closing sale @www.saltwaterconnection.com

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by CHEAPREEF

Will those Ushio 175's fire on a regular cap/coil ballast?

Yes they will. I run mine on M57's... Supposedly it IS better to run them on M137's, but if what you have is the M57's, and you don't have the coin to go out and buy the other ballasts, you should be able to get by. I am on my fourth year on these ballasts and my fourth set of replacement bulbs over that time, and I have NEVER had a problem with the bulbs not firing, or not appearing painfully bright. There is a buzzing sound when they start, I don't know if this noise goes away if you use the pulse-start ballasts. Supposedly if you use the M137's, the light will be slightly brighter, and the ballasts are "easier" on the bulbs thus eaking out a somewhat longer useful life. Thus if you don't have the ballasts YET, then yes you should go out and get the M137's (they don't cost that much more), but if you have the M57's already, and really want to try using those, then go ahead and try 'em.... 8)

[Old Guy]

I was thinking of heading that way in the summer for a centennial do up at my place on Mathison Island. 7000 gals may have cinced my decision.

[EmilyB]

"Goin' to Winnipeg..."

[Canadian Man]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

"Goin' to Winnipeg..."

:shock: What I thought we were going to Hawaii!?!?!? :P

[EmilyB]

Glad you like the commercial too Jon !

[spikehs]

what size is the facility now?

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

regarding running Ushio 175W/10000K on M57 ballasts

... I am on my fourth year on these ballasts and my fourth set of replacement bulbs over that time, and I have NEVER had a problem with the bulbs not firing, or not appearing painfully bright. ...

This is the sound of me eating my words: munch, munch, munch. MMMm, needs a little hot sauce.

Anyways, as if to prove a point of irony, since posting this, two out of three bulbs (over two different tanks) in this configuration, haev developed problems starting. They are not starting on their own at all and I need to cycle the power several times to the ballast, fiddle with the bulb in the socket, before the bulb starts.

Soo .... I guess I can no longer say "I've never had a problem starting pulse-start bulbs on probe-start ballasts". Proceed at your own risk, maybe you'll be fine for a while, but maybe eventually you won't be fine. Spring for the M137 pulse start ballasts (beware that you will need a long-range ignitor to use pulse-start ballasts in the typical situation we wire up our canopies over our tanks).