ballast and fixture pairing

toua · 04-07-2012, 01:23 PM

So this will be my first metal halide and I was just wondering if I could pair the bottom ballast and fixture together?

Aqua Medic Metal Halide + T5 Ocean Light Fixture,

I'm interested in this 24'' 150W AquaMedic fixture with the two T5's and the ballast option they gave was the 150W Reeflex ballast which runs 129.99. For a little more I can get the Lumatek 250W Dimmable (I'm under the assumption that it can run 150, 175, and 250 watt fixtures from the description). Would the Lumatek ballast work with the AquaMedic fixture? Also is this plug and play or would I have to splice anything? I'm new to this and would like avoiding splicing, any help would be great, thanks!

Telgar · 04-07-2012, 07:35 PM

no, you have to get the ballast that matches the fixture, if you get the 150w fixture then get the 150w ballast.
Or get the 250w fixture and the 250w ballast, but dont mix and match the wattages. While they may work for awhile they will likely burn out the bulbs way too fast if not instantly.

toua · 04-07-2012, 08:55 PM

so the lumatek can only run 250w bulbs and is just a dimming feature versus multiple wattage then?

04-07-2012, 01:23 PM	#1
toua Flamingo Tongue Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 103 Skin: Mint Karma: 16386	ballast and fixture pairing So this will be my first metal halide and I was just wondering if I could pair the bottom ballast and fixture together? Aqua Medic Metal Halide + T5 Ocean Light Fixture, I'm interested in this 24'' 150W AquaMedic fixture with the two T5's and the ballast option they gave was the 150W Reeflex ballast which runs 129.99. For a little more I can get the Lumatek 250W Dimmable (I'm under the assumption that it can run 150, 175, and 250 watt fixtures from the description). Would the Lumatek ballast work with the AquaMedic fixture? Also is this plug and play or would I have to splice anything? I'm new to this and would like avoiding splicing, any help would be great, thanks!

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04-07-2012, 07:35 PM	#2
Telgar Wannabe Reef GOD! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ft Washington, MD Age: 46 Posts: 2,398 Skin: Classic Karma: 1621581	no, you have to get the ballast that matches the fixture, if you get the 150w fixture then get the 150w ballast. Or get the 250w fixture and the 250w ballast, but dont mix and match the wattages. While they may work for awhile they will likely burn out the bulbs way too fast if not instantly.

04-07-2012, 08:55 PM	#3
toua Flamingo Tongue Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 103 Skin: Mint Karma: 16386	so the lumatek can only run 250w bulbs and is just a dimming feature versus multiple wattage then?