Radium 150w DE on Electronic, HQI Mag, or what?

OneReef · 06/21/2009, 06:55 PM

I have decided that I am going to go a different route in my lighting. I am wanting to run the Radium bulbs in 150w DE. From doing some searching on the 'net, I am a bit confused. There are folks arguing over what color/par/life, etc that you will get from running HQI bulbs like Radium on electronic or HQI Magnetic, or is there also HQI electronic? I am wanting to run electronic for the better energy, cooler running, efficiency, etc, but don't want to sacrifice color, etc. I don't want something overdriving them that make them white and lose the nice blueish color. What should I be looking at here to run these bulbs?

OneReef · 06/22/2009, 06:27 AM

anyone running these bulbs that can chime in?

James77 · 06/22/2009, 07:49 AM

The Radium 150 bulb will run at its spec wattage on a magnetic M81 ballast. Although electronic ballasts will run them, they will be underdriven and have a reduction in PAR(by ~30%) and be quite a bit blue-er.

I use the spec ballast for the 250 watt radium, the M80. It makes a diiference in color, mine runs a 14-15K- a bright white with very strong blue in it.

James77 · 06/22/2009, 07:54 AM

The correct ballast for Radium 150's:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...t_Code=SB-BW7-

The ballasts are dead silent. The difference in electricty used between that and an electronic is less than $5 bucks a month, probably more like 2-3 depending on your rates.

bdare · 07/09/2009, 10:04 AM

The link you provided is broken. Would you mind re-posting?

Also for the OP... have you picked a ballast yet? I'm about to switch from 1 x 250 to 2x150 on my 40B and looking for the same info...

James77 · 07/09/2009, 10:35 AM

They are sunlight supply Blue wave ballasts

Emster · 07/09/2009, 08:34 PM

the 150 radium is very white for a 20k on a HQI ballast. IMO it needs actinic. Its a very powerful bulb too so treat it like a 250 watter or you will bleach corals

06/21/2009, 06:55 PM	#1
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	Radium 150w DE on Electronic, HQI Mag, or what? I have decided that I am going to go a different route in my lighting. I am wanting to run the Radium bulbs in 150w DE. From doing some searching on the 'net, I am a bit confused. There are folks arguing over what color/par/life, etc that you will get from running HQI bulbs like Radium on electronic or HQI Magnetic, or is there also HQI electronic? I am wanting to run electronic for the better energy, cooler running, efficiency, etc, but don't want to sacrifice color, etc. I don't want something overdriving them that make them white and lose the nice blueish color. What should I be looking at here to run these bulbs?

06/22/2009, 07:49 AM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	The Radium 150 bulb will run at its spec wattage on a magnetic M81 ballast. Although electronic ballasts will run them, they will be underdriven and have a reduction in PAR(by ~30%) and be quite a bit blue-er. I use the spec ballast for the 250 watt radium, the M80. It makes a diiference in color, mine runs a 14-15K- a bright white with very strong blue in it. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

06/22/2009, 07:54 AM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	The correct ballast for Radium 150's: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...t_Code=SB-BW7- The ballasts are dead silent. The difference in electricty used between that and an electronic is less than $5 bucks a month, probably more like 2-3 depending on your rates. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

07/09/2009, 10:04 AM	#5
bdare Salty Dude Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rockwall, TX Posts: 1,322 Blog Entries: 3	The link you provided is broken. Would you mind re-posting? Also for the OP... have you picked a ballast yet? I'm about to switch from 1 x 250 to 2x150 on my 40B and looking for the same info... __________________ 220 Mixed Reef GeoCaRx, GHL Profilux 4, Octopus Skimmer, Kessil 360X 2 x Maxspect Gyre XF350

07/09/2009, 10:35 AM	#6
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	They are sunlight supply Blue wave ballasts __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

06/22/2009, 06:27 AM	#2
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	anyone running these bulbs that can chime in?

07/09/2009, 08:34 PM	#7
Emster Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,364	the 150 radium is very white for a 20k on a HQI ballast. IMO it needs actinic. Its a very powerful bulb too so treat it like a 250 watter or you will bleach corals __________________ Emmett Jan. 09 TOTM Current Tank Info: 180 gal, Iwaki 70, 4-3/4" sea swirls, 3-400 watt Radiums, 4-80watt T-5's , custom Ca reactor, 1/3hp aqualogic chiller, i-Tech 400, Tunze osmolator