Ballast Help Needed

bklynreef · Aug 19, 2015

I have 8 400 Watt Metal Halides with Radium Bulbs and Running them on The Older Galaxy Electronic Ballast. I really enjoy the Blue That it give and im wondering if anyone has any experience with 400 Watt Ballasts that would give this Radium Bulb more of a Blue Hue without diminishing the light intensity making the tank look dimmer even if it is giving it a bluer hue.
Im basically mainly comparing the Galaxy to the Coralvue.
Also on the Coralvue, which setting do you use with the radium bulb and what is the difference between " 400 Watt " and " Super Lumens " settings.
What does each setting do different?
Color? Intensity?

aslmx · Aug 19, 2015

I have 250 radiums on hqi galaxies but not a lot of blue. Do you have room to add some t5s

bklynreef · Aug 19, 2015

Im supplimenting with Radion G2 Pros which really you won't really be able to see once all the lights are on but I really dont care since ill have coral veiwing time when the MH turn off. I dont want to add T5's ive been there done that and they were great for the look but I just want growth and a basic blue hue. Just want the most blue a ballast will put out without making the light dimmer.
I have in my possesion 8 galaxy units and 5 coralvue units. Ill test them both before mounting and see which I like better mabe even mix them but I wanted feedback before I went through this excersize

kannon50 · Aug 19, 2015

i have the Coralvue ballasts running on my DT and Purple Lumateks on my prop system. probably wouldnt but the coralvue ones again as i prefer the 20K blue hue. on the coral vue you get more of an 17-18K look

bklynreef · Aug 19, 2015

Most people I spoke with said to go with the galaxy.
Guess thats what im staying with then.

hybridazn · Aug 19, 2015

The 400w radium is different from the 250w. The 400 is designed to run on a standard 400w electronic ballast. While the 250w is designed to be over driven to get the color. Over driving the 400 it will only make it go whiter. I would just stick with the galaxies you are running. Switching wont really help much.