10k or 14k
- Thread starter gearow
- Start date
phishlet
Premium Member
Uhhh.... not true. The radium is made to run on an HQI ballast. Radiums will also fire on most electronic ballasts. That's why any reputable retailer/online retailer will disclose that the Radium requires an HQI ballast. Radiums will not even fire under most standard magnetic ballasts and some eballasts.
As a general statement for most other SE lamps it is true that the HQI overdrives the lamps. But all lamps are being "overdriven" to a different degree. In other words, HQI ballasts push different SE lamps to different degrees. And it is certainly not true that an HQI ballast will "overdrive any SE buble to quick death" as you said. Many, many reefers (many right here on ReefCentral) use HQI ballasts with Ushio and AB lamps in particular with tremendous success and get at least 9 - 10 monts or more out of their lamps. In fact for the last 5 or 6 years I have run Ushio and AB lamps on a 125 with PFO HQI ballasts. I burn them for a full 12 months.
Good quality (especially German made) SE lamps will run very nicely on HQI ballasts with more Par and often times, in the case of 10K lamps, with a more "white" appearance.
Zoom
Premium Member
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As you said 9- 10 months is quick death for even the "Good quality (especially German made)" bulbs run on a HQI ballast .
You most know the Manufacture of the two top German bulbs said there bulbs will last at least 8000+ Hours on regular or electronic ballast , that is over two years of bulb use .
phishlet
Premium Member
"Lasting" and maintaining consistent color are two different things. Even on standard magnetic ballasts I wouldn't run Metal Halide lamps over my reef longer than 14 months max. Yes they still will fire, and yes they will put out light, but there is a lot of color shifting happening even on standard ballasts.
So while a lamp might burn 8000+ hours that doesn't mean it will look good or maintain quality light.
So while a lamp might burn 8000+ hours that doesn't mean it will look good or maintain quality light.
Zoom
Premium Member
http://www.ushio.com/Files/Aqualite.pdf
They only recomend to use a 135 ballast for the 20K bulb that is not a Hqi ballast . The 10K 250W bulb runs 8000 hours on a regular M58 ballast.
phishlet
Premium Member
Exactly
From the document:
"Our arc tube forming process and coatings ensure
that light degradation levels are kept to a minimum. For the best health
of your aquarium and reef system, it is recommended that you schedule
regular lamp changes depending upon your timing cycles and rated
lamp life."
Have you used Ushio 10k lamps? There is a noticeable color shift after 12 months or so.
From the document:
"Our arc tube forming process and coatings ensure
that light degradation levels are kept to a minimum. For the best health
of your aquarium and reef system, it is recommended that you schedule
regular lamp changes depending upon your timing cycles and rated
lamp life."
Have you used Ushio 10k lamps? There is a noticeable color shift after 12 months or so.
Zoom
Premium Member
Yes i use them to yellow for me . But they last for as long as the Iwasakis on the regular ballast two years .
I saw the Rediums a local reefer had them and i like the color but as many run them on the HQi ballast the life of the bulb is not that long, also saw them on the IC ballast and they are very dim.
if you like them you need to use them on a HQI ballast if money is not a abject and change them often.
I saw the Ushio on pictures when JBNY was using them and they look good on his tank i don't know if he use HQI ballast or not but when he test them they only lost 20% of the original par but i think he use IC ballast with them.
Now if i had a 400w electronic ballast definitely i will look in to the bluer bulbs. But as my Electric bill is up at $400 a month i don't think i will do it, the electric bill is killing me .
I saw the Rediums a local reefer had them and i like the color but as many run them on the HQi ballast the life of the bulb is not that long, also saw them on the IC ballast and they are very dim.
if you like them you need to use them on a HQI ballast if money is not a abject and change them often.
I saw the Ushio on pictures when JBNY was using them and they look good on his tank i don't know if he use HQI ballast or not but when he test them they only lost 20% of the original par but i think he use IC ballast with them.
Now if i had a 400w electronic ballast definitely i will look in to the bluer bulbs. But as my Electric bill is up at $400 a month i don't think i will do it, the electric bill is killing me .
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