Lumenmax elite vs Hamilton Caymen sun 24” cube

[Acrofiend]

Do you remember how high you hung the cayman sun?

I would go with the Cayman Sun if it were me. I've ran both before and I liked the Cayman Sun better. It's a very good distribution and the reflector is excellent.

You'll be able to get bulbs, no worries.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Do you remember how high you hung the cayman sun?

Depends on what you're trying to keep. Usually about 10 inches above the top of the water surface is good. You can go higher of less par is needed. Again, depends on your livestock and you really need to borrow or rent a PAR meter to dial it in correctly. MH is pretty safe so if you don't have a PAR meter, not a huge deal.

 

[jackson6745]

I’m using a 250w radium with a Hamilton m80 ballast but it’s only running at 280w. So not sure the deal on that.

Question. I have a few 250w Hamilton HQI ballasts that run ushio 20k perfectly, but have a hard time running new 20k radiums. I get them to fire once in a blue moon after shutting on an off a few times.. maybe I think it might have something to do with the 10' 16 gauge 3 prong adapter wire that I used for the ballasts, which then goes to a thinner wire about 10' that is standard on a gieseman spectra. How long is the 3 prong wire that comes out of your ballast?

 

[A. grandis]

Question. I have a few 250w Hamilton HQI ballasts that run ushio 20k perfectly, but have a hard time running new 20k radiums. I get them to fire once in a blue moon after shutting on an off a few times.. maybe I think it might have something to do with the 10' 16 gauge 3 prong adapter wire that I used for the ballasts, which then goes to a thinner wire about 10' that is standard on a gieseman spectra. How long is the 3 prong wire that comes out of your ballast?

Just remove the thinner wire and you will be fine.
Bing the ballast closer if you want the system to work safely.

 

[Katrina71]

+1 on Cayman. I definitely think halides have a place in contemporary reefing. There are some old school reefers here that can give you pointers on them. I would limit the duration due to heat, but for a short span, heck yes!

 

[A. grandis]

Just remove the thinner wire and you will be fine.
Bing the ballast closer if you want the system to work safely.

I think I misunderstood the first time. You are actually bringing the wires from the Spectra, which are the actual thinner wires, and using a thicker extension to the ballast. If so, bring the ballast to the Spectra wires and that is the way to do it. The closer the ballasts the better.