radium or helios bump which is better

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 08:54 PM

I am looking to change my lighting over my display and frag tank. right now I am running 4 xm 10ks in lumenbright and 1 400 watt xm 20 in a lumenbright over my frag tank. I was thinking about changing the out for 20k but I cant decide between the radium or the helios. My ballast are coralvue electronic over display and old pfo ballast on frag tank. Any help would be great

snorvich · 02/24/2009, 09:30 PM

It is hard to say what is "best" but I sure like my radiums.

Znut Reefer · 02/24/2009, 09:55 PM

Never used the Helios. I like the Radiums or XM 20K.

SPSpirate · 02/24/2009, 10:56 PM

radiums!!

grigsy · 02/24/2009, 11:06 PM

Radium

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 11:21 PM

will radiums fire on m59 ballast its an old pfo and the 250 is a new coralvue electronic no dimmable

Paulairduck · 02/24/2009, 11:54 PM

Radiums and Helios are very similar, used both. Helios cost less, Radium's have more par, and I think you get a little more color from Helios.

I still use Radiums because I can run them for more than a year on my Galaxy ballasts

jlaudiofreak · 02/25/2009, 12:12 AM

do you think 4 250watt helios 20k will be enough for a 24" deep tank. I am using lumenbright reflectors and coralvue no dimmable e ballast

killaACES · 02/25/2009, 02:27 AM

I ran both bulbs but in the 250W version, I like the Helios over the Radiums, the Helios were much more of a nice CRISP 20K, and i had somee nice crazy pop in my colors when I switched to Helios. I ran the bulbs on an HQI SLS. I have since switched to T5s, and if I had to ever go back to MH, it will be Helios!

LunarDDS · 02/25/2009, 07:31 AM

I've read that the non-dim coralvue ballasts don't drive the radiums very well. I just radiums with my dimmable coralvues and I like them. We'll see if the corals like them in a few weeks.

mtraylor · 02/25/2009, 10:36 AM

I run the Radiums 250W SE. Never used the Helios, but now I'm going to have to research them.

eppersonm16 · 02/25/2009, 11:53 AM

Im currently running the Radiums for over 2 years and still getting good color and growth!!

02/24/2009, 08:54 PM	#1
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	radium or helios bump which is better I am looking to change my lighting over my display and frag tank. right now I am running 4 xm 10ks in lumenbright and 1 400 watt xm 20 in a lumenbright over my frag tank. I was thinking about changing the out for 20k but I cant decide between the radium or the helios. My ballast are coralvue electronic over display and old pfo ballast on frag tank. Any help would be great

02/24/2009, 09:30 PM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	It is hard to say what is "best" but I sure like my radiums. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

02/24/2009, 10:56 PM	#4
SPSpirate 2 PART BABY!!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond,Virginia Posts: 2,874	radiums!! __________________ Andy "I have never known something to appear so simple but known to be so adaptive and complex than reef building corals." Current Tank Info: 70 acrylic DD,AP701(DELTEC USA),Giesmann Bilux,2x250 20k Radium, Galaxy 250 dual ballast,closed loop on a reeflo dart 4 returns, vodka doser and 2 part

02/25/2009, 10:36 AM	#11
mtraylor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 295	I run the Radiums 250W SE. Never used the Helios, but now I'm going to have to research them. __________________ Anything New is worth Learning. Current Tank Info: 255 A.G.E Rimless mixed reef

02/24/2009, 09:55 PM	#3
Znut Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Claxton, Ga Posts: 3,396	Never used the Helios. I like the Radiums or XM 20K.

02/24/2009, 11:06 PM	#5
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	Radium

02/24/2009, 11:21 PM	#6
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	will radiums fire on m59 ballast its an old pfo and the 250 is a new coralvue electronic no dimmable

02/24/2009, 11:54 PM	#7
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	Radiums and Helios are very similar, used both. Helios cost less, Radium's have more par, and I think you get a little more color from Helios. I still use Radiums because I can run them for more than a year on my Galaxy ballasts

02/25/2009, 12:12 AM	#8
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	do you think 4 250watt helios 20k will be enough for a 24" deep tank. I am using lumenbright reflectors and coralvue no dimmable e ballast

02/25/2009, 02:27 AM	#9
killaACES Moved On Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: at the casino table Posts: 132	I ran both bulbs but in the 250W version, I like the Helios over the Radiums, the Helios were much more of a nice CRISP 20K, and i had somee nice crazy pop in my colors when I switched to Helios. I ran the bulbs on an HQI SLS. I have since switched to T5s, and if I had to ever go back to MH, it will be Helios!

02/25/2009, 07:31 AM	#10
LunarDDS Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 334	I've read that the non-dim coralvue ballasts don't drive the radiums very well. I just radiums with my dimmable coralvues and I like them. We'll see if the corals like them in a few weeks.

02/25/2009, 11:53 AM	#12
eppersonm16 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 46	Im currently running the Radiums for over 2 years and still getting good color and growth!!