ARO ballast vs Icecap? - Aquarium Advice

Electrobes · 12-16-2003, 08:43 AM

Hey everyone I am down to two choices for a ballast for a 250 watt ballast. The ARO from hello lights is 130.00 while the cheapest I will find the Icecap is about 125.00 bucks. Buttt.... On top of ordering the ARO ballast from Hellolights.com I would also get two [acronym:3de61fb2f0="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3de61fb2f0] bulbs from them too, which would save on shipping as opposed to getting the Icecap ballast off ebay and then getting the two [acronym:3de61fb2f0="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3de61fb2f0] bulbs elsewhere. And on top of that I would be ordering from a company, as opposed to an individual (if this gives any piece of mind). I'd also be splitting shipping with a friend on top of just getting everything in one place. So what would you do?

loganj · 12-16-2003, 10:28 AM

I'm guessing you're talking about a 250 [acronym:ead65dcc5e="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:ead65dcc5e] ballast? You can get a CoralVue in either 110v or 220v for about $105.00. Fully electronic and (I think) a one year warranty.
To answer your question, although I like Icecap ballasts very much and I think they are very good quality, I haven't heard anything bad about the ARO's either. I'd probably go with it if those two are the only ones to be considered.

Electrobes · 12-16-2003, 11:03 AM

yeah.. I mean it would save a bunch on shipping considering I am getting two [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] actinic bulbs on top of getting the ARO 250 watt [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] ballast, plus the shipping will be further saved because I have a friend splitting the shipping's cost as he also needs to make and order from them. Just out of curiosity, one of the reason I based my decisions was because of this chart:

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

The ARO runs a bit under in wattage, without sacrificing too much PAR compared to the Icecap (using the 250watt XM 10,000K bulb). But in all other espects, like starting bulbs, etc.. is there any other significant difference between the two?

captivereefs · 12-16-2003, 11:07 AM

No really. The one thing that i would consider is that the customer service you get from ice cap is oustanding! If ir breaks it will be alot easier to have repaired!

Electrobes · 12-16-2003, 11:11 AM

is hellolight.com's customer service not so great? This would definately be a deciding factor..

captivereefs · 12-16-2003, 11:16 AM

There customer sevice is fine but the ballast manufacturer is usually the one who takes care of warranty issues. Some of these cheaper ballasts and bulb that are on the market now are made in Korea and China. If somethig breaks your screwed unless the US distributor/reseller will help you out. I like to stick with tried and true products that were made by a reliable time tested company. Thats just me though. I would call Hellolights and ask them about the warranty procedures for the ballast in question.

Electrobes · 12-16-2003, 11:22 AM

yeah I will when I go over to my friend's place, thanks

12-16-2003, 08:43 AM	#1
Electrobes Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,076 Images: 7	ARO ballast vs Icecap? Hey everyone I am down to two choices for a ballast for a 250 watt ballast. The ARO from hello lights is 130.00 while the cheapest I will find the Icecap is about 125.00 bucks. Buttt.... On top of ordering the ARO ballast from Hellolights.com I would also get two [acronym:3de61fb2f0="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3de61fb2f0] bulbs from them too, which would save on shipping as opposed to getting the Icecap ballast off ebay and then getting the two [acronym:3de61fb2f0="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3de61fb2f0] bulbs elsewhere. And on top of that I would be ordering from a company, as opposed to an individual (if this gives any piece of mind). I'd also be splitting shipping with a friend on top of just getting everything in one place. So what would you do?

12-16-2003, 10:28 AM	#2
loganj Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chatsworth, GA Posts: 4,008	I'm guessing you're talking about a 250 [acronym:ead65dcc5e="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:ead65dcc5e] ballast? You can get a CoralVue in either 110v or 220v for about $105.00. Fully electronic and (I think) a one year warranty. To answer your question, although I like Icecap ballasts very much and I think they are very good quality, I haven't heard anything bad about the ARO's either. I'd probably go with it if those two are the only ones to be considered. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Logan J www.captiveraisedcorals.com

12-16-2003, 11:07 AM	#4
captivereefs Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WI Posts: 1,852	No really. The one thing that i would consider is that the customer service you get from ice cap is oustanding! If ir breaks it will be alot easier to have repaired! __________________ Darin

12-16-2003, 11:16 AM	#6
captivereefs Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: WI Posts: 1,852	There customer sevice is fine but the ballast manufacturer is usually the one who takes care of warranty issues. Some of these cheaper ballasts and bulb that are on the market now are made in Korea and China. If somethig breaks your screwed unless the US distributor/reseller will help you out. I like to stick with tried and true products that were made by a reliable time tested company. Thats just me though. I would call Hellolights and ask them about the warranty procedures for the ballast in question. __________________ Darin

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12-16-2003, 11:03 AM	#3
Electrobes Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,076 Images: 7	yeah.. I mean it would save a bunch on shipping considering I am getting two [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] actinic bulbs on top of getting the ARO 250 watt [acronym:3a3bb0b634="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:3a3bb0b634] ballast, plus the shipping will be further saved because I have a friend splitting the shipping's cost as he also needs to make and order from them. Just out of curiosity, one of the reason I based my decisions was because of this chart: http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm The ARO runs a bit under in wattage, without sacrificing too much PAR compared to the Icecap (using the 250watt XM 10,000K bulb). But in all other espects, like starting bulbs, etc.. is there any other significant difference between the two?

12-16-2003, 11:11 AM	#5
Electrobes Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,076 Images: 7	is hellolight.com's customer service not so great? This would definately be a deciding factor..

12-16-2003, 11:22 AM	#7
Electrobes Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,076 Images: 7	yeah I will when I go over to my friend's place, thanks

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