Ushio vs radium

jlaudiofreak · 12/23/2017, 11:31 AM

If I don’t go led I was thinking about trying the Ushio 250w 20k . I have lumenbright reflectors . I can use either electronic or Hqi ballast . I ha e tried to pull up Sanjay site but it won’t . Which one has the best par and coral color

cody6766 · 12/23/2017, 01:59 PM

It's been a while, but I remember the Ushio 20K bulbs being more blue than the Radiums. Radium + a good Actinic bulb (or possibly blue LED...I haven't seen that yet) are my favorite lighting set up.
If my memory holds up and the Ushios are more blue, they will give you more fo those tones, but less of the other coral coloration. Washed out blue is not accurate, but it won't be as vibrant, over all, as the Radium. The downside to the Radium is the need for a special ballast (m80) and I think they need some sort of blue supplement to look their best.

Chris Mills · 12/24/2017, 11:13 AM

It depends on the ballast you use. If you use the HQI, then use the Radium bulb. The PAR is high and it is a nice color. Don't use the Ushio on the HQI ballast because it is an ANSI M58 bulb and the HQI ballast will overdrive it, whiten it and shorten the life.

If you use the electronic ballast. Ushio is nice looking. On an electronic ballast, there is almost no difference between Radium 20K and Hamilton 20K. Almost identical in color spectrum and light output.

tkeracer619 · 12/24/2017, 11:41 AM

Radium 20k 250w bulbs on a m80 hqi magnetic ballast is one of the best aquarium light combos ever.

jda · 12/24/2017, 02:26 PM

I was going to pull a chart for you, but Ushio 20K in 250W is not an option.

I also think that 250W Ushio is quite a bit more blue than a Radium 20K. If you run either on electronic, it will be less output by about 25% than on the HQI ballast.

lionfish300 · 12/30/2017, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Radium 20k 250w bulbs on a m80 hqi magnetic ballast is one of the best aquarium light combos ever.

+ 1 look awsome

HippieSmell · 12/30/2017, 06:11 PM

Radium on m80 is classic. I always thought ushio 10k with actinic looked good too. Par monster to boot.

dublo8 · 12/30/2017, 10:33 PM

The ushio 20k was my favorite bulb by far.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

12/23/2017, 11:31 AM	#1
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	Ushio vs radium If I don’t go led I was thinking about trying the Ushio 250w 20k . I have lumenbright reflectors . I can use either electronic or Hqi ballast . I ha e tried to pull up Sanjay site but it won’t . Which one has the best par and coral color

12/23/2017, 01:59 PM	#2
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	It's been a while, but I remember the Ushio 20K bulbs being more blue than the Radiums. Radium + a good Actinic bulb (or possibly blue LED...I haven't seen that yet) are my favorite lighting set up. If my memory holds up and the Ushios are more blue, they will give you more fo those tones, but less of the other coral coloration. Washed out blue is not accurate, but it won't be as vibrant, over all, as the Radium. The downside to the Radium is the need for a special ballast (m80) and I think they need some sort of blue supplement to look their best. __________________ "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

12/24/2017, 11:41 AM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Radium 20k 250w bulbs on a m80 hqi magnetic ballast is one of the best aquarium light combos ever. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/30/2017, 06:11 PM	#7
HippieSmell Occupy Reef Central Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orbiting Posts: 4,141	Radium on m80 is classic. I always thought ushio 10k with actinic looked good too. Par monster to boot. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. Current Tank Info: 78"x36"x27" acrylic, 6 Orphek Atlantik V3+ Compacts, MRC Orca Pro II w/washdown, CalcFeeder Pro AC3, Emperor Aquatics 80w UV, 80/20 aluminum stand, Vortech MP60's, Theiling Rollermat, GHL Profilux 3.1T EX, Kessil H380

12/30/2017, 10:33 PM	#8
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	The ushio 20k was my favorite bulb by far. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

12/24/2017, 11:13 AM	#3
Chris Mills Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Luis Obispo, California Posts: 96	It depends on the ballast you use. If you use the HQI, then use the Radium bulb. The PAR is high and it is a nice color. Don't use the Ushio on the HQI ballast because it is an ANSI M58 bulb and the HQI ballast will overdrive it, whiten it and shorten the life. If you use the electronic ballast. Ushio is nice looking. On an electronic ballast, there is almost no difference between Radium 20K and Hamilton 20K. Almost identical in color spectrum and light output.

12/24/2017, 02:26 PM	#5
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I was going to pull a chart for you, but Ushio 20K in 250W is not an option. I also think that 250W Ushio is quite a bit more blue than a Radium 20K. If you run either on electronic, it will be less output by about 25% than on the HQI ballast.