Ballast

I just bought this:

http://shop.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=54241

and i need to upgrade the ballast within 3 months so i figured why not do it now while diyreef is going out of business and is selling them for discount. But the problem is i want an icecap and they dont make them in 150 watt MH, only 175. Would that be ok or too much? My light, default comes with a 150 watt ballast but it also has 2 14 watt actinics so idk if that plays any roll in the ballast or not but please tell me what to do.

https://diyreef.authsecure.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=55_63_92&products_id=626

 

have 2 of these. why replace the ballast in 3 months. maybe the bulbs, but not the ballast. the t5s are not ho so the supplied ballast has nothing to do with them. ice cap does make a 150 hqi ballast. ebay and foster and smith have them.

 

What do you mean their not HO? it says in the description twice that they are HO And i want to replace the ballast because i heard their crap and dont let the bulb run to its fullest potential and its been proven that they wear out bulbs a lot faster thanks for the response.

 

the 250 watt ballast are underpowered. i don't think the 150s are that bad. replace the bulbs with blue line sps bulbs (so i'm told) which are very good bulbs and it will make a dramatic difference. i see where the add says ho, but the bulbs don't say it. either way the external ballast is just for the mh. there are several on here that have just changed bulbs. wait and change the ballast when it wears out unless youre just itching to replace it. all in all i still think you will be pleased. it's a pretty decent light and the price can't be beat.

 

Ya i hear ya. Theres just a huge sale on this site and the ballasts went down from $140 to $84 and the bulbs went down $20 so i figured nows the time.

 

Ok im gunna order the sps bulb. In your opinion, should i get the 20k or 14k? i hate the look of yellow and have actinics, 2 of them so that shouldnt matter THAT much. If i get the 20k, i just dont want it to be TOO blue. I definitely do like more than less blue though. does anyone have a picture?

 

I think im just gunna get the 14k and turn on the actinics if i have to. Anyone agree?

 

14k should be okay. the unit comes 15k but they're odyssea bulbs so a good bulb would definitely have a different color. the actinics are actually pretty good on this unit. i'm still as excited about mine as the day i got them. the ballast stay cool to the touch and so far so good and i have not had any heat issues whatsoever.