For the millionth time!

[dvbrien]

Looking for advice...
I have 4 AI Sol Blues I've been using for 3 years. I love the lights but am moving everything from a 150 Oceanic to a 240 measuring 4x4x2 deep.
I purchased two DE Hamilton Reflectors last night and am trying to decide what bulbs to use. Planning on 250 watts. I don't have a ballast yet either but want the controllability that reef bright will give me by plugging into my apex and allow incremental dimming. So, 1. Any other ballast allow this feature? 2. I plan to use my sols for supplimental lighting with the blue atinic leds... what 250 watt De bulbs should I be investigating? I am getting over the amateur hump. I realise there is far more than I've been neglecting and I'm ready to put in 100%...

 

[ihavecrabs]

Bump!

I do not have any personal experience with MH. Hopefully this bump will get you some responses!

@Dana Riddle perhaps may have an opinion

 

[Dana Riddle]

Looking for advice...
I have 4 AI Sol Blues I've been using for 3 years. I love the lights but am moving everything from a 150 Oceanic to a 240 measuring 4x4x2 deep.
I purchased two DE Hamilton Reflectors last night and am trying to decide what bulbs to use. Planning on 250 watts. I don't have a ballast yet either but want the controllability that reef bright will give me by plugging into my apex and allow incremental dimming. So, 1. Any other ballast allow this feature? 2. I plan to use my sols for supplimental lighting with the blue atinic leds... what 250 watt De bulbs should I be investigating? I am getting over the amateur hump. I realise there is far more than I've been neglecting and I'm ready to put in 100%...

There were some studies done a while back with an Acropora species and the result suggested a 14K lamp provided the best spectrum. There are some issues with the experiment but it did pass peer-review. Personally, I think the halides and LEDs will provide more than enough light hence the idea of dimming is probably a good idea.

 

[dvbrien]

Thanks guys. I really don' know what ballasts or bulbs are considered the bench mark... that' what I'm looking for. As I only have reflectors on the way, I can do pretty much anything. I see Hamilton 250w DE are on special and have good ballasts too. But I'd really like something that can be controlled by the apex.

 

[tnyr5]

Radium 20k was a tried & true bulb if you liked the blue look (still whiter than the blue LED look by a mile) Ushio 14k grew corals like weeds if you liked it whiter, not sure if they make the latter in double-ended.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I think Phoenix DE bulbs are the best DE bulbs out there. Can't go wrong since they have, IMO, the perfect color balance and PAR output.
However, since I switched to SE Radium, I won't go back, but honestly, Phoenix bulbs are pretty close.

 

[dvbrien]

Are any other MH Ballast beside Reef Brite controllable with a 1-10v input? The Apex is really the deciding factor.

Why are guys using SE fixtures when the efficiency has been shown to have better results with DE bulbs?

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Are any other MH Ballast beside Reef Brite controllable with a 1-10v input? The Apex is really the deciding factor.

Why are guys using SE fixtures when the efficiency has been shown to have better results with DE bulbs?

Radium is the holy grail in reef lighting for many and they don't make DE. So for most, like me, the less efficient but more desirable result is worth it.

 

[aabjones888]

Radius and Phoenix are real close to each other, it all depends if you want de bulbs or se bulbs. But either way you will love them. Halides are the bestest!

 

[dvbrien]

So if I'm looking to buy DE bulbs are the Phoenix bulbs best driven on electronic or magnetic ballests?

 

[dvbrien]

I see they can be controlled by electronic, hqi or pulse start... but is there any literature that shows a better result 1vs. the other?

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Hamilton 250 watt M80 HQI ballasts will drive them best. Bright white with a nice blue tint and loads of par. I think Hamilton might be the only ones still making the M80 ballast in the US. Using an Electronic ballast will work but will drive them a little more blue and not a bright or as high of PAR.

 

[dvbrien]

Thanks for the reply on the Hamiltons!

 

[Nburg's Reef]

I tried another M80 a while back and I didn't like it, the fan was insanely loud and the ballast was huge. I run the Hamilton now and its dead silent.

Edit: it was the Aqua Medic M80 one that I didn't like, but its not being made anymore.

 

[aabjones888]

I run Phoenix with electronic ballasts and love them, I'd say a 14k look.

 

[gcarroll]

Radiums are awesome but when it comes to DE, Phoenix is the king. I am bias though since that was my tank's picture on the box!

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I would not dim a MH, you have the ability to dim the leds dim those. The leds will change color temperature of your MH so if you love the radiums 20K then the leds will change that look, so maybe a old Iwaski 10k yellow bomb growing machine and turn your leds to all blue.