Replacing 250w halide with 175w bulbs

[mloebl]

I can't remember where I saw this...but I'm trying to remember; can I downgrade bulbs to a lower wattage in a halide setup? Reason I ask is I want to upgrade my Icecap 175w to an Icecap 250w ballasts. I am trying to spread the cost out and was going to replace one ballast at a time and run both as 175w bulbs until both are upgraded, then I'll bring up the bulbs to 250w when both ballasts are installed.

Thanks,

-Mike

 

[reefphreak]

I'd be interested in the IceCap 175 ballasts if you sell them...

Leo

 

[mloebl]

I'd be interested in the IceCap 175 ballasts if you sell them...

Leo

You're first on the list when I sell them, Hope to replace the first one this week.

-Mike

 

[JohnK]

I don't think you can run the 175 bulb on a 250 ballast if that's what your asking. I'd assume you'd fry the bulb, Ballast, or both.

Edit; BTW, I have a 2x250w SE retro that will be for sale for $300 as of next week if your interested.

 

[Richard]

I don't think you can run the 175 bulb on a 250 ballast if that's what your asking. I'd assume you'd fry the bulb, Ballast, or both.

Edit; BTW, I have a 2x250w SE retro that will be for sale for $300 as of next week if your interested.

What kind of ballast are they?

 

[JohnK]

Standard magnetic, DIY ballast enclosure with cooling fan, seperate power cords and quick disconnect lamp cords. Inc spider reflectors, sockets, used blueline, hamilton 14k, and iwaski bulbs.

I can E-mail pics of the ballast if your interested.

 

[Richard]

No thanks I'm looking for a icecap

 

[NateHanson]

I'd think you're tank would be better if you upgraded one bulb at a time anyways. First switch to 175 and 250, then later switch to 250 and 250. Might be less shocking to the corals. (I'd still use screens or distance during acclimation with each new bulb though.)

 

[mloebl]

Thanks Nate, I'm starting to think that too... In the canopy I can't really raise/lower them, but that is a good idea where I can add additional eggcrate to try to diffuse them a bit more. "I have no idea Honey why the electric bill went up again... " I may replace my 2 VHOs with T5s this time to try to help cut cost a little bit if possible, however stuck in the T5 vs VHO debate for actinics

-Mike

 

[reefphreak]

You're first on the list when I sell them, Hope to replace the first one this week.

-Mike

I appreciate it.

 

[mkeyb]

i got a question can you put the 250 hqi ibulb in a 175 set up? thats what i was thinking of doing for now till i can get the 250 ballasts. i was thinking the bulbs should be fine just not as bright as they could be right?

 

[JohnK]

No,
the ballast and bulb need to match. If a 250W bulb would even fire on a 175W ballast(?), it would most likely not work well and shorten the bulb life/damage the bulb and or ballast.

Also, generally HQI bulbs are double ended (though there are a couple of single ended bulbs that are reccomended to be run on HQI ballasts). That said, you need a double ended 250W socket for the 250W HQI bulb, where as 175W bulbs are all single ended mogul socket style.

 

[mkeyb]

actully your right i missed typed when i wrote 175 i have 150 hqi and was thinking to put 250 bulbs but if i can't i can't lol

 

[JohnK]

Still the same issue with ballast compatibility, also the 150 DE sockets are different from the 250 DE sockets (maybe just the spacing, I'm not sure).