More questions regarding MH's for those who know :)

[sterling]

Ok, I'm back with more questions regarding MH's. I still have the opportunity to get a 6' fixture that has 175w bulbs and actinics for a reasonable price.
However, the 175w won't be adequate for my 125 gallon tank. My new question is this......can I get a different ballast to run bigger lights on this unit?? And if there are 3 MH's do I need 3 ballasts?

 

[elan]

Depends on the ballasts.
I have a ballast that powers 2 175s and i am planning on buying a 400 ballast so that i can have it in the middle, with both 175s on either side.
you can either get single ballasts or dual ballasts (although i think the dual basically are two ballasts in one.

 

[kpogue]

How many 175's does the fixture have? It sounds like 3. Why wouldn't it be enough for a 125? I have 3 175 mh's w/ 2 60" VHO actincs. Gives me around 6.5w per gal.
My mh's have a single ballast ea and are in 1 enclosure. I put toggle switches on the hood for the option of turning them on and off.

 

[elan]

why do MH suggest to be 8 inches above the water?

 

[sterling]

Well, I'm picking up the 175w fixture. it's got 3 175W MH's and two VHO's, I believe 140w or 160w. The guy I'm getting it from said he would show me how hook up larger ballasts if I decide to go larger. But this unit is a REALLY good price, so even if it doesn't work, I could probably easily sell it.