400Watt Radium PFO VS. Galaxy select a watt comparison?

veloboy · 11/11/2011, 02:02 PM

I'm looking at upgrading from current 70 gal to a 180gal. I currently run and love my 400watt Radium fired by a PFO ballast. However, PFO is no longer. I'm considering looking for a used 400 PFO ballast or going to the Galaxy select-a-watt 250/400. I've never seen a tank lit by a 400watt radium fired by the galaxy select a watt. From what I've read it is pretty close to the PFO though. Anyone have any experience comparing the two?

Not looking to get into the bulb/ballast firing debate. Strictly looking at aesthetic comparison between the 400Watt Radium-PFO combo compared with 400W Radium -Galaxy Select a watt.

liquidfunk · 01/11/2012, 05:57 PM

Was the PFO ballast probe, pulse or HQI ?

the Galaxy would be similar at 400w to a pulse start, and similar at turbo to an HQI. but less blue vs probe start.

veloboy · 01/12/2012, 10:14 AM

PFO ballast is HQI. Think the difference would be noticeable running one 400W PFO HQI and one 400W Galaxy both firing 400w Radium bulbs on one tank? Its getting tougher to find the PFO 400W ballasts...

hedgedrew · 01/12/2012, 08:06 PM

I have them set up both like that. They are close enough.

karsseboom · 01/12/2012, 09:06 PM

The 400 Watt radiums should not be run on an hqi ballast since there not an hqi spec bulb. They aren't even really a 400 Watt bulb either more like 360 Watt. So when ran on a hqi or eballast they don't last as long.

Nanook · 01/12/2012, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veloboy

I'm looking at upgrading from current 70 gal to a 180gal. I currently run and love my 400watt Radium fired by a PFO ballast. However, PFO is no longer. I'm considering looking for a used 400 PFO ballast or going to the Galaxy select-a-watt 250/400. I've never seen a tank lit by a 400watt radium fired by the galaxy select a watt. From what I've read it is pretty close to the PFO though. Anyone have any experience comparing the two?

Not looking to get into the bulb/ballast firing debate. Strictly looking at aesthetic comparison between the 400Watt Radium-PFO combo compared with 400W Radium -Galaxy Select a watt.

If you still want to "overdrive" the 400 watt Radium for that "kick butt" color and coral growth, you can still buy the PFO equivalent from Hamilton Lighting. They sell the 400 watt HQI ballast, which is the same as the PFO HQI ballast.

If you want to drive the 400 watt Radium to spec, then get an M135 ballast, which of course, Hamilton Lighting sells as well.

Nanook · 01/12/2012, 11:33 PM

Here is the M135 ballast which is the pulse start:

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/it...I-Ballast-1383

amstar · 01/15/2012, 04:44 PM

What about the lumetek adjustable ballasts?

11/11/2011, 02:02 PM	#1
veloboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 245	400Watt Radium PFO VS. Galaxy select a watt comparison? I'm looking at upgrading from current 70 gal to a 180gal. I currently run and love my 400watt Radium fired by a PFO ballast. However, PFO is no longer. I'm considering looking for a used 400 PFO ballast or going to the Galaxy select-a-watt 250/400. I've never seen a tank lit by a 400watt radium fired by the galaxy select a watt. From what I've read it is pretty close to the PFO though. Anyone have any experience comparing the two? Not looking to get into the bulb/ballast firing debate. Strictly looking at aesthetic comparison between the 400Watt Radium-PFO combo compared with 400W Radium -Galaxy Select a watt. __________________ Acropora & Montipora Current Tank Info: 120 gal SPS & 220 gal SPS

01/11/2012, 05:57 PM	#2
liquidfunk Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland OR Posts: 891	Was the PFO ballast probe, pulse or HQI ? the Galaxy would be similar at 400w to a pulse start, and similar at turbo to an HQI. but less blue vs probe start. __________________ Feed Your Obsession

01/12/2012, 10:14 AM	#3
veloboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Minneapolis MN Posts: 245	PFO ballast is HQI. Think the difference would be noticeable running one 400W PFO HQI and one 400W Galaxy both firing 400w Radium bulbs on one tank? Its getting tougher to find the PFO 400W ballasts... __________________ Acropora & Montipora Current Tank Info: 120 gal SPS & 220 gal SPS

01/12/2012, 09:06 PM	#5
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	The 400 Watt radiums should not be run on an hqi ballast since there not an hqi spec bulb. They aren't even really a 400 Watt bulb either more like 360 Watt. So when ran on a hqi or eballast they don't last as long. Last edited by karsseboom; 01/12/2012 at 09:16 PM.

01/12/2012, 11:33 PM	#7
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	Here is the M135 ballast which is the pulse start: http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/it...I-Ballast-1383 __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

01/12/2012, 08:06 PM	#4
hedgedrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,159	I have them set up both like that. They are close enough.

01/15/2012, 04:44 PM	#8
amstar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 745	What about the lumetek adjustable ballasts?

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