LFS that carries IceCap MH ballasts at decent prices

[oscar.millan]

I'm looking for a couple of IceCap 250w MH ballast, want to pick them up at a local fish store. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advanced.

0scar M.

[bullitr]

Try tom @ socal
If not I have a dimmable ballast and sell the lumenarc mini reflector and keep all the bulbs for free!

[oscar.millan]

Thanks for the info Bullitr, and I'll let you know about the ballast. I imagine it's a Lumatek 250w MH (dimmable to 150w).

Is this the correct store?

Socal Tropical Fish

(714) 603-4707

2495 E Chapman Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831

[BeanMachine]

Yep that's the one. Ali at Amazing Aquariums and Reef in Orange on Tustin Ave. Might as well.

[oscar.millan]

Thanks Cody, I'll give Ali a call as well.

Just got off the phone with Tom, sounds like IceCap is not doing so well. Perhaps going out of business?

Tom is recommending Galaxy or Lumatek, any thoughts?

[BeanMachine]

Icecap is going under. I heard coralvue is gonna rebrand them.

[Spssteven]

So cal has the best price also look into galaxy ballast they are really nice too

[bullitr]

I have the coralvue dimmables it's great that is why I am contemplating if I should let it go because ad bright as 400 watts when I overdriven in to 300 watts and make it very blue if I reduce the wattage less than 200 watts.
But my tank is too deep to have a great coverage 36"


CoralVue Electronic Ballast comes with 2 years manufacturer's Warranty.
It will fire both single end and double end lamps.
- Ballast dimmentions: 8”x4”x3”
- 35% Dimmable / 2+10% overdrive
- Weight: 8lbs
- 3 year warranty
- Operating current: 2.20A
- UL Approved

[smalltime]

I run 2 Lumatek selectable ballasts 250-400. Great product for the price.

[oscar.millan]

Alright guys, here it is between the these two ballast:

Lumatek vs. Galaxy

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_162434.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_162434.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[oscar.millan]

I ended up going with the Lumatek, thanks everyone for your input. Tom is a greak guy, took the time to explain the pros and cons, didn't feel pressured to buying one vs. the other. Just gave me the facts and let me decide.

Thanks TOM!

[fshRfrendsNTfod]

I ran 2 galaxy when I had MH. I would go with them just cause I never had a problem with mine. Then again I haven't used a lumatek

[oscar.millan]

And here they are powering up 2 x LumenMax 3's with 2 x Phoenix 14k bulbs.

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_174614.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_174614.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[oscar.millan]

And here they are powering up 2 x LumenMax 3's with 2 x Phoenix 14k bulbs.

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_174614.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_174614.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[fshRfrendsNTfod]

Nice!! Looks great

[oscar.millan]

Thanks, here are close ups of the reflectors. I was going to post earlier, but I was having too much fun with the new toys.

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_174622.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_174622.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[oscar.millan]

Here is another

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_174724.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_174724.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[oscar.millan]

Here is the UPS where both ballasts are plugged into, this guy isn't even blinking an eye. I love these units.

<a href="http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20101204_174709.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff11/oscarmillan/RC%20Posts/IMG_20101204_174709.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[crsandoval]

Looks great Oscar you will love the phoenix lamps they work great

[socalmiket]

I have the same ballasts and bulbs (in Lumenmax Elite fixtures). Great color and great growth. The Lumatek ballasts run cool and silent (been running them for about 1.5 years now, no problems.

- MikeT

[oscar.millan]

crsandoval,

I like it more everyday. Tank looks super bright and it has just enough blue in it for my taste. Lovely bulb.

[oscar.millan]

Very cool, glad to hear good things about my latest investment.

I actually bought the entire lighting from a fellow reefer 2 x Reflectors, 2 x bulbs, 2 x ballast. The ballast were the old 250w MH from IceCap, the kind that don't have the slotted housing for extra cooling.

They basically look like VHO, or T5 ballast. For some reason they didn't reliably fire up any of the bulbs, so I ended up purchasing the Lumateks. Any body else have experience with these old ballast. I will take pictures tomorrow if that would make it easier to identify them.