thanks for the response guys
i agree with OregonMeds, hps light is hps light, i have worked with these ballasts before and besides efficiency there isnt much difference in ballast quality, some really high priced ones have heavy duty windings but they take more power
and homegrwn to tell the truth there are so many things that can go wrong, even cfls can be dangerouse, they can overheat and just combust outa nowhere. i have experience wiring these ballast and bending a few pices of sheetmetal, drilling a few holes and poppin off some rivets i think i can make a pretty dandy reflector that gives me more light at the plants and gives a good way to hang
edit,
homegrwn about the nute burn, are you talking about the bown patches on th 2 bottom leaves of my 2nd plant?? that was from me spilling nute water on them a long time ago, if not then what are you talking about??