Best Ballast for 250W Radiums SE

mattiej · 03/17/2011, 07:18 AM

What is the best ballast to run a 250 watt SE Radium? I was looking at the Lumentek dimmable multi-wattage ballasts. I also have the opportunity to purchase Ice Cap ballasts.

nanojg · 03/17/2011, 07:38 AM

IceCaps will underdrive the radium. The lumentek will work OK on the hqi setting; however, the 250 radium is made to be fired on a true hqi ballast (at around 330 watts)

mattiej · 03/17/2011, 07:55 AM

Nano, thanks for the info. Where would I buy a true HQI ballast?

t4zalews · 03/17/2011, 08:01 AM

I run my radiums with galaxy ballasts...they run them at 280W...the color is a nice white with a little blue. I highly recommend this combination

mattiej · 03/17/2011, 08:23 AM

Some much to absorb here. After some reading the HQI ballasts seem to be preferred for Radiums. From additional reading the true HQI ballasts are magnetic and will properly drive the radiums (atleast give better color to the tank). The problem is I have been looking at getting away from magnetics and going with electronic ballasts. Any thoughts?

nanojg · 03/17/2011, 08:39 AM

the radium on an electronic ballast puts out very little par, it is also very blue

t4zalews · 03/17/2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanojg

the radium on an electronic ballast puts out very little par, it is also very blue

except for galaxy ballast, I believe I read before that sunlight supply specifically designed this ballast with radium's in mind.

mattiej · 03/17/2011, 09:44 AM

Any idea of what lamp would be comparable to Radiums on Ice Cap ballasts?

t4zalews · 03/17/2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattiej

Any idea of what lamp would be comparable to Radiums on Ice Cap ballasts?

I've used XM 20k, Hamilton 14k, Reeflux 12k...i like the xm20k out of all of these, but I still find the radium to be the superior bulb. If I were to try another bulb I'd probably try the SE Pheonix 14k..as I really like the DE version, or the AB..but both of these bulbs are more expensive, $100+

nanojg · 03/17/2011, 10:00 AM

I liked the hamilton 14k

Dyraxe · 03/17/2011, 12:59 PM

Aqua medic Reeflex cube hqi ballast are so much better looking then any electronic ballast. I switched a few months back myself.

mattiej · 03/17/2011, 02:06 PM

I assume that I could run other lamps on the HQI ballasts, am I correct? I just want to keep options open in case, god forbid, I don't care for the Radiums.

nanojg · 03/17/2011, 02:09 PM

Most other SE bulbs are overdriven on an HQI ballast.

03/17/2011, 07:18 AM	#1
mattiej Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thorndale, PA Posts: 495	Best Ballast for 250W Radiums SE What is the best ballast to run a 250 watt SE Radium? I was looking at the Lumentek dimmable multi-wattage ballasts. I also have the opportunity to purchase Ice Cap ballasts. __________________ I don't need to eat as long as my tanks look good! Current Tank Info: 200 SPS, 1200 Scyliorhinus retifer and S. canicula, Shark Lagoon

03/17/2011, 07:55 AM	#3
mattiej Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thorndale, PA Posts: 495	Nano, thanks for the info. Where would I buy a true HQI ballast? __________________ I don't need to eat as long as my tanks look good! Current Tank Info: 200 SPS, 1200 Scyliorhinus retifer and S. canicula, Shark Lagoon

03/17/2011, 08:01 AM	#4
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	I run my radiums with galaxy ballasts...they run them at 280W...the color is a nice white with a little blue. I highly recommend this combination __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

03/17/2011, 08:23 AM	#5
mattiej Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thorndale, PA Posts: 495	Some much to absorb here. After some reading the HQI ballasts seem to be preferred for Radiums. From additional reading the true HQI ballasts are magnetic and will properly drive the radiums (atleast give better color to the tank). The problem is I have been looking at getting away from magnetics and going with electronic ballasts. Any thoughts? __________________ I don't need to eat as long as my tanks look good! Current Tank Info: 200 SPS, 1200 Scyliorhinus retifer and S. canicula, Shark Lagoon Last edited by mattiej; 03/17/2011 at 08:28 AM. Reason: Further Research done

03/17/2011, 09:44 AM	#8
mattiej Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thorndale, PA Posts: 495	Any idea of what lamp would be comparable to Radiums on Ice Cap ballasts? __________________ I don't need to eat as long as my tanks look good! Current Tank Info: 200 SPS, 1200 Scyliorhinus retifer and S. canicula, Shark Lagoon

03/17/2011, 07:38 AM	#2
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	IceCaps will underdrive the radium. The lumentek will work OK on the hqi setting; however, the 250 radium is made to be fired on a true hqi ballast (at around 330 watts)

03/17/2011, 08:39 AM	#6
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	the radium on an electronic ballast puts out very little par, it is also very blue

03/17/2011, 10:00 AM	#10
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	I liked the hamilton 14k

03/17/2011, 12:59 PM	#11
Dyraxe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,606	Aqua medic Reeflex cube hqi ballast are so much better looking then any electronic ballast. I switched a few months back myself.

03/17/2011, 02:06 PM	#12
mattiej Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Thorndale, PA Posts: 495	I assume that I could run other lamps on the HQI ballasts, am I correct? I just want to keep options open in case, god forbid, I don't care for the Radiums. __________________ I don't need to eat as long as my tanks look good! Current Tank Info: 200 SPS, 1200 Scyliorhinus retifer and S. canicula, Shark Lagoon

03/17/2011, 02:09 PM	#13
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	Most other SE bulbs are overdriven on an HQI ballast.

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