Erock

entropy has some 250w ballasts for sale for pretty cheap

I'm assuming that entropy is one of the other posters on this here board???

I'm about 99.9% sure that its the ballast. next problem is installing the new one when i get it. any help that you guys can give me would be wonderful. Thanks yet again.

eric

Most lights attempt to use some sort of fuse to prevent the total loss of the ballast. Check your manufacturer to see if they have one. If your ballast is magnetic you may have only burned out the starting capacitor. Light ballasts are not a total mystery and are quite simple, especially MH. What size is it? I know that Prof had some nice SUnlight Supply and ARO ballasts that he got in a trade awhile back. I think they were 250w.

its a 250w aquamedic aquaspacelight. I've pulled the side off but want to do a bit more research before i start pulling it apart. Thanks for the help.

pm sent

I have had that happen to me, my ballast was dead afterwards. It smelled like something had burned. I also had smoke come out of mine

sounds about right...

how difficult is it to install a new ballast? I'll probably just buy an external then? is there any good way to tell what i'm looking at when i open the side? oh so many questions...

Maybe it just needs to cool down. mh lights wont turn on immediately after being turned off. unplug it for 30 min then try it again

I sure hope you're right... would that smell like an electrical fire though?

So i was just cleaning and lifeted up the power strip that had my light/timer plugged into it and all of a sudden the light shut off and everything else paused momentarily then resumed.... everything except the light. Its not the timer. I get no light now... i do get the smell of burning electricity though... what the heck just happened... did i just burn out the whole light?? Its a Aquamedic Aquastarlight or something like that...

this really sucks...

eric

ditto. I hate when people hijack threads and stuff so make sure that Cuber is all taken care of first. I've got a 45 gallon and honestly dont really know what i need. as just going to start off with some snails and hermits and a peppermint shrimp or banded shrimp.

thanks for the link. ill more than definitely check out the link.

and mike, thanks a ton. thats really awesome that you'd be willing to do that but i think i found a setup to pick up tomorrow.

There is a 4 fan combo unit for around $30 on ebay that seems to work great. I have one on my solana and if I keep it running all day my temp wont come above 77, and that is with a 250W MH hanging above.

do you happen to have a link or any other info? I'll check it out after work today. Thanks alot. sounds like exactly what i need.

eric

I'm hoping that someone has an extra hang on back type skimmer or canister filter or something for my 45 gallon. I had a penguin biowheel filter in it but it crapped out yesterday (after only like 5 months. anyone know warranty details), and i just need something to take over. I was planning on upgrading anyway, i guess it just has to be a paycheck earlier.

Also looking for one powerhead and a fan of some sorts, or something else to keep it cool. the temp got almost to 90 after being on for a full 10 or so hours. I'm almost certain that i cant afford a chiller but who knows. if anyone has any good DIY type ideas of how to do this i would love the info.

Thanks, this site has been like my bible for the last few weeks!!!

eric

Well after a few additions here is where i am at. anyone have any landscaping type recommendations or anything like that? I think its turning out pretty good and i am glad a got to make myself a bit of a cave in the center as that was my original plan. Thanks agian to mike for the rock!!!

Now i just need to get my water all sorted out and whatnot and It'll be time to start adding some life to it.

Thanks for all the help everyone. I just learned about the whole bio-filtration deal with the live rocks... just forgot i guess. I'm hoping to add some live rock in the next couple of weeks and assuming my wallet isnt completely empty some extra little critters. What would be an ideal cleanup crew for the tank?

ericericericericericericericericeric

Well i finally got my light hung today (thanks again, Nano Steve) and am going to be making a trip up to aquatek to get me some live sand and rubble for in my filter. I'm pretty excited to be only weeks away from having this thing going!!! Its a 45g corner.

I have a piece of holey rock that i used in the tank before going salty with it. Is this something that would be worth putting into the tank to pile live rock around? that way i dont have to spend $50 on a rock thats going to be covered by the others. Also, how much rock should i plan on getting if i want to do both fish and corals? I'm thinking about doing like 50 pounds or so. Also, should i be using the air stone thinger? not sure on whether its good in saltwater too or not?? I'll keep updating as this thing comes together. I'm pumped!!

Hello everyone,

I have a 45g corner tank that i am going to convert from brackish water to salt water and i am super pumped about it!!! I'm looking for a few things to get it going.

Lights - not going to be reef specific but i'd like to do some corals. 20" to 24" will fit. Around $200

Live rock - Trying to get a little bit of a deal compared to what they are charging at the store. The amount you charge will determine how much i will take. probably around $100

Substrate - I bought sand from Amazonia when i started the brackish tank. not sure if its good enough but i also would like to add some crushed coral to give it a more realistic appearance. $??

Cleaning crew - If you want to get rid of some of your crabs, shells, or whatever else i might need I'd probably take it from ya.

Filter? - I've been told that because i am going to be doing more of a fish aquarium rather than a coral aquarium my penguin biowheel filter should be ok to get me going but if you have something lying around that would be better i'd be interested.

any other goodies that a n00b like myself should know about? hurry hurry hurry... i'm excited to do this!!!

Tanks,

Eric

edit - I'm also going to need to rehome 2 puffers 2 knight gobies and 2 cats if anyone is interested.