ReefBrite has a new dimmable metal halide ballast on the way which will finally bring with it some new features which have become commonplace with all LED lights. Dimmable metal halide ballasts are nothing new, they’ve been around in some form or another for at least six to seven years but ReefBrite saw fit to bring their metal halide ballasts up to speed.
The ReefBrite dimmable metal halide ballasts will be available in 250 watt to start, and then in 175 and 400 watts as well. The dimming function will be available two ways, one with a wireless remote control, like a little clicker remote which will allow the ballast to step down to 50% output of the lamp. Another and perhaps more interesting option for the techies is the 0-10v input which means that the ballast will be able to play nice with aquarium controllers.
The 0-10v external control of the metal halide ballast will allow the lamp to be ramped down to 50% output after the lamp is fully fired when it turns on. After that an axternal controller will be able to ramp the lamp up and down throughout the day to simulate more natural sunset, meaning that the ReefBrite dimmable is likely the first metal halide ballast even capable of being Apex Ready.
January 2014 is when you’ll be able to get your salt grubs on the new dimmable ReefBrite ballast in 250 watt, and of course it plays nice with the TwinArc line of lamps. These new wireless and controllable ballasts will cost marginally more than their standard issue counterpart and the part we’re really looking forward to learn more about, is how the life of the lamp is affected by running at 50% for part of its usable life. Perhaps this will also lead to longer lasting lamps, but we’ll have to wait at least a year to find out if this is actually the case. 
