radium 250 ballast question

[bretcummings]

Im thinking about ordering Radium 250 , but I have read that you need certain ballasts for them to work properly. I have Lumatek 250 watt ballasts. They are not select-a-watt. Would I be better off going a different direction?

 

[James77]

The radium will work on that ballast, but be a bit under driven. The ideal ballast is the magnetic HQIs like BlueWave 7. Your bulbs would just appear bluer and have less PAR, but plenty of people like the result of that combo. Life of the bulb could be affected, but it is negligible.

 

[bretcummings]

Do you think the Reflux 20k would be a better choice? Only only of my Lumateks is selectable with a HQI option.

 

[bretcummings]

Hate auto correct...I ment to say only ONE of the Lumateks is a selectable ballast with a HQI setting.

 

[alton]

The Reeflux 20k will be bluer than the 20K radiums. My 12K reeflux where bluer than my 20K Radiums run on Coral Vue Ballast

 

[mc-cro]

I just installed the radium bulbs on 2 new dimmable lumateks. So far I am only about 4 days in, but they are blue. They are so blue, that my 2 48" actinic have almost no effect.

This is on the HQI setting, I cant imagine how blue they would be on the normal 250w setting

 

[bretcummings]

I like a little hint of blue but ill be hewing 4 36" T5 for actinic. Maybe another option would be a better choice. Any suggestions. Tanks is 72" long 24" deep.

 

[mc-cro]

just an update, I am at about 10 days in on the radiums, and the blue has almost completely dissapeared. they are now a crisp white like what I expected. these are on the the lumatek electronic dimmable ballast

 

[karsseboom]

The radium bulbs are the best 250 watt bulb IMO. When run on the hqi m80 ballast not a galaxy or lumatek ran on the hqi setting. They have some of the highest par and give some very nice colors too.