Lumenarc/Lighting Gurus: QUESTION....?

Todd March · 09/25/2008, 10:02 PM

With a full sized Lumenarc III over a 36" X 26" tank, with a 400W Radium/AquaConnect on HQI, how high would you need to hang the fixture over the water for adequate coverage...?

Or is 36" just too much spread for even one 400W in a Lumenarc to handle...?

Todd March · 09/26/2008, 09:26 PM

BUMP

ganjero · 09/27/2008, 01:29 AM

about 12"-14". The Radium will die super fast on an HQI ballast, you should use the pulse start for the 400w version (which is really a 360w)

Mr James · 10/01/2008, 05:43 AM

Quote:

by ganjero
The Radium will die super fast on an HQI ballast, you should use the pulse start for the 400w version (which is really a 360w)

Wha?? I am looking at a new ballast for a Radium bulb, and was considering a Galaxy Elec. HQI ballast. Not a good idea then??

manofcoral · 10/01/2008, 07:55 AM

I have a IceCap 400w ballast for sale and they were great with Radium bulbs.

ganjero · 10/01/2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr James
Wha?? I am looking at a new ballast for a Radium bulb, and was considering a Galaxy Elec. HQI ballast. Not a good idea then??

It will work fine but you'll have to replace the bulb sooner (5-6 months) The radium 400w is really a 360w bulb and any ballast other than a M135 will overdrive the bulb.

Jim_S · 10/01/2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr James
Wha?? I am looking at a new ballast for a Radium bulb, and was considering a Galaxy Elec. HQI ballast. Not a good idea then??

SLS Galaxy ballasts are not HQI. They are electronic.

The SLS bluewave is an HQI ballast.

Mr James · 10/01/2008, 11:00 AM

What about the PFO HQI ballast?? Will they fire this Radium bulb?? I'm about to give up and go back to XM's. It's bad enough I got my feet wet with the T5's. Now, more to learn.

Hmmm. Now to find the SLS Bluewave... Do they work well with the Neptune Aqua Controllers by chance?? Or was that a different "bluewave" ballast from back in the day?!?

hahnmeister · 10/01/2008, 11:16 AM

Even an e-ballast will overdrive a Radium because it will drive the bulb at 4 amps. The Radium '400' is actually a 360 watt bulb designed for low current operation with pulse start. Radium has approved the use of the M135 and M155 low current (3.2A) ballast with this bulb... but everything else will overdrive it, and HQI's will really overdrive it.

If you want to use 400 watt HQI, I would suggest the Aquaconnect 14,500K instead.

And I would designate the height that the reflector should be over the tank with the height of the tank as well since a taller tank will still allow the light to spread out further than a shallow one (ie a deeper tank can have the light closer to the water and still cover the whole bottom because the light can still spread underwater).

I would just wait and see, but a full size LA3 should easily cover that size... its just a matter of personal taste as to if you think it should be 12" above the water, or 24" above...

Todd March · 10/01/2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr James
Wha?? I am looking at a new ballast for a Radium bulb, and was considering a Galaxy Elec. HQI ballast. Not a good idea then??

The PFO HQI 400 HPS ballast will run the Radium at around 470 watts, overdriving the bulb by 100+ watts, making it whiter and brighter (and shorter lived)...

Someone posted they tested the Radium on the Galaxy at around 425 watts, so higher than most e-ballasts (which are right around 400W), but not as overdriven as the the PFO HPS...

Really depends on what you like and are looking for... It'll be a tad bluer on the Galaxy, but will (in theory anyway) last a tad longer...

Also, SLS discontinued the Bluewave 400W HQI HPS ballast. PFO is the only game in town now for this option...

hahnmeister · 10/01/2008, 01:59 PM

400 watt HQI's in the US have always been (unless imported) 430 watt HPS ballasts (which are also pulse start).

So there should never be a lack of options there... 430 watt HPS ballasts are all over the place...

Todd March · 10/01/2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahnmeister
430 watt HPS ballasts are all over the place...

Who else make an encased, cooled, and plug finished (ready to plug into one of the three options Lumenarc offers for the end of their fixture's cord) ballast?

I thought PFO was the only PLUG AND PLAY option out there, but I would like to hear of these others....!

hahnmeister · 10/01/2008, 11:08 PM

PGS (who makes the Lumenarc)...

other than them, there are loads of HPS 430 makers... mostly in the Agro field. I would suspect that SLS still makes 430 HPS ballasts... thats a popular one with the hydro-potheads.

09/25/2008, 10:02 PM	#1
Todd March Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 3,684	Lumenarc/Lighting Gurus: QUESTION....? With a full sized Lumenarc III over a 36" X 26" tank, with a 400W Radium/AquaConnect on HQI, how high would you need to hang the fixture over the water for adequate coverage...? Or is 36" just too much spread for even one 400W in a Lumenarc to handle...? __________________ My hobby? I glue animals to rocks... Current Tank Info: Rimless Starfire 85g SPS (36" x 26" x 21"): ATI Powermodule 10 x 39W, ATB Small Cone, RK2, Vortech MP40W, 6025 Stream modded, MAG 9.5 return, Balling

09/26/2008, 09:26 PM	#2
Todd March Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 3,684	BUMP __________________ My hobby? I glue animals to rocks... Current Tank Info: Rimless Starfire 85g SPS (36" x 26" x 21"): ATI Powermodule 10 x 39W, ATB Small Cone, RK2, Vortech MP40W, 6025 Stream modded, MAG 9.5 return, Balling

10/01/2008, 07:55 AM	#5
manofcoral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: socal Posts: 355	I have a IceCap 400w ballast for sale and they were great with Radium bulbs. __________________ It is never to late to do God's good work. Paul<>< Current Tank Info: 260gal Starphire Reef

09/27/2008, 01:29 AM	#3
ganjero saiperchémibatteilcorazon Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 4,027	about 12"-14". The Radium will die super fast on an HQI ballast, you should use the pulse start for the 400w version (which is really a 360w)

10/01/2008, 11:00 AM	#8
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	What about the PFO HQI ballast?? Will they fire this Radium bulb?? I'm about to give up and go back to XM's. It's bad enough I got my feet wet with the T5's. Now, more to learn. Hmmm. Now to find the SLS Bluewave... Do they work well with the Neptune Aqua Controllers by chance?? Or was that a different "bluewave" ballast from back in the day?!?

10/01/2008, 11:16 AM	#9
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Even an e-ballast will overdrive a Radium because it will drive the bulb at 4 amps. The Radium '400' is actually a 360 watt bulb designed for low current operation with pulse start. Radium has approved the use of the M135 and M155 low current (3.2A) ballast with this bulb... but everything else will overdrive it, and HQI's will really overdrive it. If you want to use 400 watt HQI, I would suggest the Aquaconnect 14,500K instead. And I would designate the height that the reflector should be over the tank with the height of the tank as well since a taller tank will still allow the light to spread out further than a shallow one (ie a deeper tank can have the light closer to the water and still cover the whole bottom because the light can still spread underwater). I would just wait and see, but a full size LA3 should easily cover that size... its just a matter of personal taste as to if you think it should be 12" above the water, or 24" above...

10/01/2008, 01:59 PM	#11
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	400 watt HQI's in the US have always been (unless imported) 430 watt HPS ballasts (which are also pulse start). So there should never be a lack of options there... 430 watt HPS ballasts are all over the place...

10/01/2008, 11:08 PM	#13
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	PGS (who makes the Lumenarc)... other than them, there are loads of HPS 430 makers... mostly in the Agro field. I would suspect that SLS still makes 430 HPS ballasts... thats a popular one with the hydro-potheads.