in t he bulb.. it has what is commonly called a "dime". It is near the base of the bulb where the filament attaches to the metal base. Also. probe start bulbs only come in Mogul, all DE bulbs are pulse start. Most bulbs that we use in this hobby are pulse start.

[br0ken68]

Ok thanks guys. Sorry at the moment all I have is the link on Ebay where I won the auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220500572508&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT. I was trying to read the side of the box in the picture better so I could research it more, but when I saw the auction I really didn't have time to email the guy for more info cause there was only like 20 mins left on auction when I saw it. Like I said I litterally rolled the dice in hopes this would work. I just found out my Icecap 660 ballast I just bought is toast =(. The guy I bought it from lied about Icecap repaired it. He told me Icecap put all new caps in it and sent it back to him. I got it D.O.A, then he claimed USPS must have dropped it cause "it WAS working". So I sent it back to Icecap in hopes of a cheap repair. According to Icecap he tried to "self" repair the board at one point, which damaged it further. They said they would rebuild the board for 65 or a new board at 85. Considering what I have in already leaves me paying retail for the Icecap ballast, but still save money on my MH's. I guess overall it's still not too bad considering the price of some of the canopy prices I've seen. I have VHO ends which came with the 660 (that is IF they work) Since the 660 will run any of the Florescents, I didn't know which is best, i'm not opposed to switching them out if need be. I'm still a noobie when it comes to reefing, but learning as much as I can. So far I've learned.....it's not a wallet friendly hobby LOL. But then again no hobby really is. Now just need skimmer, pumps, Ro/Di system, and a couple of powerheads. It's slowly coming together. So would it be best to get Double ends? I believe I read somewhere that the ballast is pulse start, but don't quote me on it.

[fihsboy]

Thats the problem with buying used stuff on ebay. By the time you dish out the money to bring the item up to par with a new version....you may as well have bought the new one instead. Glad you got it all figured out though.