250 watt bulb SE & 400 watt ballast.

[mufflerguy]

i'm pretty sure this is OK to do , but I wanted to post the question anyway.
Is it OK to use a 250 watt bulb with a 400 wat ballast?
I know it doesnt work the other way.
Will it be overdriving the bulb?

[spslover123]

MH bulbs run so hot they scare me normally, so I dont know if this would be the best idea IMO. I dont really know though.

Anyway if you have the 400 watt ballast why not just get the pendant too =D

Chris

[mufflerguy]

I'm currently running 400 watt bulbs in a PFO hood, I'm just thinking of lowering wattage to get different results with coral coloring. Its not a question of spending the money, its whether it will work or not.
Thanks,Matt

[Kimo]

It won't work, at least not for any length of time. The ballast will still try to pump enough juice into the bulb to run it at 400 watts, overdriving the bulb. i wouldn't even TRY that, let alone run it for any length of time.

you can pick up a 250 watt magnetic ballast for pretty cheap, why not just try that?

[parkavenuereef]

The bulb with shatter and glass will be all over the tank.. DO NOT DO THIS.. it will get rediculiously hot!