Can I use any ballast?

mwoodruff964 · 03/31/2011, 04:13 PM

I have a 150 watt hamilton reef metal halide that I want to upgrade, my question is do I have to use a hamilton ballast or can I use another ballast? If so what other ballast work? Can I use the same cable or do I have to get a different one? Also would upgrading to a 400 watt be to much for a 90 gallon reef?

ToddG. · 03/31/2011, 04:57 PM

No you can use any ballast you want i have a old hamiton system that had 2 magnetic ballast and one old flourencent ballast in one big box with two switches connected to fixture with one cable I just unhooked the old ballast and wired in two cheap electronic ballast and left them set on top of box Id recomend a electronic ballast. I got mine on this site pretty cheap and so far they work great.

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...allast&catId=0

haikufriday · 03/31/2011, 07:45 PM

you can use any ballast, but you have to check on the power cords as often times the ballasts come with open wires that need to be wired in.

take a look at the galaxy or lumatek ballasts. they can run different watt bulbs (how many watts depends on the model).

As for how many watts, that depends on the height, and how many bulbs will depend on the width (typically 1 MH bulb for 24").

mwoodruff964 · 04/01/2011, 07:46 AM

ok the height of the tank is 24" H and 48" L, I've seen several people run 2 250 watt metal halides in a tank, so i didnt' know if just one 400 watt would be ok I am running a aquatic life t5 fixture with 2-54watt daylights and 2-54 actinics.

03/31/2011, 04:13 PM	#1
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	Can I use any ballast? I have a 150 watt hamilton reef metal halide that I want to upgrade, my question is do I have to use a hamilton ballast or can I use another ballast? If so what other ballast work? Can I use the same cable or do I have to get a different one? Also would upgrading to a 400 watt be to much for a 90 gallon reef? Last edited by mwoodruff964; 03/31/2011 at 04:31 PM.

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03/31/2011, 04:57 PM	#2
ToddG. Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 663	No you can use any ballast you want i have a old hamiton system that had 2 magnetic ballast and one old flourencent ballast in one big box with two switches connected to fixture with one cable I just unhooked the old ballast and wired in two cheap electronic ballast and left them set on top of box Id recomend a electronic ballast. I got mine on this site pretty cheap and so far they work great. http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?...allast&catId=0

03/31/2011, 07:45 PM	#3
haikufriday Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: La Mirada, CA Posts: 73	you can use any ballast, but you have to check on the power cords as often times the ballasts come with open wires that need to be wired in. take a look at the galaxy or lumatek ballasts. they can run different watt bulbs (how many watts depends on the model). As for how many watts, that depends on the height, and how many bulbs will depend on the width (typically 1 MH bulb for 24").

04/01/2011, 07:46 AM	#4
mwoodruff964 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Grandview,MO Posts: 166	ok the height of the tank is 24" H and 48" L, I've seen several people run 2 250 watt metal halides in a tank, so i didnt' know if just one 400 watt would be ok I am running a aquatic life t5 fixture with 2-54watt daylights and 2-54 actinics.