Lumetek vs Coralvue ballast

gimmito · 02/26/2010, 12:26 PM

I'm setting up a 450 display and I'm considering using either the new lumetek selectable ballast or the coralvue dimmable ballast. I'll be using the lumenbrite reflectors and reeflux 400 watt 12k bulbs.

What do you guys recommend ?

1badbrd · 02/26/2010, 01:31 PM

i found many people who use colarvue like only coralvue bulbs with the ballast. When they switch bulbs and use another bulb with colarvue ballast they dont like the change. My vote would be lumetek or icecap

gimmito · 02/26/2010, 04:43 PM

Thanks for the advice. I do like the option of trying other bulbs w/o it not looking true. I would like to see how Phoenix 14's look also under the same setup. They seem to be popular bulbs over here in the bay area.

Jeff · 02/26/2010, 04:47 PM

I'm using a pair of the Coralvue dimmable ballasts with Lumenarc reflectors and Reeflux 12K's. I really like the color and intensity. I have been a huge Reeflux fan for a long time and plan to go with 20K's next bulb-change. Honestly, I dont know when/if I will ever use the dimming feature now that I have acclimated the corals. The lower you dial it down, the bluer the bulbs get.

gimmito · 02/26/2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff

I'm using a pair of the Coralvue dimmable ballasts with Lumenarc reflectors and Reeflux 12K's. I really like the color and intensity. I have been a huge Reeflux fan for a long time and plan to go with 20K's next bulb-change. Honestly, I dont know when/if I will ever use the dimming feature now that I have acclimated the corals. The lower you dial it down, the bluer the bulbs get.

The dimmable feature is a great selling point for the coralvue ballast. I talked to Mike at Reef Specialty and he swears by them. From my understanding you can underdrive them by 30% and overdrive them by 10%. Is that correct ? Also, do you use any atinics ?

nikon187 · 02/26/2010, 10:44 PM

35% dimmable, 10% over drive, 162w- 275w. I just picked mine up a couple weeks ago and am running a 20k reeflux in a lumenarc as well.

Jeff: you will love the bulb when you switch and may stil have to acclimate as the 20k has more PAR than the 12k bulb.

VoodooMach · 02/27/2010, 05:55 AM

I gotta say that lumenmax elites, 250w reeflux 12,000ks, and lumatek 250/400 ballasts produce a very BRIGHT white light that still pops colors well. The bulbs only have a few days on them so they may get bluer, but we'll see. I'm not running them at 275watts yet. I may end up trying out the radiums too on this setup. This reflector is amazing...

gimmito · 02/27/2010, 10:11 AM

Did Sanjay do a review on the lumenmax elites ? I would like to see the comparison to the reefbrites.

02/26/2010, 12:26 PM	#1
gimmito Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: millbrae,ca Posts: 851	Lumetek vs Coralvue ballast I'm setting up a 450 display and I'm considering using either the new lumetek selectable ballast or the coralvue dimmable ballast. I'll be using the lumenbrite reflectors and reeflux 400 watt 12k bulbs. What do you guys recommend ?

02/26/2010, 04:47 PM	#4
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	I'm using a pair of the Coralvue dimmable ballasts with Lumenarc reflectors and Reeflux 12K's. I really like the color and intensity. I have been a huge Reeflux fan for a long time and plan to go with 20K's next bulb-change. Honestly, I dont know when/if I will ever use the dimming feature now that I have acclimated the corals. The lower you dial it down, the bluer the bulbs get. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

02/26/2010, 10:44 PM	#6
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	35% dimmable, 10% over drive, 162w- 275w. I just picked mine up a couple weeks ago and am running a 20k reeflux in a lumenarc as well. Jeff: you will love the bulb when you switch and may stil have to acclimate as the 20k has more PAR than the 12k bulb. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

02/27/2010, 05:55 AM	#7
VoodooMach Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 108	I gotta say that lumenmax elites, 250w reeflux 12,000ks, and lumatek 250/400 ballasts produce a very BRIGHT white light that still pops colors well. The bulbs only have a few days on them so they may get bluer, but we'll see. I'm not running them at 275watts yet. I may end up trying out the radiums too on this setup. This reflector is amazing... __________________ 57 Illuminata Current Tank Info: 57 Illuminata

02/26/2010, 01:31 PM	#2
1badbrd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Middletown,Ohio Posts: 281	i found many people who use colarvue like only coralvue bulbs with the ballast. When they switch bulbs and use another bulb with colarvue ballast they dont like the change. My vote would be lumetek or icecap

02/26/2010, 04:43 PM	#3
gimmito Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: millbrae,ca Posts: 851	Thanks for the advice. I do like the option of trying other bulbs w/o it not looking true. I would like to see how Phoenix 14's look also under the same setup. They seem to be popular bulbs over here in the bay area.

02/27/2010, 10:11 AM	#8
gimmito Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: millbrae,ca Posts: 851	Did Sanjay do a review on the lumenmax elites ? I would like to see the comparison to the reefbrites.