400 watt Radium dimmed to 360 or 250 watt reeflux 20k?

jsc0787 · 01/12/2010, 05:29 PM

As the title states what would you prefer and which has more growth potential? Assume using an electronic ballast of course.

Tank is 63x30x24 using two lumenbright large reflectors (19x19 or so).

jsc0787 · 01/13/2010, 12:00 AM

bump

jsc0787 · 01/13/2010, 01:35 PM

no one?

hyperfocal · 01/13/2010, 01:41 PM

Dimming a 400W Radium? I don't get it...

nanojg · 01/13/2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyperfocal

Dimming a 400W Radium? I don't get it...

The 400 watt radium is supposed to be run at 360 watts.

dew2loud1 · 01/13/2010, 02:19 PM

Running the radium at 360 watts will make it insanely blue, if you like that color go for it, otherwise most people overdrive them and run them at 430 watts.

hyperfocal · 01/13/2010, 02:25 PM

Right, but an American electronic ballast is still going to run it at 400W. I guess the OP might be using one of those dimmable CoralVue ballasts?

jsc0787 · 01/13/2010, 02:32 PM

Yes, I would buy a dimmable. I currently have a coralvue dimmable 250. If I go 400 watts I'd like to buy the switchable variety of dimmable galaxy/lumateks.

But with that said anyone have experience with the difference between 250 20k reeflux or overdriving 250 radiums to 275 or dimming 400 watt radiums to 360?

RokleM · 01/14/2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsc0787

Yes, I would buy a dimmable. I currently have a coralvue dimmable 250. If I go 400 watts I'd like to buy the switchable variety of dimmable galaxy/lumateks.

But with that said anyone have experience with the difference between 250 20k reeflux or overdriving 250 radiums to 275 or dimming 400 watt radiums to 360?

275 on radiums isn't actually overdriven. They're "HQI" rated. You're right that the 400w is not a standard 400w though and would be overdriven at that point. They are quite blue when underdriven with less than impressive PAR. Personally, I've had minimal luck with the Reeflux 20k's, be it the 250 or 400 models. Extremely quick color shifts, bulbs dying for no apparent reason (with no water splash), different colors in multiple bulbs even when purchased at the same time, you name it. I've been through about 6-8 of them so far. Their PAR is good, but relatively unimpressed with anything but that.

250w Radium w/ Lumatek is my current favorite. Good PAR, good growth, amazing color.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1714811

jsc0787 · 01/14/2010, 10:24 AM

So the newer "selectable ballast" can't dim. That's disapointing. I am interested in having more blue than the overdriven 250 watt Radiums that I've seen. Do the 400 Radiums have any more PAR than overdriven 250s?

RokleM · 01/14/2010, 12:04 PM

I don't have any 400w bulbs left from when I ran them, or I'd give you some info. I always overdrove my 400w radiums on a HQI ballast. SUPER PAR, but lucky to get 6-7mo out of them.

In reference to the ballast question (I assume you're referring to the Lumatek I mentioned?)... the 400w version, yes but only specific numbers. I believe it has 250, 275, 400, HQI settings. The 250w can indeed dim, as well as running Radium's at the right spec (again SE 250w radiums are actually HQI ballast rated, so there isn't a "overdriven" 250w radium unless you try to run them on a 400w ballast

). The Lumatek 250 has settings for 150, 175, 250, and HQI setting. They are "click" settings, so as far as I'm aware there is no way to set it somewhere in the middle of those numbers.

From my limited time working with the Lumatek 250w, it works quite a bit better than my 400w Coralvue dimmable ballasts. The coralvue are kind of hit or miss on dimming, and quite frankly look like they just slapped a button the the side of the ballast. No directions, no indication of wattage, and two ballasts side by side with the same bulbs run different wattages at the wall even with similar rough knob locations (again, guesswork since nothing is labeled at all).

What do you plan to keep in the tank?

jsc0787 · 01/14/2010, 12:37 PM

I keep all SPS. So does the switchable 400 watt lumatek e-ballast run the Radium at the correct 360 watts?

jsc0787 · 01/15/2010, 06:44 PM

bump

blennymower · 01/16/2010, 07:07 AM

Interested on this matter

jsc0787 · 01/20/2010, 04:20 PM

anyone know this?

WNTITAL · 01/20/2010, 05:25 PM

I think this may answer some of your questions. Go to this site:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

I found this helpful when I needed to change my 400W 20K Radiums to a different bulb. I wanted more coral growth then I was getting with the 20K's and this led me to Coral Vue Reeflux's 12K's. I like the blueish color of the 20K's, but they don't produce a lot of coral growth. I am happy with the Reeflux's and they give me the highest par value of any bulb with my ballast with a slightly blue tint. I run a PFO HQI dual ballast right now.

Hope this helps.

jsc0787 · 01/22/2010, 12:16 PM

I wanted info about Radiums on an electronic or E-ballast that would run the at the spec wattage.

sowellj · 01/22/2010, 12:53 PM

I am running 400 watt radiums on galaxy ballasts. I expect the bulb life to be in the area of 6-9 months. I really like the color. I think you will find that this combination is fairly popular.

sowellj · 01/22/2010, 12:55 PM

I do not believe that the switchable ballasts will run it to spec (360W). However, At 400 W that is not terribly overdrive.

jsc0787 · 01/22/2010, 01:06 PM

Have you checked what the actual wattage used by the galaxy on a Killowatt or something similar? That would be interesting. I know that 250 watt galaxy run Radiums at 270 per spec. Perhaps the 400 watt Galaxy knows better as well and runs it at 360?

jsc0787 · 01/25/2010, 04:38 PM

anyone checked the watts using a lumatek or galaxy 400 watt ebalast and a Radium bulb?

jsc0787 · 01/27/2010, 02:53 PM

ttt

01/12/2010, 05:29 PM	#1
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	400 watt Radium dimmed to 360 or 250 watt reeflux 20k? As the title states what would you prefer and which has more growth potential? Assume using an electronic ballast of course. Tank is 63x30x24 using two lumenbright large reflectors (19x19 or so).

01/13/2010, 01:41 PM	#4
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Dimming a 400W Radium? I don't get it... __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

01/13/2010, 02:25 PM	#7
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Right, but an American electronic ballast is still going to run it at 400W. I guess the OP might be using one of those dimmable CoralVue ballasts? __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

01/14/2010, 12:04 PM	#11
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	I don't have any 400w bulbs left from when I ran them, or I'd give you some info. I always overdrove my 400w radiums on a HQI ballast. SUPER PAR, but lucky to get 6-7mo out of them. In reference to the ballast question (I assume you're referring to the Lumatek I mentioned?)... the 400w version, yes but only specific numbers. I believe it has 250, 275, 400, HQI settings. The 250w can indeed dim, as well as running Radium's at the right spec (again SE 250w radiums are actually HQI ballast rated, so there isn't a "overdriven" 250w radium unless you try to run them on a 400w ballast ). The Lumatek 250 has settings for 150, 175, 250, and HQI setting. They are "click" settings, so as far as I'm aware there is no way to set it somewhere in the middle of those numbers. From my limited time working with the Lumatek 250w, it works quite a bit better than my 400w Coralvue dimmable ballasts. The coralvue are kind of hit or miss on dimming, and quite frankly look like they just slapped a button the the side of the ballast. No directions, no indication of wattage, and two ballasts side by side with the same bulbs run different wattages at the wall even with similar rough knob locations (again, guesswork since nothing is labeled at all). What do you plan to keep in the tank? __________________ -Eric-

01/16/2010, 07:07 AM	#14
blennymower Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,477	Interested on this matter __________________ Check out my tank. Current Tank Info: 30G Nano Rimless

01/13/2010, 12:00 AM	#2
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	bump

01/13/2010, 01:35 PM	#3
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	no one?

01/13/2010, 02:19 PM	#6
dew2loud1 backyard berghia breeder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Marion, Oh Posts: 703	Running the radium at 360 watts will make it insanely blue, if you like that color go for it, otherwise most people overdrive them and run them at 430 watts.

01/13/2010, 02:32 PM	#8
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	Yes, I would buy a dimmable. I currently have a coralvue dimmable 250. If I go 400 watts I'd like to buy the switchable variety of dimmable galaxy/lumateks. But with that said anyone have experience with the difference between 250 20k reeflux or overdriving 250 radiums to 275 or dimming 400 watt radiums to 360?

01/14/2010, 10:24 AM	#10
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	So the newer "selectable ballast" can't dim. That's disapointing. I am interested in having more blue than the overdriven 250 watt Radiums that I've seen. Do the 400 Radiums have any more PAR than overdriven 250s?

01/14/2010, 12:37 PM	#12
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	I keep all SPS. So does the switchable 400 watt lumatek e-ballast run the Radium at the correct 360 watts?

01/15/2010, 06:44 PM	#13
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	bump

01/20/2010, 04:20 PM	#15
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	anyone know this?

01/20/2010, 05:25 PM	#16
WNTITAL Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 213	I think this may answer some of your questions. Go to this site: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting I found this helpful when I needed to change my 400W 20K Radiums to a different bulb. I wanted more coral growth then I was getting with the 20K's and this led me to Coral Vue Reeflux's 12K's. I like the blueish color of the 20K's, but they don't produce a lot of coral growth. I am happy with the Reeflux's and they give me the highest par value of any bulb with my ballast with a slightly blue tint. I run a PFO HQI dual ballast right now. Hope this helps.

01/22/2010, 12:16 PM	#17
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	I wanted info about Radiums on an electronic or E-ballast that would run the at the spec wattage.

01/22/2010, 12:53 PM	#18
sowellj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: greenwood, sc Posts: 712	I am running 400 watt radiums on galaxy ballasts. I expect the bulb life to be in the area of 6-9 months. I really like the color. I think you will find that this combination is fairly popular.

01/22/2010, 12:55 PM	#19
sowellj Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: greenwood, sc Posts: 712	I do not believe that the switchable ballasts will run it to spec (360W). However, At 400 W that is not terribly overdrive.

01/22/2010, 01:06 PM	#20
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	Have you checked what the actual wattage used by the galaxy on a Killowatt or something similar? That would be interesting. I know that 250 watt galaxy run Radiums at 270 per spec. Perhaps the 400 watt Galaxy knows better as well and runs it at 360?

01/25/2010, 04:38 PM	#21
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	anyone checked the watts using a lumatek or galaxy 400 watt ebalast and a Radium bulb?

01/27/2010, 02:53 PM	#22
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	ttt