Famous bulb and ballast combo's

Andrew17030 · 01/13/2010, 11:44 PM

I am picking out my bulb and ballasts. If people that are very happy with their bulb/ballast combonations or have heard of good combonations could help be pick a good match that would be awesome. I am looking at one 400 watt SE and two 250 SE.

nikon187 · 01/14/2010, 01:29 AM

no complaints about the galaxy ballast and radium combo.

RokleM · 01/14/2010, 08:39 AM

Right now, 250w SE Radium and Lumatek adjustable ballast.

However, it would help to know what you plan to keep, dimensions of the tank, etc.

Rizup · 01/14/2010, 08:39 AM

Running dual 400 PFO HQI Ballast and Radium Bulbs

Andrew17030 · 01/14/2010, 09:30 AM

I seem to only be able to firnd 20k radiums. Is that all that radium makes? I plan on keeping SPS the deminsions are aprox. 36"X36"x36" and 30"deep. It is a corner tank.

EnderG60 · 01/14/2010, 10:00 AM

Cool i love 4 dimensional tanks!

definatly go with a 400w se in a good reflector.

Im currently running standard PFO magnetic balasts with radium 20k's and I like it alot!

I would say go with the PFO HQI balast and helios 20k bulbs, since thats what ill be changing to next year. Both setups overdrive the bulbs to give them a good 14k ish color while still getting that pop from the corals. Plus you get some serious PAR.

jubjub · 01/14/2010, 02:29 PM

lol not to sound like the odd ball here....icecap 250w ballast+ phoenix 14k se i been very happy with

Arthur1 · 01/14/2010, 05:31 PM

The only problem is I've seen a few aquariums that have a single halide bulb and you notice the sps in particular growing toward the bulb. I was thinking about doing a 40 breeder frag tank and looking more in depth at a light on a track as I am a halide "fan" and yes I like T5s for shallow tanks just have halide ballasts on hand fwiw. If the track is in the budget I'd go with a 400 watt bulb. If not 2, 10k 250s with actinic supplementation.

Andrew17030 · 01/14/2010, 07:17 PM

All abord... Thanks for input so far.

Andrew17030 · 01/14/2010, 09:05 PM

Anybody else... Tank shots anyone?

01/13/2010, 11:44 PM	#1
Andrew17030 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 607	Famous bulb and ballast combo's I am picking out my bulb and ballasts. If people that are very happy with their bulb/ballast combonations or have heard of good combonations could help be pick a good match that would be awesome. I am looking at one 400 watt SE and two 250 SE.

01/14/2010, 01:29 AM	#2
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	no complaints about the galaxy ballast and radium combo. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

01/14/2010, 08:39 AM	#3
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	Right now, 250w SE Radium and Lumatek adjustable ballast. However, it would help to know what you plan to keep, dimensions of the tank, etc. __________________ -Eric-

01/14/2010, 08:39 AM	#4
Rizup Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northern IL Posts: 1,067	Running dual 400 PFO HQI Ballast and Radium Bulbs __________________ Grow Baby, Grow!!!

01/14/2010, 02:29 PM	#7
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	lol not to sound like the odd ball here....icecap 250w ballast+ phoenix 14k se i been very happy with __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

01/14/2010, 09:30 AM	#5
Andrew17030 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 607	I seem to only be able to firnd 20k radiums. Is that all that radium makes? I plan on keeping SPS the deminsions are aprox. 36"X36"x36" and 30"deep. It is a corner tank.

01/14/2010, 10:00 AM	#6
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Cool i love 4 dimensional tanks! definatly go with a 400w se in a good reflector. Im currently running standard PFO magnetic balasts with radium 20k's and I like it alot! I would say go with the PFO HQI balast and helios 20k bulbs, since thats what ill be changing to next year. Both setups overdrive the bulbs to give them a good 14k ish color while still getting that pop from the corals. Plus you get some serious PAR.

01/14/2010, 05:31 PM	#8
Arthur1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 578	The only problem is I've seen a few aquariums that have a single halide bulb and you notice the sps in particular growing toward the bulb. I was thinking about doing a 40 breeder frag tank and looking more in depth at a light on a track as I am a halide "fan" and yes I like T5s for shallow tanks just have halide ballasts on hand fwiw. If the track is in the budget I'd go with a 400 watt bulb. If not 2, 10k 250s with actinic supplementation.

01/14/2010, 07:17 PM	#9
Andrew17030 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 607	All abord... Thanks for input so far.

01/14/2010, 09:05 PM	#10
Andrew17030 Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 607	Anybody else... Tank shots anyone? Last edited by Andrew17030; 01/14/2010 at 09:23 PM.