Upgrade 150 to 250 MH

[Binare]

For how much a ballast, bulb holder and bulb will cost ya, I'd just sell yours and get another one.

[Glennrf38]

I was wondering about that..... hmmmmm oh well..... Thanks

Originally Posted by Binare

For how much a ballast, bulb holder and bulb will cost ya, I'd just sell yours and get another one.

[mseepman]

In my opinion, I got more benefit from a lower cost by modding the Coralife to have T5HO's instead of the PC's.

Here's my mod thread. http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=40368

You could use the current ballasts that are in there driving the PC's to probably drive the T5's

[mike31154]

I'd advise against messing with a higher power MH in a fixture designed for a certain wattage. With MH you're talking a point source of light and heat concentrated in a relatively small area. Although a well designed commercial fixture will have a certain degree of safety engineered in there, upping the wattage to that degree could be a fire hazard, especially if the ballasts are housed inside the fixture as well.

[mseepman]

The ballasts on the Coralifes are external, except for the PC ballasts. I've heard of guys doing this before but I just haven't heard them being very happy with the result.

[Binare]

Plus, the bulbs are a different length no? Needing new holders as well if they are and maybe even trimming back the reflector.

[mseepman]

That's really why people haven't been happy with the change in the past and why I went with a change to the PC's instead.