250w 20k radiums single end

Bugzme · 04/22/2010, 04:04 PM

I'm thinking about getting these. Has anyone used them?
like to here pro's and con's

RokleM · 04/23/2010, 07:05 AM

If you search, you'll find TOOONS of posts about radiums. Hands down, they're one of the most popular SE 250w bulbs. However, they're best run on a "HQI" ballast, electronic ballast, or adjustable ballast that can drive them properly. There's only a a handful out there that do it well. It's one of the only bulbs that are SE, but most closely match "HQI" spec.

Very bright, tons of PAR, great colors.

jeepguy242 · 04/23/2010, 07:33 AM

i have a friend that runs them on thos cheap chinese EPT ballasts and he likes tham very much, altho we are skeptical as to how long they will last on the ballsts

Chupakabra-King · 04/23/2010, 07:39 AM

I have used the 250 watt radiums and I love them . The last radium I used lasted 18 months on an Icecap ballast. YMMV . I will definitely be using them again once I use up all the reeflux bulbs I just acquired .

mfinn · 04/23/2010, 08:35 AM

I love the way the Radium bulb looks on my zoanthid tank.

Btortorelli · 04/23/2010, 08:46 AM

So radiums have no issues running on icecap ballasts?

AaronReeph · 04/23/2010, 09:09 AM

A Radium will run on an icecap ballast but it will not be driven or started to the correct specifications. The color will appear more blue, par will not be as high as a magnetic (M80) ballast, and bulb life may be altered.

Chupakabra-King · 04/23/2010, 09:59 AM

I had no issues running mine on an icecap ballast and the bulb actually lasted longer for me . As always YMMV . The bulbs burned a nice crisp blue . I loved it . I still have the bulb as a backup bulb in case my reeflux bulbs go bad on me .

nikon187 · 04/23/2010, 11:23 AM

I had no issues running mine on an icecap ballast and the bulb actually lasted longer for me . As always YMMV . The bulbs burned a nice crisp blue . I loved it . I still have the bulb as a backup bulb in case my reeflux bulbs go bad on me .

Thats the thing though, it is supposed to be a nice crisp WHITE with a hint of blue. The only ballasts that drive them correctly are a m80 HQI

ryshark · 04/23/2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikon187

I had no issues running mine on an icecap ballast and the bulb actually lasted longer for me . As always YMMV . The bulbs burned a nice crisp blue . I loved it . I still have the bulb as a backup bulb in case my reeflux bulbs go bad on me .

Thats the thing though, it is supposed to be a nice crisp WHITE with a hint of blue. The only ballasts that drive them correctly are a m80 HQI

I've read many people say that Galaxy E-Ballast drive them pretty close to the specs of the m80

t4zalews · 04/23/2010, 02:10 PM

i got the galaxy ballast for this very reason..From what I read..they were designed to run radiums. They drive the bulb at about 290W

Mr. Brooks · 04/23/2010, 03:03 PM

I'm thinking about running a 250 watt 20,000K Radium on an M80 magnetic HQI ballast over a 12" tall frag tank. Do you guys think this is a good choice? Will I need actinic supplementation? I want to use a single large Lumenmax reflector so adding T5's or VHO's would be a pain. I'd have to build a canopy for them. It would be much easier to hang a single reflector.

I was also thinking about buying one of these:

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...ath=28_325_474

It's a dual metal halide fixture. I'd run the Radium for 8 hours and I'd run a 250 watt 6,500K Iwasaki for 4. I've heard the 6,500K Iwasaki was hands down the best bulb for growth.

Do you think I'd be fine with the single Radium? Will the radium give me enough PAR for quick growth in a shallow frag tank? Or should I spend some extra $$ and go with the dual fixture.

04/22/2010, 04:04 PM	#1
Bugzme Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: salt lake,utah Posts: 233	250w 20k radiums single end I'm thinking about getting these. Has anyone used them? like to here pro's and con's

04/23/2010, 07:05 AM	#2
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	If you search, you'll find TOOONS of posts about radiums. Hands down, they're one of the most popular SE 250w bulbs. However, they're best run on a "HQI" ballast, electronic ballast, or adjustable ballast that can drive them properly. There's only a a handful out there that do it well. It's one of the only bulbs that are SE, but most closely match "HQI" spec. Very bright, tons of PAR, great colors. __________________ -Eric-

04/23/2010, 07:33 AM	#3
jeepguy242 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Winston Salem NC Posts: 370	i have a friend that runs them on thos cheap chinese EPT ballasts and he likes tham very much, altho we are skeptical as to how long they will last on the ballsts __________________ Greensboro NC area reef club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef, 40 gallon sump, mag 9.5 return, quiet one 6000 closed loop, reef octo NWB-150 2010 model, diy kalkwasser reactor and ATO, 3 250 watt MH 14k

04/23/2010, 07:39 AM	#4
Chupakabra-King Mmmmmm Goats ! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 408	I have used the 250 watt radiums and I love them . The last radium I used lasted 18 months on an Icecap ballast. YMMV . I will definitely be using them again once I use up all the reeflux bulbs I just acquired . __________________ If I get more obsessed with reefkeeping I will be divorced, living in the back of my LFS ! Been keeping fish (salt and fresh) since the 1970s. Started reefing in 1998 . 40 Breeder Club AP24 Club Current Tank Info: AP24 soft coral tank & JBJ Nano 12DX, 40 Breeder

04/23/2010, 08:35 AM	#5
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I love the way the Radium bulb looks on my zoanthid tank. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

04/23/2010, 08:46 AM	#6
Btortorelli Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 154	So radiums have no issues running on icecap ballasts?

04/23/2010, 09:09 AM	#7
AaronReeph Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 220	A Radium will run on an icecap ballast but it will not be driven or started to the correct specifications. The color will appear more blue, par will not be as high as a magnetic (M80) ballast, and bulb life may be altered. __________________ Last tank: 180g 3x250W Radiums in LumenBrites driven by BlueWave 7 and BlueWave 3, 2x160W VHO (1 454, 1 Super Actinic) on IceCap 660, 2 MP40Wes, Blueline 70HD return, SRO-3000INT, Apex Current Tank Info: 60g 24" Deep Blue Rimless RR Cube, Hydra 52 w/ Director, 2x MP10Wes, Basement sump w/ 100g Rubbermaid stock tank, RLSS 6i skimmer, Panworld 100PX return, Apex Lite

04/23/2010, 09:59 AM	#8
Chupakabra-King Mmmmmm Goats ! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 408	I had no issues running mine on an icecap ballast and the bulb actually lasted longer for me . As always YMMV . The bulbs burned a nice crisp blue . I loved it . I still have the bulb as a backup bulb in case my reeflux bulbs go bad on me . __________________ If I get more obsessed with reefkeeping I will be divorced, living in the back of my LFS ! Been keeping fish (salt and fresh) since the 1970s. Started reefing in 1998 . 40 Breeder Club AP24 Club Current Tank Info: AP24 soft coral tank & JBJ Nano 12DX, 40 Breeder

04/23/2010, 11:23 AM	#9
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	I had no issues running mine on an icecap ballast and the bulb actually lasted longer for me . As always YMMV . The bulbs burned a nice crisp blue . I loved it . I still have the bulb as a backup bulb in case my reeflux bulbs go bad on me . Thats the thing though, it is supposed to be a nice crisp WHITE with a hint of blue. The only ballasts that drive them correctly are a m80 HQI __________________ ----------------- 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.

04/23/2010, 02:10 PM	#11
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	i got the galaxy ballast for this very reason..From what I read..they were designed to run radiums. They drive the bulb at about 290W

04/23/2010, 03:03 PM	#12
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	I'm thinking about running a 250 watt 20,000K Radium on an M80 magnetic HQI ballast over a 12" tall frag tank. Do you guys think this is a good choice? Will I need actinic supplementation? I want to use a single large Lumenmax reflector so adding T5's or VHO's would be a pain. I'd have to build a canopy for them. It would be much easier to hang a single reflector. I was also thinking about buying one of these: http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...ath=28_325_474 It's a dual metal halide fixture. I'd run the Radium for 8 hours and I'd run a 250 watt 6,500K Iwasaki for 4. I've heard the 6,500K Iwasaki was hands down the best bulb for growth. Do you think I'd be fine with the single Radium? Will the radium give me enough PAR for quick growth in a shallow frag tank? Or should I spend some extra $$ and go with the dual fixture.

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