need some advice on radiums 250watt

[trueblackpercula]

I have a Megachrome bulb 13k On a Icecap 250watt electronic ballast. I was told that the radium 20k was a better bulb in respect to color enhancement of sps. I do not care about the fasted coral growth with lower par bulbs, I just want them to have great color. Can anyone please post your experiances with this bulb on this ballast. Also if you could........ can you pleae post some picutres of what it looks like?
Thanks so much for your help.
Michael

 

[Ti]

It is a great bulb with excellent color.

 

[Covey]

Radium's magic combo is 400W Radiums on 400W HQI Ballast. The 250W on a electronic ballast would probably end up very blue. Even for 20Ks.

 

[Koralkid]

i have a 250W metal halide, with a radium 14k bulb, the 20k bulbs are great but a little to blue the 14k are as close to real light as you would want i also have one actnic fluro just to bring out some coral colour a little more, but am very happy with the 14k radium

 

[Jeremy B.]

i have a 250W metal halide, with a radium 14k bulb, the 20k bulbs are great but a little to blue the 14k are as close to real light as you would want i also have one actnic fluro just to bring out some coral colour a little more, but am very happy with the 14k radium

To my knowledge there is no such thing as a Radium 14k? Actually there is no such thing as a Radium 20k either, it's just "Radium", no color spectrum is marketed by the manufacturer, however hobbyists have labelled it as 20k. Having said that, there is only one color of Radium bulbs in 150DE, 250SE, and 400SE flavors.

 

[marcrothschild]

I have radium 250w on IC ballsts, and I love the color... bright blue light, but not the same as the actinic blue from the VHOs.

 

[trueblackpercula]

can you please post a pic.............thanks

 

[trueblackpercula]

bump

 

[G-money]

I use two 250W Radiums on PFO HQI for my main MH lighting. This is supplemented by a couple actinics and a couple 10K XMs - XMs only for 2 hours per day. I think it's the best arrangement I've used yet. I much prefer the Radiums' performance to the 20K XMs, which I had used previously. IMO also, the key is using HQI with the 250 watters. I have loads of pics on my website, but March 2006 is when I started using the Radiums (they're also the most recent pics).

 

[trueblackpercula]

so should i not use the radiums with my 250watt icecap ballast? or should i get a new ballast to run the radiums? and if so wich one.
michael

 

[marcrothschild]

Try them with the IC ballasts that you have, and if after 1-2 month/s you are not happy w the look/growth....buy some HQI ballasts

 

[AcanLord]

IC 250w with Radium give you a nice blue color. In combination with Lumenar reflector will give you nice even coverage. Keep the electronic, you will be happy.

 

[kmagyar]

2 250 radiums on hqi ballasts, 2 PC actininc, 2 VHO actinincs. Growth is slower than normal, but when you reach a certain point with your reef, fast growth can be a problem (yes a problem). Radiums are my bulb of choice for 250 and especially 400 watt, though Ushio makes a 20k now and I am tempted.