which bulb is better: RADIUM 20k or reeflux 12k?

chercm · 05/20/2010, 05:08 PM

taken into consideration , mine is 2ft as depth and i do not have any t5 as supplement

keeping sps

loweryster · 05/20/2010, 06:00 PM

Love the Radium. I have a 250w SE running on a HQI ballast also on a 2' deep tank. I do have t5's but only use them for dusk/dawn. I was supplement with the t5's but honestly you don't need to.

tkeracer619 · 05/20/2010, 08:17 PM

IME radium > reeflux

myaerica · 05/20/2010, 09:37 PM

Depends,par value reeflux color w/ no atinic's radium.

recife111 · 05/20/2010, 09:50 PM

Radium bulbs don't last long before you lose a lot of punch power.
I had mine for 6 months and had to change them due to the loss of light, All bulbs that are really blue don't last long.

mnchartier · 05/21/2010, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recife111

Radium bulbs don't last long before you lose a lot of punch power.
I had mine for 6 months and had to change them due to the loss of light, All bulbs that are really blue don't last long.

What wattage Radiums and what ballast are you using? I have been researching a lot for the last few months and the only time I have heard this is when they are run on the wrong ballast. I have read that a lot of people go over the 12 month mark and close to 16 months before needing to replace them.

Paulairduck · 05/21/2010, 12:04 PM

My picks
400 watt 20 K reeflux
250 watt 20 K radium

as far as light loss I dont see it, I have been running radiums for 7 years and keep all my bulbs for more than a year.

My new bulbs are 250watt Radium 20K on HQI ballast's, switched from galaxy ballsts that DIED!!!
these are run @ a higher wattage and still strong after 8 months of use.

surfjeepzx · 05/29/2010, 02:15 PM

I just switched from 400w 20k radiums powered by coralvue E-ballasts to 250w 12k reeflux powered by coralvue e-ballasts and I like the reeflux better.

john90009 · 05/29/2010, 07:22 PM

lol untill the reeflux loses its color

mikeatjac · 05/30/2010, 04:26 AM

Radiums would be my choice having run both on coralvue e ballast.

Paulairduck · 05/30/2010, 06:57 AM

you are deffinitley not going to get the longevity from the reeflux bulb, But it does produce a nice color and you can save some money on the bulb.

chercm · 05/30/2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myaerica

Depends,par value reeflux color w/ no atinic's radium.

so it means when i run reeflux , i need to supplement the t5 ?

john90009 · 05/30/2010, 08:47 AM

you most likely will when the light first turns on its a nice blue but as it gets hot it looses any blue it has. if you like natural sunlight look then no t-5 but i like to see color in my coral so im gonna try radium in a few months or something else.

alcove · 05/30/2010, 10:05 AM

just curious, im trying to decide between these two as well 250watt DE hamilton hqi ballast

john90009 · 05/30/2010, 11:19 AM

de i have no idea. all my experience is with single ended electronic ballasts.

tegee · 05/31/2010, 04:36 AM

Running Reflux on CoralVue and/or IceCap ballast at 2.2a only gives out 52 PPFD, much too low IMHO. Radiums on the same ballast will give out 66 PPFD and give better coloration, higher Par and last just as long. Personally I am going to Radiums and upgrading my ballasts as soon as I have more $$$ in the next couple of weeks. I can not take my lighting setup any more. Too many TOTM and others having good luck with Radiums for me not to jump along for the ride.

HTH

05/20/2010, 05:08 PM	#1
chercm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 2,971	which bulb is better: RADIUM 20k or reeflux 12k? taken into consideration , mine is 2ft as depth and i do not have any t5 as supplement keeping sps

05/20/2010, 08:17 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	IME radium > reeflux __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/29/2010, 02:15 PM	#8
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	I just switched from 400w 20k radiums powered by coralvue E-ballasts to 250w 12k reeflux powered by coralvue e-ballasts and I like the reeflux better. __________________ << All that matters Current Tank Info: 135 Acrylic flatback hex. 30 gallon sump. Twin Coralvue 250w MH's w/ 14k Hamiltons, Icecap 660 VHO, 4 URI reflected 110 actinic's. Rio 17hf return & 2 mj1200's (mod'd) pwrhds in tank. All natural... seawater

05/30/2010, 04:26 AM	#10
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	Radiums would be my choice having run both on coralvue e ballast. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

05/31/2010, 04:36 AM	#16
tegee Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 831	Running Reflux on CoralVue and/or IceCap ballast at 2.2a only gives out 52 PPFD, much too low IMHO. Radiums on the same ballast will give out 66 PPFD and give better coloration, higher Par and last just as long. Personally I am going to Radiums and upgrading my ballasts as soon as I have more $$$ in the next couple of weeks. I can not take my lighting setup any more. Too many TOTM and others having good luck with Radiums for me not to jump along for the ride. HTH __________________ 180-gl. SPS Miracles Tank 60" x 24" x 29". Lighting is Old School...(3) 250w MH Radiums using M80 ballasts w/ VHO Actinics (2) EcoTech MP60's, 75-gl. Sump, Kalk Reactor, MRC CalRx, Hurricone Skimmer

05/20/2010, 06:00 PM	#2
loweryster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,061	Love the Radium. I have a 250w SE running on a HQI ballast also on a 2' deep tank. I do have t5's but only use them for dusk/dawn. I was supplement with the t5's but honestly you don't need to.

05/20/2010, 09:37 PM	#4
myaerica Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Eau Claire,WI Posts: 461	Depends,par value reeflux color w/ no atinic's radium.

05/20/2010, 09:50 PM	#5
recife111 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 386	Radium bulbs don't last long before you lose a lot of punch power. I had mine for 6 months and had to change them due to the loss of light, All bulbs that are really blue don't last long.

05/21/2010, 12:04 PM	#7
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	My picks 400 watt 20 K reeflux 250 watt 20 K radium as far as light loss I dont see it, I have been running radiums for 7 years and keep all my bulbs for more than a year. My new bulbs are 250watt Radium 20K on HQI ballast's, switched from galaxy ballsts that DIED!!! these are run @ a higher wattage and still strong after 8 months of use.

05/29/2010, 07:22 PM	#9
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	lol untill the reeflux loses its color

05/30/2010, 06:57 AM	#11
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	you are deffinitley not going to get the longevity from the reeflux bulb, But it does produce a nice color and you can save some money on the bulb.

05/30/2010, 08:47 AM	#13
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	you most likely will when the light first turns on its a nice blue but as it gets hot it looses any blue it has. if you like natural sunlight look then no t-5 but i like to see color in my coral so im gonna try radium in a few months or something else.

05/30/2010, 10:05 AM	#14
alcove Moved On Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jax beach ,FL Posts: 80	just curious, im trying to decide between these two as well 250watt DE hamilton hqi ballast

05/30/2010, 11:19 AM	#15
john90009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brick Posts: 985	de i have no idea. all my experience is with single ended electronic ballasts.

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