TCS-Hydroponics - Aquarium Ballasts

One of the most important things you can do to be successful in keeping a reef is to provide proper lighting. In fact, lighting your aquarium properly is second only to providing good water quality.
Most of the corals you will be keeping are photosynthetic and require intense lighting. Without providing them with the proper lights you will be giving your corals a death sentence. Clams and desirable coralline algae also require intense lighting.
There are three things to consider when thinking about lights; duration, intensity, and color.
Duration is the easiest to control. Most reefs will require from 10 to 14 hours of light. This can be easily controlled by connecting your lights to a timer or getting your ballast with a built in timer. Just plug the lights into the timer and set the times for them to come on and go off. Turning your lights on and off manually is not recommended. Your animals will become accustomed to having a consistent lighting schedule and timers are the perfect way to make sure you don't forget your lights.
Light intensity is of extreme importance. In general, higher wattage lights produce higher intensity levels. Corals and clams are usually photosynthetic and will require a high intensity light to survive. As a rough guideline, a low to medium light system uses 2-5 watts of light per gallon, and a medium to high light system uses 5-10 watts per gallon. Corals requiring low light can be kept in high light systems, but may have to be positioned accordingly.
The color of your lights is also important. In order to keep healthy animals you will need a light that produces mostly white to blue light. Color for lights is usually measured in the Kelvin scale. Typically, the lower the number the more yellow the light is and the higher the number the more blue.
For More Information and FAQ’s, Click here

Sun System Blue Wave I Remote Assembled Magnetic Ballast Does not include lamp cord. All reflectors come with cord set. All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise Intermatic Integrated Timer (optional) $30.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item. Also available in Pulse Start versions $20.00 upgrade All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs
MH 175 Watt Ballast $149.95	Click to Enlarge
MH 250 Watt Ballast $169.95
MH 400 Watt Ballast $179.95

Sun System Blue Wave II Remote Assembled Dual Magnetic Ballast **This system requires 2 Lamps and 2 Reflectors. Does not include lamp cord Unit has dual ballasts for burning two lamps simultaneously All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise Available in Pulse Start versions. $30.00 upgrade Intermatic Integrated Timer (optional) $30.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item. All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
Dual MH 175 watt $ 219.95		Click to Enlarge
Dual MH 250 watt $249.95
Dual MH 400 watt $259.95

Sun System Blue Wave III Remote Assembled HQI Ballast Runs Double Ended Metal Halide Lamps Does not include lamp cord 150 watt ballast runs double-ended HQI metal halide lamps or medium base HQI metal halide lamps 250 watt ballast runs double-ended HQI metal halide lamps or mogul base HQI metal halide lamps All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise See Blue Wave 7 for Dual Ballast version Intermatic Integrated Timer (optional) $30.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
MH 150 watt HQI $209.95		Click to Enlarge
MH 250 Watt HQI $219.95
MH 430 watt HQI $239.95

Sun System Blue Wave IV Remote Assembled Electronic Ballast Does not include lamp cord All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise MH150 ballast will run all medium base and HQI double-ended metal halide lamps MH175 and 250 watt ballast run standard mogul base metal halide lamps HQI/MH 250 ballast will run HQI double-ended MH lamp, mogul base HQI lamps and standard mogul base lamps Intermatic Brand DIGITAL Integrated 15amp Timer (optional) $50.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item. All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
HGI/MH 150 Watt $329.95		Click to Enlarge
HGI/MH 175 Watt $309.95
HGI/MH 250 Watt $319.95

Sun System Blue Wave V MH 1000 Remote Assembled Magnetic Ballast Does not include lamp cord Ballast burns one MH1000 watt lamp All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise Unit features a multi-volt ballast which can also operate at 208 volt, 240 volt, or 277 volt Intermatic Integrated Time (optional) $30.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item Available in Pulse Start All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
MH 1000 - $239.95		Click to Enlarge


Sun System Blue Wave VI Remote Assembled Magnetic Ballast (Fully Assembled) Die cast housing, powder coated blue Sturdy carrying handle Louvered for optimum cooling Rubber feet for quiet operating Pigtail strain relief Major brand capacitor Does not include lamp cord Will not run HQI lamps All systems wired for 120v. operation (Note: This fixture is made in China) All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
MH 175 watt $119.95		Click to Enlarge
MH 250 watt $129.95
MH 400 watt $139.95

Sun System Blue Wave VII Remote Assembled Dual Magnetic Ballast **This system will need 2 Lamps and 2 Reflectors. Does not include lamp cord 150 watt ballast runs double-ended HQI metal halide lamps or medium base HQI metal halide lamps 250 watt ballast runs double-ended HQI metal halide lamps or mogul base HQI metal halide lamps All systems wired for 120v. operation unless specified otherwise Intermatic Integrated Timer (optional) $30.00 upgrade. Will add 1-2 weeks to shipping time, custom item. All Sunsystem Blue Wave Aquarium Lighting Systems are sold "Al La Cart" This means you select your choice of Ballast, your choice of Reflector, your choice of Lamp (bulb) and any upgrades or options that fit your needs.
Dual MH 150 watt HQI $289.95		Click to Enlarge
Dual MH 250 watt HQI $319.95
Dual MH 430 watt HQI $369.95

	Register for TCS-Hydroponics email updates
Top \| Home \| Catalog Index \| Payment Information \| Shipping Information \| Contact Info \| Privacy Policy \| Site Map