Problems with my ballast...

[reefmachine]

I was doing a water change today and accidently got some water into my ballast. It started to smoke so I turned it off and unplugged it. I let it dry for about an hour and tried to turn it on but the halides won't come on now. Is my ballast fried or is there something I need to do to get it to work?

 

[scsinet]

You may have blown a fuse. Look for a fuse holder somewhere on the ballast body.
If that doesn't work or it doesn't have one, can you post pics of your ballast? Make/Model?
Usually when things dry out they will be okay, but seawater can leave salt deposits behind when it evaporates.

 

[reeftheif]

post type of ballast. Check fuses first.

 

[reefmachine]

Its pretty much generic. I've looked all over for a make and model and can't find one. its an external controler for an hqi double ended 250w lamp.

 

[reefmachine]

fuse is fine.

 

[scsinet]

How long have you let it dry?

 

[reefmachine]

couple of hours.

 

[reefmachine]

if it doesn't work in the morning i'm going to claim on my warranty and should have a new ballast in about a week. the halides were included in one fixure with 130w acitics. Doyou think my tank would be ok with the acitics for a week? I have zoes, green bubble coral, green goniporia, candy cane, and mushrooms currently in the tank.

 

[scsinet]

Your tank will be fine. Actinics don't do much for anything other than appearance to humans anyway.

 

[reefmachine]

The tank will be without the halides for a week due to the ballast failure. Will the tank be ok with only running the actinics.

 

[scsinet]

Sorry... I misunderstood...
Same thing applies as I said before about Actinics not doing much for your livestock. A week is quite a bit, but your corals will probably be okay. It is pushing it though. Do you have the tank in a nice sunny room? If so, open blinds and shades. Even indirect sunlight will help.