Highest PAR out of 150W DE

Miller_Time · 03/22/2011, 03:17 PM

I'm looking to replace my old Phoenix 150W 14k and I am curious if the Radium 150w DE would have higher PAR than the Phoenix. I want to keep the 14K-20K spectrum but I want to make sure I have the highest PAR as well.

I have 150w sunpod so electronic ballast.

Thanks!

sirreal63 · 03/22/2011, 03:55 PM

I believe they are even with electronic, but the color of the Radium is better, IMHO. Reds and greens come out better, less washed out than the Phoenix. Looking at Sanjays site, the Radium and the Aquaconnect, (which I believe is the same bulb as the Phoenix, could be wrong though) both have about the same par.

Miller_Time · 03/22/2011, 04:13 PM

Do you have a link to Sanjay's site? The link I found while searching was dead.

sirreal63 · 03/22/2011, 04:27 PM

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

Miller_Time · 03/22/2011, 04:30 PM

Thank you sir!

ritter6788 · 03/22/2011, 05:13 PM

I've used the Phoenix and the Radium on a Coralife Aqualight Pro and I like the Radiums better for growth and color. I have pics of the color differences if you're interested.

cody6766 · 03/22/2011, 05:18 PM

I was surprised how white the 150w Radium is. The 250s are pretty white, but the 150w I saw was ICE white. It had very little blue in it, but wasn't yellow at all.

I know that's not really related, but maybe it'll give you some heads up. I think I preferred the color of the Phoenix, but never saw them side by side. I also prefer a bluer tank.

Miller_Time · 03/22/2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody6766

I was surprised how white the 150w Radium is. The 250s are pretty white, but the 150w I saw was ICE white. It had very little blue in it, but wasn't yellow at all.

I know that's not really related, but maybe it'll give you some heads up. I think I preferred the color of the Phoenix, but never saw them side by side. I also prefer a bluer tank.

Thats a good point! I like blue tanks and I don't think I'd like to go any more white than the Phoenix.

sirreal63 · 03/22/2011, 09:35 PM

Radium on electronic ballast is more blue, on HQI it is less blue.

jackryan · 03/23/2011, 05:49 AM

sorry, i may have missed it but what is the logical explanation why an electronic ballast can push the bulbs to be more bluer...

sirreal63 · 03/23/2011, 07:20 AM

Electronic ballasts actually under drive a HQI bulb. An IceCap drives them at 166 while a magnetic M81 HQI spec drives them at 228, that is the difference.

Miller_Time · 03/23/2011, 07:46 AM

I think I am leaning towards the Phoenix again for a few reasons. It looks like PAR is very close between the two on an electronic ballast, so I'm not sure I can justify the extra cost of the radium....

sirreal63 · 03/23/2011, 07:58 AM

I don't blame you, they are not cheap. I ran Phoenix for many years and it is a solid bulb, I just didn't like the nuclear windex look when they are new. They do lighten up after a few months and look better. You can also run them a long time. I typically changed mine at an avg. of 14 months. I have run the radium on both electronic and HQI ballasts and prefer the HQI.

ritter6788 · 03/23/2011, 08:58 AM

The Phoenix was a good bulb for me but too blue for my taste. I run the Radiums on HQI ballasts so the Phoenix may be the choice for you.

03/22/2011, 03:17 PM	#1
Miller_Time Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 107	Highest PAR out of 150W DE I'm looking to replace my old Phoenix 150W 14k and I am curious if the Radium 150w DE would have higher PAR than the Phoenix. I want to keep the 14K-20K spectrum but I want to make sure I have the highest PAR as well. I have 150w sunpod so electronic ballast. Thanks!

03/22/2011, 03:55 PM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I believe they are even with electronic, but the color of the Radium is better, IMHO. Reds and greens come out better, less washed out than the Phoenix. Looking at Sanjays site, the Radium and the Aquaconnect, (which I believe is the same bulb as the Phoenix, could be wrong though) both have about the same par. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

03/22/2011, 04:27 PM	#4
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

03/22/2011, 05:13 PM	#6
ritter6788 Say no to clove polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Marshall, TX Posts: 1,374	I've used the Phoenix and the Radium on a Coralife Aqualight Pro and I like the Radiums better for growth and color. I have pics of the color differences if you're interested. __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef///40 breeder prop tank

03/22/2011, 05:18 PM	#7
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I was surprised how white the 150w Radium is. The 250s are pretty white, but the 150w I saw was ICE white. It had very little blue in it, but wasn't yellow at all. I know that's not really related, but maybe it'll give you some heads up. I think I preferred the color of the Phoenix, but never saw them side by side. I also prefer a bluer tank. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

03/22/2011, 04:13 PM	#3
Miller_Time Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 107	Do you have a link to Sanjay's site? The link I found while searching was dead.

03/22/2011, 04:30 PM	#5
Miller_Time Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 107	Thank you sir!

03/22/2011, 09:35 PM	#9
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Radium on electronic ballast is more blue, on HQI it is less blue. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

03/23/2011, 05:49 AM	#10
jackryan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Manila, the Philippines Posts: 55	sorry, i may have missed it but what is the logical explanation why an electronic ballast can push the bulbs to be more bluer...

03/23/2011, 07:20 AM	#11
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	Electronic ballasts actually under drive a HQI bulb. An IceCap drives them at 166 while a magnetic M81 HQI spec drives them at 228, that is the difference. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

03/23/2011, 07:46 AM	#12
Miller_Time Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 107	I think I am leaning towards the Phoenix again for a few reasons. It looks like PAR is very close between the two on an electronic ballast, so I'm not sure I can justify the extra cost of the radium....

03/23/2011, 07:58 AM	#13
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I don't blame you, they are not cheap. I ran Phoenix for many years and it is a solid bulb, I just didn't like the nuclear windex look when they are new. They do lighten up after a few months and look better. You can also run them a long time. I typically changed mine at an avg. of 14 months. I have run the radium on both electronic and HQI ballasts and prefer the HQI. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

03/23/2011, 08:58 AM	#14
ritter6788 Say no to clove polyps Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Marshall, TX Posts: 1,374	The Phoenix was a good bulb for me but too blue for my taste. I run the Radiums on HQI ballasts so the Phoenix may be the choice for you. __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef///40 breeder prop tank

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