help me pick a 400 watt halide for my setup!

joreef · 07/20/2010, 11:15 PM

So here is what i have going on. I am running a single 400 what halide in a luminarc mini over a 58 gallon thats 36'' by 18''. My main concern is making colors pop. Second concern would be growth. I do not plan on using any supplemental lighting so would like something in the 20k range while also retaining brightness. Do not plan on keeping sps focus will be lps, leathers, zoos, and clams. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

FrankenReef · 07/20/2010, 11:58 PM

I like 400w Radiums. Good color but not as blue as other 20k bulbs. You won't need actinics for the the extra pop in color.

philosophish · 07/21/2010, 01:38 AM

Just curious, if you are not going to focus on growth or sps, why a 400w???

There are actually 250w bulbs that have better par than some 400w bulbs. So depending on what you needed and wanted, you may be better off with a 250w bulb.

One of my favorite bulbs is the ushio 20k mixed with a few t5s. But ushio's 20k bulbs have much less par than other 20k bulbs like the radium in the same wattage.

Another fav is the giesemann coral, super white, and super bright even at 250w.

Call your LFS in your area and find out what halides they have running. This way you can see the effect of the light and select what your eyes like best.

Good luck.

Blitzburggirl · 07/21/2010, 09:13 AM

I like my 400 watt EVC 20k's... Price is sweet, par is great

Only thing that sucks is picture taking is tough...

tkeracer619 · 07/21/2010, 10:46 AM

Radium

joreef · 07/21/2010, 10:31 PM

Sounds like a lot radium votes out there...might just have to go with that. How blue are the evc's compared to the radiums? Also considering elos 20k and aquaconnect 14k. Any experience with either of those?

Reason for the 400 watt setup is I already have it

Gamble · 07/22/2010, 10:09 AM

Thats a lot of light for your tank size.......a lot of heat and a lot of money for powering it up. May be worth buying a new ballast.

cody6766 · 07/22/2010, 11:10 AM

I vote Radium for any size if you're not using T5 help. It's a great, crisp, whitish blue and the colors really pop.

JAustin · 08/08/2010, 04:59 PM

careful with radium, there are alot of defective bulbs out there now. I'm sending one back monday. The bulbs burn pink....it's ugly!

t4zalews · 08/08/2010, 06:16 PM

When I ran 400w, I ran Radium and XM20k, both were good..I actually liked the XM20k more

iap · 08/08/2010, 06:37 PM

Radium.

And I'm sure there are lots of defective brands of bulbs out there so "be careful" of them as well. I've never had a pink radium bulb ..

07/20/2010, 11:15 PM	#1
joreef Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 135	help me pick a 400 watt halide for my setup! So here is what i have going on. I am running a single 400 what halide in a luminarc mini over a 58 gallon thats 36'' by 18''. My main concern is making colors pop. Second concern would be growth. I do not plan on using any supplemental lighting so would like something in the 20k range while also retaining brightness. Do not plan on keeping sps focus will be lps, leathers, zoos, and clams. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

07/21/2010, 01:38 AM	#3
philosophish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 334	Just curious, if you are not going to focus on growth or sps, why a 400w??? There are actually 250w bulbs that have better par than some 400w bulbs. So depending on what you needed and wanted, you may be better off with a 250w bulb. One of my favorite bulbs is the ushio 20k mixed with a few t5s. But ushio's 20k bulbs have much less par than other 20k bulbs like the radium in the same wattage. Another fav is the giesemann coral, super white, and super bright even at 250w. Call your LFS in your area and find out what halides they have running. This way you can see the effect of the light and select what your eyes like best. Good luck. __________________ I reef therefore I am

07/21/2010, 10:46 AM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Radium __________________ 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.

07/22/2010, 11:10 AM	#8
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	I vote Radium for any size if you're not using T5 help. It's a great, crisp, whitish blue and the colors really pop. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

08/08/2010, 06:16 PM	#10
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	When I ran 400w, I ran Radium and XM20k, both were good..I actually liked the XM20k more __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

07/20/2010, 11:58 PM	#2
FrankenReef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 82	I like 400w Radiums. Good color but not as blue as other 20k bulbs. You won't need actinics for the the extra pop in color.

07/21/2010, 09:13 AM	#4
Blitzburggirl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 397	I like my 400 watt EVC 20k's... Price is sweet, par is great Only thing that sucks is picture taking is tough...

07/21/2010, 10:31 PM	#6
joreef Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Federal Way, WA Posts: 135	Sounds like a lot radium votes out there...might just have to go with that. How blue are the evc's compared to the radiums? Also considering elos 20k and aquaconnect 14k. Any experience with either of those? Reason for the 400 watt setup is I already have it

07/22/2010, 10:09 AM	#7
Gamble Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Murray, UT Posts: 88	Thats a lot of light for your tank size.......a lot of heat and a lot of money for powering it up. May be worth buying a new ballast.

08/08/2010, 04:59 PM	#9
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	careful with radium, there are alot of defective bulbs out there now. I'm sending one back monday. The bulbs burn pink....it's ugly!

08/08/2010, 06:37 PM	#11
iap BOSS Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 691	Radium. And I'm sure there are lots of defective brands of bulbs out there so "be careful" of them as well. I've never had a pink radium bulb ..

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