Radiums

inthesea · 01/31/2011, 01:39 PM

I am planning on running 3X400w radiums for my system. Do I need to suppliment with VHO actinic? Can I just run the MH without any supplimet light?

REEForBANG · 01/31/2011, 01:42 PM

Get 20ks

inthesea · 01/31/2011, 01:48 PM

Radiums come only in 20K. Would blue LED's work?

romanr · 01/31/2011, 03:33 PM

Depends what you are driving them with. E-ballasts will run them on the bluer side and might not need supplementation. Mag-ballasts will run them whiter and would benefit from some supplementation. I am running a 400W Radium on a Hamilton Pulse Start magnetic ballast and I am supplementing with a 4 bulb T5HO with a mixture of various blue and actinic bulbs. Very nice look and still not too blue.

chimmike · 01/31/2011, 03:36 PM

Totally depends on how you like it. Probably a good idea to see how it looks first.
Then, you can always add reefbrite stunner strips.

inthesea · 01/31/2011, 05:40 PM

I am running it with coralvue electronic ballast. @Chimmike, good idea. I will wait and see how it looks before spending the money.

richard king · 02/04/2011, 12:10 AM

I use a 20k radium 400 watt over my 55 hex with no other supplemental lighting. It's blue enough, bright enough, good enough!

nyvp · 02/04/2011, 07:28 AM

just use the radiums in a good reflector and you don't need anything else. this is my old 120x36x30 with radiums in a galaxy ballast w/lumenarc reflectors

EnderG60 · 02/04/2011, 08:23 AM

Yup, I run 3x400w radiums on PFO magnetic ballasts. I use some aquablue T5's to actually whiten it up a bit.

Get the halides on and then decide what you want. I like this combo of the 20k halides and 50/50 t5's works very well with a great color and then I just use some LED's for moon lights.

inthesea · 02/04/2011, 08:36 AM

I got those radiums and its is really nice. I like the chrisp white it puts out. Like you guys said, I am going to wait and see how I like this before I spend money on suppliment lighting.
Is it true that radiums last only for about 6 months?

RokleM · 02/04/2011, 09:35 AM

400w overdriven, yes. They're actually 360-380ish watt roughly via euro spec, which doesn't relay exist here. Close to spec, they aren't really that powerful power wise, and plenty blue. Most actually overdrive them on HQI (450ish watts) which is crisp white with a hint of blue and with a bit of actinic look. That being said, their life drops down pretty quick overdriven, with noticeable color and PAR changes after as little as 6 months. If you have the money to replace them, it's a great bulb to choose visually and par wise.

250w SE radium however is a HQI rated bulb (often confused).

01/31/2011, 01:39 PM	#1
inthesea Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 389	Radiums I am planning on running 3X400w radiums for my system. Do I need to suppliment with VHO actinic? Can I just run the MH without any supplimet light?

01/31/2011, 03:33 PM	#4
romanr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ocala, Florida Posts: 1,568	Depends what you are driving them with. E-ballasts will run them on the bluer side and might not need supplementation. Mag-ballasts will run them whiter and would benefit from some supplementation. I am running a 400W Radium on a Hamilton Pulse Start magnetic ballast and I am supplementing with a 4 bulb T5HO with a mixture of various blue and actinic bulbs. Very nice look and still not too blue. __________________ Raul Roman Marion Ocala Reef Enthusiasts (MORE) member Check us out on FB and RC. Current Tank Info: 150 DD cube mixed reef, 30G sump, Eshopps S-150 cone skimmer, 400W Radium MH, 156W Wavepoint T5, Internet accessible ACIII controller , Vortech MP10 w/ Icecap battery backup, Mini-Arctica chiller, Katalyst fueled reactor fed to Octopus BH800S skimmer

01/31/2011, 03:36 PM	#5
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	Totally depends on how you like it. Probably a good idea to see how it looks first. Then, you can always add reefbrite stunner strips. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

02/04/2011, 09:35 AM	#11
RokleM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,687	400w overdriven, yes. They're actually 360-380ish watt roughly via euro spec, which doesn't relay exist here. Close to spec, they aren't really that powerful power wise, and plenty blue. Most actually overdrive them on HQI (450ish watts) which is crisp white with a hint of blue and with a bit of actinic look. That being said, their life drops down pretty quick overdriven, with noticeable color and PAR changes after as little as 6 months. If you have the money to replace them, it's a great bulb to choose visually and par wise. 250w SE radium however is a HQI rated bulb (often confused). __________________ -Eric-

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01/31/2011, 01:42 PM	#2
REEForBANG Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 644	Get 20ks

01/31/2011, 01:48 PM	#3
inthesea Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 389	Radiums come only in 20K. Would blue LED's work?

01/31/2011, 05:40 PM	#6
inthesea Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 389	I am running it with coralvue electronic ballast. @Chimmike, good idea. I will wait and see how it looks before spending the money.

02/04/2011, 12:10 AM	#7
richard king Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 68	I use a 20k radium 400 watt over my 55 hex with no other supplemental lighting. It's blue enough, bright enough, good enough!

02/04/2011, 07:28 AM	#8
nyvp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Florida Posts: 3,633	just use the radiums in a good reflector and you don't need anything else. this is my old 120x36x30 with radiums in a galaxy ballast w/lumenarc reflectors

02/04/2011, 08:23 AM	#9
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Yup, I run 3x400w radiums on PFO magnetic ballasts. I use some aquablue T5's to actually whiten it up a bit. Get the halides on and then decide what you want. I like this combo of the 20k halides and 50/50 t5's works very well with a great color and then I just use some LED's for moon lights.

02/04/2011, 08:36 AM	#10
inthesea Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 389	I got those radiums and its is really nice. I like the chrisp white it puts out. Like you guys said, I am going to wait and see how I like this before I spend money on suppliment lighting. Is it true that radiums last only for about 6 months?