400W Ballast With 250W Bulb?

[reefer]

I have a great 400W Ballast and 400W Bulb over my 50 Gal tank. It's way overkill. Is it ok to use a 250W bulb with a 400W Ballast?
I hate to trade off the ballast for a smaller one as I intend to someday go to a larger tank.

 

[Witfull]

not a good idea!

 

[szidls]

Just buy another ballast. You should easily be able to sell/trade it when you are ready to upgrade again.
Scott

 

[Gordo]

I probably won’t work properly, but it might. Each wattage bulb is designed to work within a specific range of start and operating current and voltage. Switching to a 250W bulb may move you out of those ranges. You could get a used bulb from someone and give it a try. Because you want to use a lower wattage bulb it should hurt the ballast to try it.

~Gordo~

 

[tamarindthai]

are you looking for 250w bulb?i got 2 -10k 250w ushio only 3 weeks old(up grading to 400w),,or if you want to trade?..i am looking for 400w bulb 10k ushio,also,
dang

 

[Scooterman]

Trying to drive a 250w lamp with a ballast the is designed to drive a 400w lamp is not a good idea, you could explode the bulb at worse case, over heat the ballast etc.