Hey GC! I'm getting ready to invest in a new light set up. I know what bulb and hood I'm going with, I just wanted some peoples opinions on the ballast. My grow tent is a 2' x 2' x 5' - GrowLab GL60 I'm going to be running Hortiluk bulbs - MH and HPS I'm debating between Phontom and Lumatek. I know I want to stick with 250watts due to the small tent. Let me know your opinion!
Lumatek and Hortilux had specific compatibility issues at one point. They may have been resolved, but I would check. Phantoms at that low of a wattage don't have the indicator lights that are such an advantage on the more powerful models. I still say go with Phantom because you can run them vertically and are really easy to wall mount.
Thanks for the input! By indicator lights are you referring to the LED display for the dimmable ballasts?
Go with phantom for sure if your using a hortilux, there were/are compatibility issues with lumatek. I run a 400w lumatek and love it but I don't use hortilux either.
I use a 400W Lumatek with a 430W Phillips Son Agro Bulb. I was going to buy a Hortilux bulb but the guy at hydro store talked me out of it and said it wasnt worth it. The Lumatek is nice because it has different settings like the 250W, 250W Super Lumens, 400W and 400W Super lumens switch. Not sure if its a huge gimic with the super lumens but it seems to be brighter when I switch to that setting. Its nice that it can run the 250w bulb though and also a 400w if you decide to upgrade later on. Not sure if it draws 400W when using the 250W switch though cuz that would just be a waste then. I have a 4 X 2 X 7 tent and temperatures are good with a 400W and a vortex fan for outtake. Don't know anything about Phantom but I'm thoroughly happy with Lumatek. The design is really nice as well. It's shape is such that it helps with the heat quite a bit. EDIT - I just read that the phantom problem was more with the MH blues and with the 1000W ballast not the ones with less Watts.
i was going to come in here and tell you just cause phantom is cool name and it has the vertical mount option to save space lol and lumatek is just out better anyway but i guess your bulb may cause the prob but i love my 600 lumatek that runs BOTH hps and mh has a super lumens switch huge warranty and was only $199 there is a reason it comes in ROYALTY purple