400watts MH set up

I found this guy locally selling his set up, but it comes with a big A$$ bulb. Here is the description he gave me:

1) Refurbished 400 Watt Ballast built into a USED ballast housing. Will run most standard MH 400w bulb.

2) Used 400 Watt 4000 Kelvin Bulb to get you started in Hydroponic.

3) Ceramic Socket mountable to most surface.

3) Electrical cables - Wall to ballast 3.5 feet
Electrical cable - Ballast to Light 3-4 feet.

Pic attached.

I obviously need a new bulb, which I am thinking about getting a 250 watts instead of 400 watts from aquauniverse.com for $46.

He's selling it at $80, so after getting the bulb, I will have to spend about $130. What do you guys think?

Thanks!
GKW

 

oops forgot to attach the pic...

 

Looks good, although I would be weary as how long he's used it; ballast might be worn out and be careful, could short as it looks completely DIY.

 

How about this one instead? http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=222

 

That thing looks nice, but too much lighting. This would be good for like a 100g+

 

I'd skip it. It might be a HPS ballast and won't run good reefkeeping bulbs worth a damn. That and if it is a 400W ballast you can just pop a 250W in it the ballast has to match.

I'd skip the Aquatraders to many of those have caugh fire and the company is shady.

 

i agree with covey...i've heard varied opinions about aquatraders and if a deal looks too good...it probably is a waste of your time. i'd shop around for something a little less sketchy. i searched around for awhile until i came across a 150watt hamilton set-up...brand new for less than $200 shipped. i remember they were offering 250w set-ups for not much more than that....

imho, i would definitely stick to more reliable lighting companies such as icecap, hamilton, aquamedic, sunlight supply, pfo or giesemann. hth!

 

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=212

That seems good to me.

 

Ultra shady chinese import with zero customer service. I know of at least 3 people that had these catch fire. Including one person in my local club. That and if your light doesn't catch fire the bulbs are crap and often don't match if you get one with more than one MH bulb.

I not an equipment snob I like imports but these are a bad idea.