Which MH'S are better?

blakeoe · 09/17/2006, 01:14 PM

O.K. I have two different friends willing to sell me their lights.
Both are two 250 watt electronic ballasts

##One is ARO balasts and is plug and play with two brand new
spider reflectors for $250 **NO BULBS**

##The other is Ice Cap ballasts and 2 coralvue 14K bulbs (6
months old) for $195 **NO SOCKETS OR REFLECTORS**

##Or Ebay has a Plug and play setup with bulbs and spider
reflectors. M58 ballasts and "german style Bulbs 10,14,or20K"
For $295
http://cgi.ebay.com/Metal-Halide-Ret...QQcmdZViewItem

What are your opinions on these deals? Which one should i go with?

theatrus · 09/17/2006, 01:25 PM

Spider reflectors are pretty cheap and IceCap is top notch (but ARO isn't half bad either).

I'd replace the CoralVue bulbs myself after 2-3 months.

easye123 · 09/17/2006, 02:02 PM

if all are those are for just 1 bulb

these are cheaper and u get a
likea phoniex or hamilton ushio... anything

http://hellolights.com/elbalsys.html

i got the 150w HQI one with a phoenix 14k

the reflector is good the ballast never gets hot.. and est to make

but ive also seen retofit kits at a lot of other places for around 160 for the kit with a regular bulb

blakeoe · 09/17/2006, 07:19 PM

easye123:
All of these setups are for 2 250 watt lights. Thanks for the link.

blakeoe · 09/18/2006, 06:01 PM

O.K. So now i have narrowed it down to two:
#1 PFO brand new Plug and Play No bulb $270 shttp://hellolights.com/elbalsys.html
#2 ##The other is Ice Cap ballasts and 2 coralvue 14K bulbs (6
months old) for $195 **NO SOCKETS OR REFLECTORS**
(I'd end up buying spider reflectors for these)

What would you guys do?

blakeoe · 09/18/2006, 09:34 PM

^

Gundo5000 · 09/18/2006, 11:53 PM

I;d go with #2 .......I love ice cap ballasts

pwachs · 09/19/2006, 07:53 AM

i'd go with the icecaps

RichConley · 09/19/2006, 10:12 AM

I've got an Icecap, and an ARO, and honestly, theres no difference.

Spider reflectors are absolute junk. Buy some reflectors that actually have ends on them, like Lumenmaxs/Lumenarcs/etc.

09/17/2006, 02:02 PM	#3
easye123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,505	if all are those are for just 1 bulb these are cheaper and u get a likea phoniex or hamilton ushio... anything http://hellolights.com/elbalsys.html i got the 150w HQI one with a phoenix 14k the reflector is good the ballast never gets hot.. and est to make but ive also seen retofit kits at a lot of other places for around 160 for the kit with a regular bulb __________________ Loading...... Current Tank Info: 90g BB sps 30g sump. 2x175w mh. 2x110w vho act. Vortech. tunze 6025. ER rs 135. TLF phos. ACjr

09/17/2006, 07:19 PM	#4
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	easye123: All of these setups are for 2 250 watt lights. Thanks for the link. __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

09/18/2006, 06:01 PM	#5
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	O.K. So now i have narrowed it down to two: #1 PFO brand new Plug and Play No bulb $270 shttp://hellolights.com/elbalsys.html #2 ##The other is Ice Cap ballasts and 2 coralvue 14K bulbs (6 months old) for $195 NO SOCKETS OR REFLECTORS (I'd end up buying spider reflectors for these) What would you guys do? __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

09/18/2006, 09:34 PM	#6
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	^ __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

09/18/2006, 11:53 PM	#7
Gundo5000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,534	I;d go with #2 .......I love ice cap ballasts __________________ GUNDO

09/17/2006, 01:14 PM	#1
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	Which MH'S are better? O.K. I have two different friends willing to sell me their lights. Both are two 250 watt electronic ballasts ##One is ARO balasts and is plug and play with two brand new spider reflectors for $250 NO BULBS ##The other is Ice Cap ballasts and 2 coralvue 14K bulbs (6 months old) for $195 NO SOCKETS OR REFLECTORS ##Or Ebay has a Plug and play setup with bulbs and spider reflectors. M58 ballasts and "german style Bulbs 10,14,or20K" For $295 http://cgi.ebay.com/Metal-Halide-Ret...QQcmdZViewItem What are your opinions on these deals? Which one should i go with? __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front Last edited by blakeoe; 09/17/2006 at 01:26 PM.

09/17/2006, 01:25 PM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Spider reflectors are pretty cheap and IceCap is top notch (but ARO isn't half bad either). I'd replace the CoralVue bulbs myself after 2-3 months. __________________ 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

09/19/2006, 07:53 AM	#8
pwachs Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: River Falls, WI Posts: 67	i'd go with the icecaps

09/19/2006, 10:12 AM	#9
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	I've got an Icecap, and an ARO, and honestly, theres no difference. Spider reflectors are absolute junk. Buy some reflectors that actually have ends on them, like Lumenmaxs/Lumenarcs/etc. __________________ NO TANKS!!!