BHAMR6
Well-Known Member
I know how good the radium bulbs are but the problem is my ballast want run them so what bulb would you use for 250 watt PFO ballast single ended bulb. I run the south pacific sunlight 20k now but need new bulbs
Best bulb if you cant run Radiums
- Thread starter BHAMR6
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I just got radiums. Sometimes they fire sometimes they dont. Its really aggrevating. Now I have to make a choice to sell the radiums which are still new or buy new ballast. I really love the color of them..
buy a new ballast. PM if you want help finding the perfect one and i can help you get them all wired up and ready to go. I dont sell them but i know where you can get then uber cheap if you dont mind some DIY
I have been hearing very good things about the new Reeflux 20k bulbs. Much higher PAR than the 12k which seems odd. I am thinking about giving them a try, has anyone tried them and care to comment?
never ran them myself but i know a reef that does that is amazing looking. just by the tank alone i would say they are a great bulb
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Are you saying that Radiums are better overall than MH's? Im just curious cause Im in the same spot you are.....
not sure i get the question. radiums are a MH bulb. its just a brand. most feel they are one of the better higher temp bulb
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just upgrade your ballast to a galaxy-e ballast and be done with it 
those Radiums will never look better
those Radiums will never look better
just upgrade your ballast to a galaxy-e ballast and be done with it
this is true they doo look very nice on the galaxy ballast. i still prefer the 220 magnetics but if i was to run an electronic that would be the one
Reef Pets
Bioprospector
I run Radiums on a CoralVue ballast and they look great. If you need CoralVue or Galaxy ballasts just let me know and I might be able to save you some money, I am a distributor for both. I know from experience that the Coralvue ballast will fire the Radiums everytime!!
Exactly. They were supposedly designed to be run on an M80 ballast to drive S them properly. Some people are claiming a life expectancy of 6 months when they're run on that ballast but I don't see why it would be so short if the bulb was designed for that ballast. Does anyone have any input on that subject?
People are claiming that the magnetic ballast overdrive the radiums and make them look more 14kish as well as shorten their lifespan, whereas an e ballast will make them appear more blue and not overdrive them... I dunno just from reading around this is what I have gathered. Nick knows a heck of a lot more about this than I do so maybe he'll chime back in
GSMguy
High Desert Reefer
400w radiums are different they are known to color shift at 6 months on m-135 ballasts and e ballasts.
The 250w bulbs last around a year or longer on M-80s on e- ballasts they are underdriven but the nicer e-ballasts still do a good job just not as bright or consistent over time.
The 250w bulbs last around a year or longer on M-80s on e- ballasts they are underdriven but the nicer e-ballasts still do a good job just not as bright or consistent over time.
I have the same ballast you have and it will not run radiums. I use the reefoptics 20k bulb and it's just like the radium in color. I love it. Been using it for years now and it's cheap!!
Here is the link to what i use.
http://www.reefopticslighting.com/bulbs.html
http://www.reefopticslighting.com/bulbs.html
