IceCap or E-ballast

shaw · 07/13/2007, 01:47 PM

Ok everybody. Please speak your mind.
I am replacing many ballast (27) and I want to switch to electronic ballasts. Should i choose E-ballast or Icecap.
Pros and cons.

Thank you
shawn

Markk96 · 07/13/2007, 02:03 PM

IMO I would go with IceCap, great product and excellent support.

Jar*Head · 07/13/2007, 03:19 PM

Ice Cap is Electronic ballast (E-ballast)

E-ballast has a few out there (Coralvue, IC, Blueline, Gallaxy....) I heard Gallaxy (SLS) work very well..... FYI

shaw · 07/14/2007, 08:55 AM

reefer714.
are you saying icecap owns e-ballast? I know they are two seperate ballasts, i've had them both.

Ya, Icecap has a 24 month warranty and e-ballast has 18 months. so, for me that makes a big difference.

thanks

DarG · 07/14/2007, 09:01 AM

E-ballast is a general abbreviation that people use to refer to all electronic ballasts. But Blueline has electronic ballasts they call E-ballast.

Shaw, you are talking about the Blueline E-ballast, right?

Entropy · 07/14/2007, 11:00 AM

I like the IceCap ballasts, but I have used ARO ballast (Lumen General) in the past and they work fine as well. I would do some research on the specific bulbs you plan to use and then go from there. IMO the bulb is the most important factor, because all the rest of the setup drives it. If you pick a certain ballast and then decide on a bulb that does not run on it, or not optimally, then you have to settle, while if you pick your bulb first you can pick the perfect ballast to get the most out of the bulb.

shaw · 07/14/2007, 12:40 PM

Yeah, that is true about picking the correct bulb, but don't I have a lot more room to negotiate bulb choice on an electronic ballast compared to a magnetic. I have 27 ballasts that I need changed out, all with varying K ratings. So, I may need to consolodate all bulbs to a certain k rating or manufactuer.

But, ya, i'm talking about the blueline eballast.

thanks

cato · 07/14/2007, 01:00 PM

I prefer IceCaps. Never had an issue w/em.

theatrus · 07/14/2007, 01:37 PM

ARO ballasts are a very good bang for the buck. IceCap has good support.

Entropy · 07/14/2007, 03:07 PM

For that many I would seriously look at the ARO ballast. Good bang for the buck and it will drive most bulbs. Also I would go direct to Hellolights and ask them for a discount on such a big quantity.

07/13/2007, 01:47 PM	#1
shaw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 799	IceCap or E-ballast Ok everybody. Please speak your mind. I am replacing many ballast (27) and I want to switch to electronic ballasts. Should i choose E-ballast or Icecap. Pros and cons. Thank you shawn __________________ Have you thanked your Diatoms Today! Current Tank Info: Work for public aquarium

07/13/2007, 02:03 PM	#2
Markk96 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 4,974 Blog Entries: 1	IMO I would go with IceCap, great product and excellent support. __________________ "Are you guys ready?" "Let's roll." Current Tank Info: Former 200 Gallon Oceanic Tank. 2 250W SE XM bulbs on Lumenarc Mini Reflectors. 2 Tunze 6100's and a Tunze wavebox. Now a JBJ 28 Gallon HQI Tank.

07/13/2007, 03:19 PM	#3
Jar*Head Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 8,630	Ice Cap is Electronic ballast (E-ballast) E-ballast has a few out there (Coralvue, IC, Blueline, Gallaxy....) I heard Gallaxy (SLS) work very well..... FYI __________________ Steve Tankless. Current Tank Info: 480g peninsula

07/14/2007, 08:55 AM	#4
shaw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 799	reefer714. are you saying icecap owns e-ballast? I know they are two seperate ballasts, i've had them both. Ya, Icecap has a 24 month warranty and e-ballast has 18 months. so, for me that makes a big difference. thanks __________________ Have you thanked your Diatoms Today! Current Tank Info: Work for public aquarium

07/14/2007, 11:00 AM	#6
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I like the IceCap ballasts, but I have used ARO ballast (Lumen General) in the past and they work fine as well. I would do some research on the specific bulbs you plan to use and then go from there. IMO the bulb is the most important factor, because all the rest of the setup drives it. If you pick a certain ballast and then decide on a bulb that does not run on it, or not optimally, then you have to settle, while if you pick your bulb first you can pick the perfect ballast to get the most out of the bulb. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

07/14/2007, 09:01 AM	#5
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	E-ballast is a general abbreviation that people use to refer to all electronic ballasts. But Blueline has electronic ballasts they call E-ballast. Shaw, you are talking about the Blueline E-ballast, right?

07/14/2007, 12:40 PM	#7
shaw Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 799	Yeah, that is true about picking the correct bulb, but don't I have a lot more room to negotiate bulb choice on an electronic ballast compared to a magnetic. I have 27 ballasts that I need changed out, all with varying K ratings. So, I may need to consolodate all bulbs to a certain k rating or manufactuer. But, ya, i'm talking about the blueline eballast. thanks __________________ Have you thanked your Diatoms Today! Current Tank Info: Work for public aquarium

07/14/2007, 01:00 PM	#8
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	I prefer IceCaps. Never had an issue w/em. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

07/14/2007, 01:37 PM	#9
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	ARO ballasts are a very good bang for the buck. IceCap has good support. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

07/14/2007, 03:07 PM	#10
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	For that many I would seriously look at the ARO ballast. Good bang for the buck and it will drive most bulbs. Also I would go direct to Hellolights and ask them for a discount on such a big quantity. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g