Radium Bulbs and Ballasts??

[Ultimateaquariums]

Which type and brand of ballast is everybody running on their Radium bulbs? Any suggestions on wattage and combos for a mixed reef would be great. If I remember right the electronic ballasts don't burn the bulb as bright and give it a more blue look vs the HQI. I'd like to save money on elec, but would go 400 watt if needed. I've ran 400 radiums on HQI, but not elec. Also never ran a 250 Radium and I'm afraid they may be too blue.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I am using the cheaper ARO 250w Elec ballast, but it is doing awesome for me! I am running the lumen max reflectors and I am getting 900+ par right under the water level and on the sand of my 24" deep tank I am getting 400 in some spots and at the lowest around 250 if I remember correctly.

 

[Gimili the Great]

gallaxy ballasts are the best for the radium bulbs

 

[JR's Reef]

Im using Gallaxy ballast

 

[Ultimateaquariums]

What wattage are you guys running? How's the color(blue) on the 250's?

Anybody have really good SPS color running 250 Radiums? I've always run 400 watt for my sps, but I'm more into LPS now and they don't care much for the intensity.

 

[JR's Reef]

250's for me. Ive never had 400 so nuttin to compare too

 

[143gadgets]

I was using Radium 250s on the new icecaps. I'm trying T5s now.

 

[TonyB]

I am using the cheaper ARO 250w Elec ballast, but it is doing awesome for me! I am running the lumen max reflectors and I am getting 900+ par right under the water level and on the sand of my 24" deep tank I am getting 400 in some spots and at the lowest around 250 if I remember correctly.

Holy smokes that's a TON! I'm running the Radiums on a Blue Wave (M80) and only getting ~700 at the surface and ~200 on the sand. I'm using an Apogee PAR meter. Your numbers sound like what guys are getting with 400w radiums on eballasts.

 

[mpoletti]

I use blue waves on my display and gallaxy's on my frag tank.

 

[WWC Verified Sponsor]

I use blue waves on my display and gallaxy's on my frag tank.

Do you see a difference?

 

[mpoletti]

Do you see a difference?

The blue waves are a more crisp white with a hint of blue. Many people come and ask if I am running 14k as the blue waves really drive them. I get a lot of PM's asking which I like better, and thats hard to say. My frag tank is not my display so I do not pay as much attention to detail as I do on my display. All and all though, The gallaxy produces a great color, less heat, less electrical consumption for a really nice color.

 

[cee]

CoralVue ballasts here on my 250 W Radiums. Turned down, they are quite blue, but when cranked up to their maximum output, they put out about the same PAR and spectrum as a HQI ballast. You really don't need to pay the extra for the dimmable CV's; they can be adjusted internally w/ the trimpot. I need to get a KillAWatt to see just how much they're drawing maxed out.

Dave

 

[KEEPERZ]

Galaxy or Lumatek burns the same-on 400w radium bulbs-