Help me select a 250w SE MH Bulb

Falcon53 · 10/29/2015, 07:12 PM

Hello everyone. I have a 24"x24"x24" tank and I am currently running a 250w Radium in a Lumenbright reflector with a Lumatek ballast. I have a mixed reef with some LPS on the bottom of the tank and SPS in the middle to top.

I haven't been thrilled with the growth, although I love the color. I have run this on a magnetic ballast in the past as well.

My question is, what is a good 250W SE bulb that will give me the most growth without frying my LPS?

I would probably go back to the Radiums once I have some growth, but I am hoping to accelerate it for now. Thanks for the help!

Harry_Y · 10/29/2015, 10:39 PM

I run Hamilton 14k but only for 6 weeks but every thing looks happy.

Mr. Brooks · 10/30/2015, 01:18 AM

I would stick with the Radiums. I've heard iwasaki's offer amazing growth but the color sucks.

sbeason · 10/30/2015, 04:53 AM

+1 for the Radium bulb run on a magnetic ballast.

alton · 10/30/2015, 05:36 AM

Unless you got a bad lamp in your setup you can grow SPS on the bottom of your tank. I use Radium 20K and Phoenix 14K lamps, both grow corals using electronic ballast. Also if you are going to use a magnetic ballast you have to use a M80 or M138 since Radium's are pulse start lamps and not to be used on a M58 Ballast. The only other lamp I used and great success with was a Coralvue Reeflux 12K.

JB NY · 10/30/2015, 08:06 AM

I have used, for an extended period, the following bulbs for SPS, Hamilton 14k, Iwaski 6500K, XM10k, Ushio 10K, AB 12K, Ushio 14K, Aqua Connect 14K, Radium 20K. If you are looking for growth you want a bulb that puts out more PAR than the Radium, You can go with an Ushio 14K and still get some blue color in the tank (not like the radium though) or an XM10k that grows coral like nobody's business but is very white and will probably look yellow when going from a radium. I really liked the Aqua Connect bulb and used it for years, good color and very good growth, they recently changed the bulb a little though and it is not as bright but still nice color.

stancfii · 10/30/2015, 09:57 AM

+1 on the Ushio 14k. You can run that on the regular 250w setting and get about 90ppfd compared to 85ppfd on a Radium/m80. The PAR difference is negligible, but the Ushio has a huge 420nm spike which is great for growing corals. The Ushio would also be running at 250w vs 330w on a M80 ballast which saves on heat/electricity. That being said, your current setup should be perfectly fine, so check your nutrient and Ca/alk/Mg levels before spending money chasing bulb/ballast combos.

shifty51008 · 10/30/2015, 11:02 AM

I have been happy with the color and growth of tge hamilton 14k bulbs but i also run vho atanics. May try the hamilton 20k next as i hear they have the same color or close to the radium bulbs but you dont need the m80 ballast.

10/29/2015, 07:12 PM	#1
Falcon53 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 34	Help me select a 250w SE MH Bulb Hello everyone. I have a 24"x24"x24" tank and I am currently running a 250w Radium in a Lumenbright reflector with a Lumatek ballast. I have a mixed reef with some LPS on the bottom of the tank and SPS in the middle to top. I haven't been thrilled with the growth, although I love the color. I have run this on a magnetic ballast in the past as well. My question is, what is a good 250W SE bulb that will give me the most growth without frying my LPS? I would probably go back to the Radiums once I have some growth, but I am hoping to accelerate it for now. Thanks for the help!

10/29/2015, 10:39 PM	#2
Harry_Y Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NY Posts: 454	I run Hamilton 14k but only for 6 weeks but every thing looks happy. __________________ . 180 Gallon Reef with Basement Sump, Apex Controller, Hamilton Cebu Sun Light, Lifereef Skimmer and Calcium Reactor.

10/30/2015, 08:06 AM	#6
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	I have used, for an extended period, the following bulbs for SPS, Hamilton 14k, Iwaski 6500K, XM10k, Ushio 10K, AB 12K, Ushio 14K, Aqua Connect 14K, Radium 20K. If you are looking for growth you want a bulb that puts out more PAR than the Radium, You can go with an Ushio 14K and still get some blue color in the tank (not like the radium though) or an XM10k that grows coral like nobody's business but is very white and will probably look yellow when going from a radium. I really liked the Aqua Connect bulb and used it for years, good color and very good growth, they recently changed the bulb a little though and it is not as bright but still nice color. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre

10/30/2015, 09:57 AM	#7
stancfii Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 583	+1 on the Ushio 14k. You can run that on the regular 250w setting and get about 90ppfd compared to 85ppfd on a Radium/m80. The PAR difference is negligible, but the Ushio has a huge 420nm spike which is great for growing corals. The Ushio would also be running at 250w vs 330w on a M80 ballast which saves on heat/electricity. That being said, your current setup should be perfectly fine, so check your nutrient and Ca/alk/Mg levels before spending money chasing bulb/ballast combos. __________________ 180g SPS -3 x 250w Radiums, 2 x VHO actinic, DIY RB LED strip, and a EuroReef skimmer modded with a DC pump.

10/30/2015, 11:02 AM	#8
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	I have been happy with the color and growth of tge hamilton 14k bulbs but i also run vho atanics. May try the hamilton 20k next as i hear they have the same color or close to the radium bulbs but you dont need the m80 ballast. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/30/2015, 01:18 AM	#3
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	I would stick with the Radiums. I've heard iwasaki's offer amazing growth but the color sucks.

10/30/2015, 04:53 AM	#4
sbeason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake St Louis, MO Posts: 1,391	+1 for the Radium bulb run on a magnetic ballast.

10/30/2015, 05:36 AM	#5
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Unless you got a bad lamp in your setup you can grow SPS on the bottom of your tank. I use Radium 20K and Phoenix 14K lamps, both grow corals using electronic ballast. Also if you are going to use a magnetic ballast you have to use a M80 or M138 since Radium's are pulse start lamps and not to be used on a M58 Ballast. The only other lamp I used and great success with was a Coralvue Reeflux 12K.