ouch, that sux! with $1800 you could've designed and built a bad ass grow box. hopefully, some newbs on here will learn from your mistake.

are you sure it was the bulb? it sounds like an electrical short. I'd check the wiring, as well as the fixture too. and if you change over to flouro's, i'd run new wiring. especially if it's made cheap. think you're pissed now, imagine if it burnt down your house?

be careful with this thing, and give it a good inspection. hopefully you're getting your bad luck out of the way now so you'll have a happy healthy grow. best of luck!