surfnvb7
Premium Member
i kinda doubt the 150w DE version of the radium, is close to the same spectrum as a 250w or 400w SE radium driven on a HQI ballast.
but you are correct that the 250w and 400w SE radium bulbs overdriven on the HQI ballast will appear whiter.
M80 = 250w HQI ballast (obviously data from the SE bulb, since they dont make DE radiums in 250w......unless this is something only available in europe, ive never seen a 250w DE version sold)
just b/c its the same manufacturer, doesnt mean both the DE and SE bulbs will have close to the same spectrum and intensity, esspecially when its a 150w ballast vs. a 250w or 400w ballast
you should check out some of the threads in the sps forum about the radium bulb. many experienced reef keepers with experience running radiums for many years all agreed that running radiums on icecap electronic ballasts will produce extreme blue colors (more than XM20k) with less intensity. the SE radiums are not meant to run on HQI ballasts. they are a european bulb, that requires a pulse start to ignite them. by using an HQI ballast the bulb gets that extra "jolt" in order to fire the bulb properly (i think). this is why the bulb life is so short.
radiums are "supposed" to look incredibly blue, b/c they were designed to be run on electronic ballasts (or the euro equivalent). thus last a normal 9months or so.
but you are correct that the 250w and 400w SE radium bulbs overdriven on the HQI ballast will appear whiter.
M80 = 250w HQI ballast (obviously data from the SE bulb, since they dont make DE radiums in 250w......unless this is something only available in europe, ive never seen a 250w DE version sold)
just b/c its the same manufacturer, doesnt mean both the DE and SE bulbs will have close to the same spectrum and intensity, esspecially when its a 150w ballast vs. a 250w or 400w ballast
you should check out some of the threads in the sps forum about the radium bulb. many experienced reef keepers with experience running radiums for many years all agreed that running radiums on icecap electronic ballasts will produce extreme blue colors (more than XM20k) with less intensity. the SE radiums are not meant to run on HQI ballasts. they are a european bulb, that requires a pulse start to ignite them. by using an HQI ballast the bulb gets that extra "jolt" in order to fire the bulb properly (i think). this is why the bulb life is so short.
radiums are "supposed" to look incredibly blue, b/c they were designed to be run on electronic ballasts (or the euro equivalent). thus last a normal 9months or so.
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