Tar ballast vs. Electronic

[reef fool]

Could someone please give me the pros and cons of these two types of MH ballasts?

 

[reef fool]

Sorry, not bumping to move up, it wasn't showing up on my CP.

 

[plum70rt]

I need to know the same thing, Im going to add dual 400watters to my setup, I have heard that electronic are more efficient?, I was going to get a PFO setup tar style with 10K s, which style run cooler?

 

[reefersx2]

Tar ballast are cheaper, they will burn the bulbs hotter (ballast gets hotter too) though which means you have to replace the bulbs sooner. Also the tar ballast cost more to run (electricty wise). Now electronic ballast are more expensive however they are cheaper to run, bulbs will last longer and the ballast run cooler. HTH