Radium 400 20k vs Reeflux 250 12k

surfjeepzx · 05/28/2010, 02:53 PM

To make a long story short I've been running Radium 400 20k's on CV E-ballasts for the last 14 months with the current set of bulbs at 3 months old. I've just never been completely sold with the overall performance of these bulbs. Growth for the most part is painfully slow as compared to the Ushio 250 10k's they replaced. Many corals that came to my tank in good color sorta morphed to a predominantly blue overall appearance while others did great with color and polyp extension.

So... this morning I was looking at the tank and decided to pull out my 250 CV e-ballasts and install one with a Reeflux 250 12K SE MH lamp. Back when I decided I wanted more blue than the 10K could offer with actinic sups I purchased a set of reeflux's. I ran them for about a week when I decided to go 400 20K radiums. So they only ran for one week when I shelved them. I installed twin CV 400 e-ballasts and have had the Radiums for 14 months until now.

With one Radium burning I turned on the Reeflux and stood back and watched. After the bulb was burning for 5 minutes I couldn't tell the difference. After 2 hours the same observation. So I swapped out the other ballast and bulb so that now I have twin 250 CV e-ballasts with Reeflux 12K's and actinic sups. When my wife came home I asked if she noticed anything about the tank and she couldn't pick up on it either.

Other than the fact that I just dropped 300watts for 9 hours off the power bill I can't tell the difference. Obviously there's a par difference but I'm going to wait and see what the corals have to say about it. I was going to take a pic of the tank with both bulbs lit but there was no difference for the before after shot.

I will take some pics this weekend and post them.

surfjeepzx · 05/29/2010, 02:08 PM

After only one day of the 250's lighting the tank I can already see a difference. Last night when I got home the tank was dark as it usually is when I arrive. The difference I noticed immediately was the polyp extension of ALL the corals. At night the corals typically have some PE but last night it was extreme PE. There were corals that I didn't know extended polyps that were showing off.

I'll wait to see what the longer term effects will be. I tried taking pics with my point and shoot but that was a useless waste of time. I really need to get a good camera but that's another subject.

hedgedrew · 09/22/2014, 11:08 PM

The 20ks and 12ks in 400s are close. Radiums are bluer but reeflux has more violet. I have mixed 20k with 12k and the both turn blah after 4 to 6 months. I think knew they compete nicely with radium especially in violets. I have eveb used them them together is same reflector. Radiunm bulb gets grey and blah in 6 to 9 Months. And reeflux just gets whiter and dull. Changing both out within 6 months you really can't go wrong. I like running reeflux in more direct mini reflectors more direct cuse of lower par. Radoums I don't mind spreading out. Radiums miss violet so if you supplemt with true actinic that's the bulb but with no supplentation I think reeflux 12 or 20 gives it a he'll of a run.

05/28/2010, 02:53 PM	#1
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	Radium 400 20k vs Reeflux 250 12k To make a long story short I've been running Radium 400 20k's on CV E-ballasts for the last 14 months with the current set of bulbs at 3 months old. I've just never been completely sold with the overall performance of these bulbs. Growth for the most part is painfully slow as compared to the Ushio 250 10k's they replaced. Many corals that came to my tank in good color sorta morphed to a predominantly blue overall appearance while others did great with color and polyp extension. So... this morning I was looking at the tank and decided to pull out my 250 CV e-ballasts and install one with a Reeflux 250 12K SE MH lamp. Back when I decided I wanted more blue than the 10K could offer with actinic sups I purchased a set of reeflux's. I ran them for about a week when I decided to go 400 20K radiums. So they only ran for one week when I shelved them. I installed twin CV 400 e-ballasts and have had the Radiums for 14 months until now. With one Radium burning I turned on the Reeflux and stood back and watched. After the bulb was burning for 5 minutes I couldn't tell the difference. After 2 hours the same observation. So I swapped out the other ballast and bulb so that now I have twin 250 CV e-ballasts with Reeflux 12K's and actinic sups. When my wife came home I asked if she noticed anything about the tank and she couldn't pick up on it either. Other than the fact that I just dropped 300watts for 9 hours off the power bill I can't tell the difference. Obviously there's a par difference but I'm going to wait and see what the corals have to say about it. I was going to take a pic of the tank with both bulbs lit but there was no difference for the before after shot. I will take some pics this weekend and post them. __________________ << All that matters Current Tank Info: 135 Acrylic flatback hex. 30 gallon sump. Twin Coralvue 250w MH's w/ 14k Hamiltons, Icecap 660 VHO, 4 URI reflected 110 actinic's. Rio 17hf return & 2 mj1200's (mod'd) pwrhds in tank. All natural... seawater

05/29/2010, 02:08 PM	#2
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	After only one day of the 250's lighting the tank I can already see a difference. Last night when I got home the tank was dark as it usually is when I arrive. The difference I noticed immediately was the polyp extension of ALL the corals. At night the corals typically have some PE but last night it was extreme PE. There were corals that I didn't know extended polyps that were showing off. I'll wait to see what the longer term effects will be. I tried taking pics with my point and shoot but that was a useless waste of time. I really need to get a good camera but that's another subject. __________________ << All that matters Current Tank Info: 135 Acrylic flatback hex. 30 gallon sump. Twin Coralvue 250w MH's w/ 14k Hamiltons, Icecap 660 VHO, 4 URI reflected 110 actinic's. Rio 17hf return & 2 mj1200's (mod'd) pwrhds in tank. All natural... seawater

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09/22/2014, 11:08 PM	#3
hedgedrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,159	The 20ks and 12ks in 400s are close. Radiums are bluer but reeflux has more violet. I have mixed 20k with 12k and the both turn blah after 4 to 6 months. I think knew they compete nicely with radium especially in violets. I have eveb used them them together is same reflector. Radiunm bulb gets grey and blah in 6 to 9 Months. And reeflux just gets whiter and dull. Changing both out within 6 months you really can't go wrong. I like running reeflux in more direct mini reflectors more direct cuse of lower par. Radoums I don't mind spreading out. Radiums miss violet so if you supplemt with true actinic that's the bulb but with no supplentation I think reeflux 12 or 20 gives it a he'll of a run.