VHO Ballasts

Hermit · 07-19-2001, 11:57 PM

Hi all, Happy evening.

I want/need to upgrade the lighting in my 55g. I'm goiing to use VHO, but am having difficulties convincing the Minister of Finance to give me the money for an IceCap. I have heard that there is a $40 ballast at HD that will run VHO. The ballast is Magnetek B260I120RH. I was wondering if anybody has had any exp. with this...

Doug1 · 07-20-2001, 12:22 AM

Hermit, I know that there are a few ballasts out there that will run VHO but off hand I don't remember if its totally electronic or how many bulbs it will support. I doubt its 4 mor that it is as flexable as an Icecap ballast> Premium Aquatics was selling a 4 VHO e ballast at less $$$$$$ than Icecap for a while but I dont know if they still carry them

Hermit · 07-20-2001, 12:36 AM

Doug,

You're right. The HD ballast is designed to run two bulbs, and is electronic. While it may not be as versatile as the IceCap, for the price I could get 2 of these ballasts to run 4 bulbs. I was just wondering if the IceCap was really worth the extra $160.

Thanks, Kris

fredly · 07-20-2001, 02:01 AM

Hi,

I'm running an Advance RC2S102TP tar ballast for my VHOs. It does the job - but I am considering going with the electronic ballast as soon as I can. The tar ballasts run hot and the bulbs do flicker slightly. I'm going to change my tired NO bulbs for VHOs to get up to 440W and replace both tar ballasts with a single icecap. Just waiting on the light fairy!

Alice · 07-20-2001, 02:27 AM

I think there's more than just the price of the ballast to consider. I'm wondering how long the bulbs will stay at a good operating level. Changing out bulbs gets expensive. I've run my VHO's on my Icecap 660 for a year (that was a little longer than I would have liked) but saw no noticible difference in the corals in the tank. No outbreaks of nuisance algae due to spectrum shift.

Icecap is also know for it's excellent customer service and I've been pleased with my set up.

Of course, we'd all like to find a cheaper way to finance lighting so if anyone can find comparisons it would be a great tool in making lighting decisions.

~Alice

Drew · 07-20-2001, 02:31 AM

Hi Jeep, Welcome to The Reef Tank!

FWIW, I am very pleased with my decision to buy an IceCap 660. It runs COOL to the touch, can run many different combos of NO, VHO, and PC's, and you can't beat IceCap's "We won't ask what happened to your ballast we will fix it anyway" service. I know that your thinking, it's a lot of money. I do that when I go and buy a can of shrimp pellets

But everybody's setup is different and perhaps the money is better spent on something else. I didn't actually mean to try and sway you either way, this was only supposed to be a welcome for JeepReefer. Oh well, looks like the padded room AGAIN tonight, sigh...

Drew

FishDaddy · 07-20-2001, 07:07 AM

Welcome to TRT, JeepReefer!

Glad to have you with us!
Hermit,
I went through the same process a few years back. We all want (need) to save some money but I think my Ice Cap 660 is one of the best values I've gotten with my reef. I run my bulbs a year, as Alice mentioned; they will drive regular NO bulbs at much higher intensity if you should need to; the electronic ballast does use less electricity with less heat than the Tar ballasts; Warranty and service are excellent (according to all reports; I've never had any problems in nearly 3 years of continuous use); and the versatility of expanding to 4 bulbs and use of timers, dimmers, etc., is a real advantage.
Take a look at Ice Cap's site; it is, of course, their information, but should give you some good talking points with the Finance Department.
Dick

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: FishDaddy ]

[ 07-20-2001: Message edited by: FishDaddy ]

EnchantedSea · 07-20-2001, 07:08 AM

Hi Hermit,

I agree with Alice. I have an IceCap and its wonderful. I believe the old saying is true "You get what you pay for"

Doug1 · 07-20-2001, 09:09 AM

The other ballast will work, no doubt a bout it, and at 40 each they are half the cost of Icecaps. Of course you still have to get and install the endcaps, which you do with IceCaps. I think it would be nice if the IC were more assembled but they lend them selves to custom application quite nicely. In my experience their service is top notch. They have a website www.icecapinc.com thats very informative emailing them brings a prompt reply from the president of the company or the head technition, not to mention that they are reefkeepers too. I am happy with mine and apperently so are lots of other reefers

Hermit · 07-20-2001, 04:44 PM

Thanks all for the info. I guess it's the Icecaps for me.

Kris

DennisW · 07-23-2001, 07:11 PM

Hermit,

Go to LampsNow and order the 2 lamp electronic ballast for i think $120. It is awsome!!!! You get the ballast and 3 piece endcaps all pre-wired!!!! Its basicly plug and play! The ballast is electronic and just like the icecap, you can run ALL types of bulbs on it. And, if you want to run 4 lamps, you just get a 4 lamp wiring harness and plug it in, real simple. What I really like about mine is how cool it runs. After the vho's have been on for 14 hours, I can still wrap my hand around the bulb and leave it there! I couldnt even touch the bulbs when I had my tar ballast. WAY TO HOT!!!!!!

Good Luck!
Dennis

Doug1 · 07-23-2001, 11:48 PM

Dennis, just out of curiosity how long have you be running these. have you had a warrenty issue yet? And is lampsnow involved in the hobby or are they just a cheap source of lighting equip. FWIW I run 2x430 Icecaps and while one had a problem an email and it was fixed and back in a week, just curious

IO think Icecap is the gold standard for a reason, and no they aren't a sponsor here