MH Bulb vs Ballast question

[cleverbs]

I just bought a Hamilton MH/t5ho fixture and have a quick question so that I understand for the future. The fixture is Mogul base.

I got the M80 Ballast to run Radium bulbs however I heard I cant run any bulb other then that in the fixture by other person on the site. I dont understand why this would be the case. What would happen if I ran a random 14k bulb using this ballast? Would I just decrease the life of the bulb because it would be over driven?

I also read that If I wanted to use a 14k bulb I could use Pheonix bulbs with this ballast.

Just wanting to fully understand.

 

[toothman]

I also have 2 hamilton fixtures. It is not advised to use radium bulbs because it does not have a igniter in the bulb. The will most likely work at first, later not. I have radium bulbs and hamilton 20k bulbs. I really can not tell the difference between them color wise on my ice cap electronic ballast.

The par is higher on the hamilton 20k vs. radium
Color same or similar

I assume it is a cebu fixture.

If you are running 250 watt I would not use 20k, for me not enough par.
I did run 250 watt for 5 yrs and did much better with hamilton 10k, they are crisp white almost like 12k

 

[cleverbs]

I however do have the ballast with the igniter. I upgraded to the M80 ballast I did not get the M58 that it comes with.

 

[tinkerman]

If you want to run the bulb to spec then radium, ushio, or Pheonix for m80 ballasts. You can run other bulbs with them if they will fire, some may and others may not. I have read many will run xm and overdrive the bulb, it will shorten the bulbs life and increase par. If you want to run any bulb to spec you are best off to use a select a watt ballast to run bulbs as close to spec these will slightly under drive an hqi spec bulb like radium.

 

[cleverbs]

I think ill just stick with radium and Pheonix bulbs then. The fixture comes with Radiums so I think I will see how I like them and then maybe ill get a set of Pheonix, The pheonix may be good to use for a year to get my growth going and get the tank filling in and then when they are in need of chaning swap to the Radiums I already have and go for more color.

 

[tinkerman]

There is very little color difference between the radium and phoenix, I have run a de next to tank and couldn't tell. I heard they may be discontinuing the phoenix se bulb not sure though. You should get at least a yr use out of either bulb or longer.

 

[cleverbs]

I have just read that the Phoenix gives better growth then a radium because it is lower K

 

[tinkerman]

A k rating for halides is very misleading. It has been awhile since reading Sanjay's par data, I think phoenix has a little more par than a radium. If you don't believe me buy both and put them over the same tank side by side and judge for yourself. A radium has higher par rating than most 15k rated bulbs at least for 250 watt.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/8/review
Not sure what happened to the phoenix de info its in one of the acticals.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting