Lumatek ballast and radium bulb question

[vivek]

I just bought a dimmable 250 watt/400w ballast and I am trying to fire a radium 400w bulb. When I fire it on the HQI setting it fires bluer with slightly lower par values compared to when I fire it at the 400watt setting when I get higher par values but bulb burns whiter. What is the best setting on this ballast to fire this bulb.

Thanx

vivek

[Toadally]

I'm thinking about the same combo....I'd like to know if there's a problem....tagging along!

[jakester]

I will add this info for you. If you are going to use 400 watt Radium. Make sure you get the bulbs that are made with the stamped metal plates for the inner arc support. the ones with the wire inner arc support have been horrible. I have personally gone threw 3 sets of newer bulbs with the wire support and get ugly purple then a pink color the longer they burn in every time. And from what I understand these bulbs with the wire arc support are the newer design. All of the ones with the spamped plates are beautiful in color just like a Radium is supposed to look like. It drives me nuts when someone decides to go and change some major component on a bulb that has done so well for so long.

[newtank]

I guess it depends right? I have this same setup bought second hand. I thought the HQI setting was for the double ended bulbs, maybe I need to study up some more, I set the ballast to 250, just because I am already running 1200 watts on my 265, so i'm trying to save on the bill for the cube. I love the blue color I get at 250, yes 400 is more intense, but I only have some zoa's they seem to be doing well. What are you using to supplement the halides? I'm just looking for some nice moon lites....

[vivek]

Originally Posted by newtank

I guess it depends right? I have this same setup bought second hand. I thought the HQI setting was for the double ended bulbs, maybe I need to study up some more, I set the ballast to 250, just because I am already running 1200 watts on my 265, so i'm trying to save on the bill for the cube. I love the blue color I get at 250, yes 400 is more intense, but I only have some zoa's they seem to be doing well. What are you using to supplement the halides? I'm just looking for some nice moon lites....

i am using the hallides all by themselves and have a 30 inch tall tank full of sps so i cannot sacrifice par value for a bluer look. i would like to supplement with led's but am not sure how that will look. i wonder if anyone has a radium LED combo tank.

[jakester]

I would like to try some led supps in the 454 spectrum to add some extra pop. But I am not sure if it will be necessary because the 400 watt radium packs a lot of punch and pop already by themselves in the lumenarc minis. Have not tested par value but it must be good because my growth and color is great. Maybe 25% slower growth than a 10k reeflux bulb from my experience. But its still good growth at that rate anyways. It may look to blue for my taste with supps but would still like to experiment also.

[vivek]

Originally Posted by jakester

I would like to try some led supps in the 454 spectrum to add some extra pop. But I am not sure if it will be necessary because the 400 watt radium packs a lot of punch and pop already by themselves in the lumenarc minis. Have not tested par value but it must be good because my growth and color is great. Maybe 25% slower growth than a 10k reeflux bulb from my experience. But its still good growth at that rate anyways. It may look to blue for my taste with supps but would still like to experiment also.

I do like the color of the radiums on the HQI setting. At 400Watt setting the color is just too white. But the color pop and florescence of the LEDS are way better than what any radium can do. That is based on the comparison wih the LED's that i have on my LPS tank. The unfortunate outcome that i am worried about is how blue will it make the tank look. The LED on my LPS TANK has an unbearable blue color to it that i cannot stand inspite of the amazing glow it gives to my Acans. I am totally in agreement on the other thread on RC titled "the emperor has no clothes". The LED's have ways to go before being adopted as the defacto lighting choice in reefing both with color balance and pricing.

[vivek]

Jakester

what settings are you using on your lumatek to fire your radiums?

Vivek

[jakester]

I use just the 400 watt setting. It looks great. I tried the super lumens 400 watt setting and visually it didnt look much different. Maybe 5% slightly brighter.

[vivek]

Thanx jakester

what about the hqi setting. i was getting a slightly more blue/actinic effect than at the 400w setting though i did sacrifice slightly at the par. will it affect the bulb adversely if i fire the bulb at the HQI setting?

[jakester]

probably shorten the life a little on the bulb. The 400 watt radium spec to run them at is actually at 365 watts. But everybody always overdrives them anyways with 400watt electronic ballast. I would think that the bulb on the hqi setting would start dropping off in performance around 6 months give or take depending on your lighting schedule. I always change my Radium 400w bulbs every 6 month anyways. I try to keep lighting as stong and fresh as possible before the coral starts to adjust to dull and wearing bulbs.