Help on white looking 400w radium

[Llemonz]

Hey guys, I’m running 3x 400w radiums with the icecap selectable watt ballasts. The lamps are only about 2 weeks old now. I feel as if there has been a significant color shift in the lamps since I’ve had them.

Currently, my one ballast is out for repair. I noticed the one lamp was running really white compared to the other two, and then the ballast stopped working entirely.

Here’s a picture of the tank being lit by a currently working ballast. I feel like the look is much whiter than I’d expect for a radium.

Maybe I’m just insane or is there something happening with the ballast or lamps?

 

[CC13]

How old are the ballasts and what Kelvin bulbs are you using? Also are you sure you bought the same Kelvin bulbs?

 

[Llemonz]

The ballasts are brand new. My understanding on the radiums is that they’re about a 20k bulb

 

[CC13]

The ballasts are brand new. My understanding on the radiums is that they’re about a 20k bulb

Your picture absolutely does not look like 20k but that is from what I can see. I have (3) halides over my tank and 20k bulbs are even a little too blue for my liking I settled with 14k bulbs.

I know there is a break-in period for ballasts and the bulbs which is around 2 weeks time.

 

[Llemonz]

I’m getting close to 2 weeks. The thing that bothers me the most is that I’m sure there’s been a spectrum shift that has occurred. What I can’t determine is whether it’s the lamps or ballasts.

Because the one ballast is broken, it makes me wary that it might be a ballast issue.. but I do really wanna go and buy 3 more lamps right now to compare if it’s light or ballast

 

[CC13]

I’m getting close to 2 weeks. The thing that bothers me the most is that I’m sure there’s been a spectrum shift that has occurred. What I can’t determine is whether it’s the lamps or ballasts.

Because the one ballast is broken, it makes me wary that it might be a ballast issue.. but I do really wanna go and buy 3 more lamps right now to compare if it’s light or ballast

I would fire up one ballast and light at a time and see if you can identify if there is one that is significantly more 'white' than the others. If there is, you can swap the bulb from this 'whiter' unit into one of the other reflectors. If after the swap the light from that bulb is more 'blue', then you can narrow it down to it being a ballast issue. If the light is still whiter after the change, then it is a bulb issue.

I 100% agree with you, that from the picture you posted, that does not look like 20,000k spectrum.

 

[jda]

Could the white rock and white sand be throwing you off? 20k Radium look way more blue when coralline is covering everything.

 

[MTBake]

That color looks about right for a Radium, IMO. Then again, I've only run 250watt Radiums and that was some years ago.

 

[MTBake]

Here's a quick cell phone pic of a section my tank. 250w 14k Phoenix. Just for compassion.

 

[mtraylor]

New MH bulbs always go through a spectrum change from when you first buy them and fire them up. It takes a couple weeks for them to settle in. Then over time and use each day they go off spectrum.

 

[Velcro]

What did the non functioning ballast start doing? I have a two month old 400w icecap ballast that is throwing its breaker every so often over the last two days

 

[Llemonz]

What did the non functioning ballast start doing? I have a two month old 400w icecap ballast that is throwing its breaker every so often over the last two days

When all three halides were running next to each other, the one lamp was running substantially whiter. Then that ballast went out completely. Coralvue just sent me the replacement for it today. Hoping this one will be working fine