SaltWaterNewb
Member
I have two ARO AS-220 VHO ballasts laying around the house not getting used. They are rated to run two 55/65 watt CF bulbs each ballast. I originally bought them for a FW planted tank that never happened. So anyways, I have been planning to do a 29 gallon project and was going to ditch these ballasts and go T5. Well, now the plans have changed. I am now thinking of doing a ghetto 10 gallon reef tank since money has recently become an issue (bought my g/f an engagement ring 
). The only thing that I will really need to buy for a 10g project will be the tank, a power head, bulbs, and some live sand. I have everything else. So my question is, can I use the ballasts designed to run 55/65 watt bulbs to run 36 watt bulbs? The reason being the 55/65w bulbs are 21" long and the 36w is only 17". Since the tank is 20", I would like to keep from having hang over to keep things looking a little cleaner.
). The only thing that I will really need to buy for a 10g project will be the tank, a power head, bulbs, and some live sand. I have everything else. So my question is, can I use the ballasts designed to run 55/65 watt bulbs to run 36 watt bulbs? The reason being the 55/65w bulbs are 21" long and the 36w is only 17". Since the tank is 20", I would like to keep from having hang over to keep things looking a little cleaner.