Lighting Question
- Thread starter hollback
- Start date
MarineFishGuy
Capn Jack Sparrow
I have not run the Radiums.
I have run the Hamilton 14Ks, Reeflux 12Ks, and the Reeflux 20Ks.
Between these three I liked the Reeflux 20Ks, they looked very similar to the Hamilton 14K in color, but with a touch more intensity.
The spectrometer shows a very similar color band arrangement between them.
http://www.corareef.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6714
I tried these bulbs on an Icecap (older style) and a CoralVue electronic. There was no difference that I could perceive between the same bulb on either ballast. I have the fixtures wired so I can easily switch between the two ballasts.
I will be swapping out my bulbs in a week or two if you want to try some of the older ones. The colors have not really shifted. They are around 6-8 months old.
I found some bulbs from HobbyLighting on the Big auction site that I really like so far and they are $10 plus shipping. There is a $5 discount on shipping for additional bulbs.
I have enough coming to switch out all of my bulbs (7) for about $120 total.
The 20K 250W SE bulb I tried first has a nice blue to it and it looks just as good after 2 weeks. The corals (SPS and LPS) are still responding well with good polyp extension and signs of continued growth.
I would love to run Reeflux 20Ks on all my tanks, but at $65 each, it is more than I can afford.
So Far, these seem to be a good alternative. I will know better once I have tried a few more of their bulbs.
I have run the Hamilton 14Ks, Reeflux 12Ks, and the Reeflux 20Ks.
Between these three I liked the Reeflux 20Ks, they looked very similar to the Hamilton 14K in color, but with a touch more intensity.
The spectrometer shows a very similar color band arrangement between them.
http://www.corareef.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6714
I tried these bulbs on an Icecap (older style) and a CoralVue electronic. There was no difference that I could perceive between the same bulb on either ballast. I have the fixtures wired so I can easily switch between the two ballasts.
I will be swapping out my bulbs in a week or two if you want to try some of the older ones. The colors have not really shifted. They are around 6-8 months old.
I found some bulbs from HobbyLighting on the Big auction site that I really like so far and they are $10 plus shipping. There is a $5 discount on shipping for additional bulbs.
I have enough coming to switch out all of my bulbs (7) for about $120 total.
The 20K 250W SE bulb I tried first has a nice blue to it and it looks just as good after 2 weeks. The corals (SPS and LPS) are still responding well with good polyp extension and signs of continued growth.
I would love to run Reeflux 20Ks on all my tanks, but at $65 each, it is more than I can afford.
So Far, these seem to be a good alternative. I will know better once I have tried a few more of their bulbs.
dgunn
New member
I ran Radiums on the new style Icecap ballast until last week and really liked them.
I ran mine as well with 2 T5's, Giesemann Aquablue and Actinic +, the color was very nice, a crisp blue.
When I removed them I was surprised that there is no evidence of any use at all on the bulb and they are probably 8 months old.
I would suppose that the ballast runs them very efficiently.
I just switched to all T5's with some regrets...
hope that this helps
I ran mine as well with 2 T5's, Giesemann Aquablue and Actinic +, the color was very nice, a crisp blue.
When I removed them I was surprised that there is no evidence of any use at all on the bulb and they are probably 8 months old.
I would suppose that the ballast runs them very efficiently.
I just switched to all T5's with some regrets...
hope that this helps
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