e ballasts

cilyjr · 09/19/2010, 07:27 PM

hi all,
i have an in wall 180g tank and am thinking of switching to the lumatek over the old fashioned mag ballasts i have now. these are the ones that have a cpu to run the lights and are supposed to overclock the bulbs later in life to get better output in the last days of life. i am also thinking of removing my 2x110 vho atinics. i run 3x coralvue 250 12k bulbs but was thinking i may try the radiums. i was looking for input on these ballasts.

James77 · 09/19/2010, 08:17 PM

I run the switchable Lumateks, I am skeptical of the running harder as they age claims, but they have so far been a great ballast. I got the switchable so I can run any bulb 150, 175, 250 and HQI. I did a side by side with a true M80 and the HQI Lumatek with Radiums, and the Lumatek had a touch more blue to it. It was being underdriven a little bit, but run higher than the typical electronic. I preferred the look of the Radium on the Lumatek than the M80.

cilyjr · 09/19/2010, 08:35 PM

thanks for the input. any tests with a 10 bulb?maybe a ushio i wonder if it has a more crisp white then some mag ballasts which seem to produce a more gold color light

dahenley · 09/20/2010, 01:54 PM

bump for more input and comments. (im looking at replacing my 400W PFO mag ballasts with some Electronic, and know nothing about new electronic ballasts)

cilyjr · 09/20/2010, 07:51 PM

ok i ordered 3 today. i guess i will get them in a week

Xenia_Princess · 09/20/2010, 10:28 PM

I was using blue wave ballasts, just switched the other day to 400w lumatek with reeflux 20k hoping I would get more blue, no change on the color but I may give radiums a try again with the new ballasts

09/19/2010, 07:27 PM	#1
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	e ballasts hi all, i have an in wall 180g tank and am thinking of switching to the lumatek over the old fashioned mag ballasts i have now. these are the ones that have a cpu to run the lights and are supposed to overclock the bulbs later in life to get better output in the last days of life. i am also thinking of removing my 2x110 vho atinics. i run 3x coralvue 250 12k bulbs but was thinking i may try the radiums. i was looking for input on these ballasts. __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

09/19/2010, 08:17 PM	#2
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I run the switchable Lumateks, I am skeptical of the running harder as they age claims, but they have so far been a great ballast. I got the switchable so I can run any bulb 150, 175, 250 and HQI. I did a side by side with a true M80 and the HQI Lumatek with Radiums, and the Lumatek had a touch more blue to it. It was being underdriven a little bit, but run higher than the typical electronic. I preferred the look of the Radium on the Lumatek than the M80. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/19/2010, 08:35 PM	#3
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	thanks for the input. any tests with a 10 bulb?maybe a ushio i wonder if it has a more crisp white then some mag ballasts which seem to produce a more gold color light __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

09/20/2010, 01:54 PM	#4
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,165	bump for more input and comments. (im looking at replacing my 400W PFO mag ballasts with some Electronic, and know nothing about new electronic ballasts) __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

09/20/2010, 07:51 PM	#5
cilyjr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,683	ok i ordered 3 today. i guess i will get them in a week __________________ Cls Current Tank Info: 180 inwall, 75 sump, 20lfrag, 3x lumen max elite w/250w radium 20k, recirc modded asm g-3, aqua controller apex,2x rw-20, 350lbs LR

09/20/2010, 10:28 PM	#6
Xenia_Princess Moved On Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 55	I was using blue wave ballasts, just switched the other day to 400w lumatek with reeflux 20k hoping I would get more blue, no change on the color but I may give radiums a try again with the new ballasts

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