400 watt hqi ballast

tybox · 05/31/2008, 09:42 PM

I got a used 400w pfo dual hqi ballast and have been reading all day on what pendants and bulbs to get. I am going to go with lumenarc for the pendants, but I am very confused on what bulbs to use. I was planning on overdriving the radiums 20k but I am reading that they need to be switched out every 4-6 months. So I started looking at the hqi bulbs and noticed that there isn't a whole lot to choose from. so what is the best route to go with this ballast? I am currently running 20k xm's on m59 ballast, they are ballast in hood style, wanted hanging pendants(reason for change). Really like the color I have with the xm's and would like to stay as close to this as possible.

Jayreefer · 05/31/2008, 10:43 PM

20k XM overdriven on the 400w HQI should be close. I use the 20k Helios bulb and get a good 10-12 months out of them. I just switched our my PFO pendant for a Lumenarc full size and I love it.

I am thinking of running reflux 12k but I wasn't sure if I would like them. I haven't seen one in person and I dont know how long they last.

just dave · 05/31/2008, 11:06 PM

The XM SE bulbs are made to be fired with a pulse start ballast and according to Sanjay's data if you fire the XM 20k 400w SE bulb on that PFO ballast it will have approx. a 23% reduction in output compared to the same bulb on the M59 ballast.

XM 400w 20k on M59 = 128 PPFD
XM 400w 20k on PFO HQI= 98 PPFD

tybox · 05/31/2008, 11:57 PM

how close in color are the helios bulbs compared to the radiums?

tybox · 06/01/2008, 03:51 PM

I wouldn't be using the xm's on this ballast just looking for somthing simaler to the xm in color.what is the reason for the small selection of 400 watt hgi bulbs compared to 250 watt?

RokleM · 06/01/2008, 05:01 PM

Hamilton 14k's aren't bad. Radium 20k's have amazing PAR and CRAZY coral color pop. I recently switched to the Reeflux 12k's, like the look, and had a burst in growth.

Mirror Pond · 06/01/2008, 06:30 PM

I just looked at that and am wondering if those numbers are reversed on accident. I didn't look at every bulb but I'm not sure there is another bulb that has less par on an HQI than on an M59.

Quote:

Originally posted by just dave
The XM SE bulbs are made to be fired with a pulse start ballast and according to Sanjay's data if you fire the XM 20k 400w SE bulb on that PFO ballast it will have approx. a 23% reduction in output compared to the same bulb on the M59 ballast.

XM 400w 20k on M59 = 128 PPFD
XM 400w 20k on PFO HQI= 98 PPFD

Jayreefer · 06/01/2008, 07:22 PM

The helios has a crisp blue like Phoenix 14k 250w HQI. Radium has a blue purple tint but still more blue. The helios last longer and has a highr par tha nthe radiums, but not by much.

Can anyone tell more about the reeflux 12k 400w SE?

colubrid · 06/01/2008, 07:58 PM

The 400W Reeflux have a nice blue/white color on bluewave HQI and really make the colors pop. The par is also very good (I think Sanjay's site gives a 147). Unfortunately, they only last about 6 months before they need to be replaced. I recently switched to aquaconnect 14K for longer bulb lifespan but I will be switching back to 400w 12k Reeflux as I prefer the color better.

05/31/2008, 09:42 PM	#1
tybox Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davis Posts: 276	400 watt hqi ballast I got a used 400w pfo dual hqi ballast and have been reading all day on what pendants and bulbs to get. I am going to go with lumenarc for the pendants, but I am very confused on what bulbs to use. I was planning on overdriving the radiums 20k but I am reading that they need to be switched out every 4-6 months. So I started looking at the hqi bulbs and noticed that there isn't a whole lot to choose from. so what is the best route to go with this ballast? I am currently running 20k xm's on m59 ballast, they are ballast in hood style, wanted hanging pendants(reason for change). Really like the color I have with the xm's and would like to stay as close to this as possible.

06/01/2008, 05:01 PM	#6
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	Hamilton 14k's aren't bad. Radium 20k's have amazing PAR and CRAZY coral color pop. I recently switched to the Reeflux 12k's, like the look, and had a burst in growth. __________________ -Eric-

05/31/2008, 10:43 PM	#2
Jayreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peoria Az Posts: 2,022	20k XM overdriven on the 400w HQI should be close. I use the 20k Helios bulb and get a good 10-12 months out of them. I just switched our my PFO pendant for a Lumenarc full size and I love it. I am thinking of running reflux 12k but I wasn't sure if I would like them. I haven't seen one in person and I dont know how long they last.

05/31/2008, 11:06 PM	#3
just dave 11th in '11 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cordova, TN Posts: 4,394	The XM SE bulbs are made to be fired with a pulse start ballast and according to Sanjay's data if you fire the XM 20k 400w SE bulb on that PFO ballast it will have approx. a 23% reduction in output compared to the same bulb on the M59 ballast. XM 400w 20k on M59 = 128 PPFD XM 400w 20k on PFO HQI= 98 PPFD

05/31/2008, 11:57 PM	#4
tybox Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davis Posts: 276	how close in color are the helios bulbs compared to the radiums?

06/01/2008, 03:51 PM	#5
tybox Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davis Posts: 276	I wouldn't be using the xm's on this ballast just looking for somthing simaler to the xm in color.what is the reason for the small selection of 400 watt hgi bulbs compared to 250 watt?

06/01/2008, 07:22 PM	#8
Jayreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peoria Az Posts: 2,022	The helios has a crisp blue like Phoenix 14k 250w HQI. Radium has a blue purple tint but still more blue. The helios last longer and has a highr par tha nthe radiums, but not by much. Can anyone tell more about the reeflux 12k 400w SE?

06/01/2008, 07:58 PM	#9
colubrid Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N. Yarmouth, ME Posts: 42	The 400W Reeflux have a nice blue/white color on bluewave HQI and really make the colors pop. The par is also very good (I think Sanjay's site gives a 147). Unfortunately, they only last about 6 months before they need to be replaced. I recently switched to aquaconnect 14K for longer bulb lifespan but I will be switching back to 400w 12k Reeflux as I prefer the color better.