Which ballest?
 

I’m considering adding 2X 80W T5HO to my tank and have a workhorse 7 and a icecap 660. Which is a better ballest for that application?

Either will work just fine. If it were me, I'd choose the cheaper one.

The Icecap is more reliable in my experience. Look in to availability of 60" bulbs in the color you want before comiting to them. I have found it limited and shipping expensive in the past.

I was thinking these. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-at...ml#tab-reviews

I assume you already have both? If you're buying new I wouldn't do either as neither of them are true spec T5HO ballasts. A workhorse underdrives the bulbs and an icecap 660 overdrives them. Neither is optimal. If I had to choose between the two I would probably opt for the Icecap if you have the ability to actively cool them, otherwise I'd use the workhorde.

If you're buying new get an advance ballast.

I am very Surprised to see they have free shipping available for them. 60” bulbs can be a real problem to ship and defiantly require special handling and packing. When I considered 60” bulbs last the shipping was more then the bulbs.

You will need two, as i don't think they make a 2 bulb ballast in 60" length.

I do have both.

This actually took on some urgency last night. Currently I’m running 2X 250w Radiums + 3X 36W blue CFL. I had been running the CFLs from 8:00A to 7:00P and the halides for 4 hours mid day. Electric cost for the entire tank was about $100/ month; growth and color was very good. Then I started adding 1/2 hr of halide here and there and heard nothing from 556wife about the bill. Last month I added 1.5 hrs to the halides and the bill went up $150 :hammer: I dropped the halides down to 4 hrs last night!

It was blues 7:00A-10:30A halide 10:30A-4:00P, blues 4:00P-5:00P

108w * 4.5H =.486KWH + 550W * 5.5H = 3.025KWH = 3.5KWH/day. $36/month


Now I’s back to blues 7:00A-11:00A halide 11:00A-3:00P, blues 3:00P-5:00P

108w * 6h = .648KWH + 550w * 4h =2.2KWH = 2.848KWH/day $29.90/mo

That’s a .65KWH/day differance and at $0.35/KWH top tier rate that’s only 20KWH/mo more or $6.85.

Thinking about it, going to 180w X 6 hrs = 1.08KWH + 4H X 550W =2.2KWH = 3.28KWH/day $34.44/mo

Even with 5.5 hrs of halides it ‘s only $36/ month to light my tank. I have no chiller. Something else must have punched my electric bill.

Well, you never know what happens at checkout. They could handle a special handling fee like with frozen food. Perhaps buy several sets at once?