MH Pop without actinics or windex?

[Mekanic]

Hey all, running Phoenix 14k now, 150W DE on HQI ballasts. Pop is okay, but I'd definitely like something brighter, when I was using 10k I LOVED how bright the light was, but nothing had any pop at all.

I'm trying to find the happy median, possibly Radiums, the Megachome's look good, but $100 bulbs are a little steep for me.

Anyone have any suggestions on a bright bulb that will pop the colors without needing actinic supplementation, or making the tank look like it's filled with windex?

Thanks!

~Rich

 

[rtparty]

There is a VERY fine line here. Blue light is what makes the corals pop. So the "whiter" the bulb, the less pop most of the time.

I personally loved the Phoenix 14k look when I ran it. I had the Hamilton 14k before that and it was UGLY. It was really like looking at a 6500k light with how yellow it was.

The Radium might be your best bet but see if you can't find one used to try out first.

 

[rtparty]

There is a VERY fine line here. Blue light is what makes the corals pop. So the "whiter" the bulb, the less pop most of the time.

I personally loved the Phoenix 14k look when I ran it. I had the Hamilton 14k before that and it was UGLY. It was really like looking at a 6500k light with how yellow it was.

The Radium might be your best bet but see if you can't find one used to try out first.

 

[karsseboom]

Switch to radium you'll never use any other bulb again. It is buy far the best looking bulb on the market.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I tried a few different bulbs and ended up with the radium. I love this bulb and it makes all my corals pop. It's best when driven on the proper ballast though i.e. M80 ballast.

 

[rc1626]

Radium! Nice white/blue mix in my opinion. I still supplement with a Fiji purple T5 to pull out a few more colors but love the Radium on its own as well.

I recently sold my AI sole blue's to go back to these.

Rob

 

[mc-cro]

another radium fan here.

I have a phoenix 14k downstair with 2 t5 blue plus, and it looks white compared to my radiums, but I dont have nearly the colors from the corals

 

[jamey1015]

^ +1 on correct ballast

I like the look of Radiums but not on Icecap ballast there much too blue...

 

[Mekanic]

Sounds like I'm gona try the radiums, I have a WTB thread up now to see if I can grab some used ones to try

 

[rc1626]

I agree........from what I've read the only ballast that will run the Radiums correctly will be an M80. I ran mine on a Coralvue electronic in the beginning and found them to be too blue as well. I believe it will also cut down on the life of the bulb if you use something other than a M80.

 

[Mekanic]

I have M81 ballasts, since I'm 150w

 

[Chris Lakies]

Im running my radium with the lumatek on hqi setting. It runs it fairly close to spec and i like the color. Ive done an experiment looking at watts it pulls from the wall. Using the 250 watt setting it pulls about 275-285 using the hqi it pulls about 310-320. Im thinking about going with a 10k xm for more natural color.

 

[sirreal63]

I think you will be happy with the Radium, I run the same 150's with M81 and the color is just fabulous. It is not too blue and the colors show very well. Reds and greens show up much better than they did under the Phoenix, which is a great bulb, but tends to wash some colors out.

 

[Mekanic]

I think you will be happy with the Radium, I run the same 150's with M81 and the color is just fabulous. It is not too blue and the colors show very well. Reds and greens show up much better than they did under the Phoenix, which is a great bulb, but tends to wash some colors out.

Awesome! Thank you!

Would you happen to have any old radiums lying about I could buy to try?

 

[sirreal63]

Sadly, no.

 

[kevantheman35]

How do you know what model of ballast ie. m80 u have?

 

[sirreal63]

How do you know what model of ballast ie. m80 u have?

What does it say on the ballast?