another 250 watt HQI ballast thread! yay!

Discussion in 'Metal Halide Aquarium Lighting' started by devildog, Feb 27, 2011.

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  1. devildog

    devildog Plankton

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    So a had a ballast burn out today on my fixture. I get online and research and decide to replace it with an icecap ballast due to their output. They just so happen to have the same plug, so it would be plug and play. I call my LFS to see if they have a 250 watt model in stock and was informed Icecap is no longer in business. A quick google search and I can not find anywhere with these ballast still in stock.

    Does anyone know where I can purchase one or recommend to me another ballast in that price range? Thanks!
     
    devildog, Feb 27, 2011
    devildog, Feb 27, 2011
    #1

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  2. BTowned

    BTowned Peppermint Shrimp

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    You can get a Galaxy or Lumatek select a watt electronic ballast
    Aquarium Specialty
    It's an electronic ballast with a switch to run 150/175/250/250 HQI
     
    BTowned, Feb 28, 2011
    BTowned, Feb 28, 2011
    #2
  3. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    Dingo, Feb 28, 2011
    Dingo, Feb 28, 2011
    #3
  4. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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    Dingo is correct on CoralVue. Not sure when / if they will start shipping the newer design however.

    I have a pair of the LumaTek Select-a-watt ballasts. They are awesome! I will eventually replace all my ballasts with this design. They (Galaxy / LumaTek) are supposed to be the next best thing to run HQI bulbs (Radiums / Phoenix) next to a true HQI magnetic ballast, now that IceCap is so hard to find.
     
    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    #4
  5. m2434

    m2434 Giant Squid

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    From what I understand, you'll be waiting indefinitely for the IceCap. I would at least call aquacave and ask about it. When I looked into it, even though the website said in-stock, it wasn't and I was told it wouldn't be ever again as Icecap is mostly dissolved. Not sure why they haven't updated their website, they seem rather disorganized sometimes. I went with the 250/400W select a watt galaxy. Works great so far.
     
    m2434, Feb 28, 2011
    m2434, Feb 28, 2011
    #5
  6. devildog

    devildog Plankton

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    Does the lumatek have the same thee prong cord the icecap did? It appears to in the pictures.
     
    devildog, Feb 28, 2011
    devildog, Feb 28, 2011
    #6

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  7. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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    Here ya go.
     

    Attached Files:

    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    #7
  8. devildog

    devildog Plankton

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    That looks very different than my current plug. There doesn't appear to be any other options though. Thanks again!
     
    devildog, Feb 28, 2011
    devildog, Feb 28, 2011
    #8
  9. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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    That one pictured is the plug that will be offered on 99% of Aquarium related vendors. There are other plugs that LumaTek offers. If you search around on some hydroponics websites, you should see some other offerings. They might be a match, I just don't know off hand.
     
    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    jonjonwells, Feb 28, 2011
    #9
  10. BTowned

    BTowned Peppermint Shrimp

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    Last edited: Mar 1, 2011
    BTowned, Mar 1, 2011
    BTowned, Mar 1, 2011
    #10
    1 person likes this.
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