Show me your 20k Radium tanks?

[Moebuis]

I have the Lumatek ballast. Hold off till January and I'll let you know how I like the combination. I'll be purchasing a new bulb around the middle of the month.

Do you have the dimmable ballasts or the straight E-ballasts? I was thinking that having the ability to go from 250w > 275w > 400w > 500w on a single ballast would give me boat loads of options. IMO, they should be called "selectable" and not dimmable but oh well.

 

[Moebuis]

Now that is nice. I think that tank would probably look good under any lights.

 

[Toddrtrex]

That's what I'm talking about....Todd your tank looks great! Do you have any pics with the flash turned off?

Thanks a lot.

I do, but it looks nothing like the tank looks like in real life -- way too blue and too dim. Also, in this shot 1 96 50/50 PC and 1 96 dual actinic PC are on.

 

[Toadally]

No offense, but I think its more about the wb and editing than the actual lights. If you are trying to decide about a particular bulb, your best bet is to see them in person. Do you have a local club?

None taken Mark. I know seeing a tank lit with Radiums would be better. We do have a member here in the Charlotte area that just changed to Radiums. I'll be going by his place soon to check them out.

btw, your tank is awesome!

 

[mpoletti]

Now that is nice. I think that tank would probably look good under any lights.

Thank You

None taken Mark. I know seeing a tank lit with Radiums would be better. We do have a member here in the Charlotte area that just changed to Radiums. I'll be going by his place soon to check them out.

btw, your tank is awesome!

:thumbsup:

 

[skidmark]

Ballasts that drive are bulbs make the world of difference. I have seen the 400 watt radiums driven by the pfo hqi ballasts and they look like a nice blue hue but bright. The same bulb driven by a electronic ballast and they look too blue for my taste.
Im wondering how these dimmable lumatechs ballasts will drive the radiums compared to the pfos. Does anyone have them to compare?

 

[hovhanh]

Can someone tell me what the bulb life of a 250W 20K Radium will be running on an icecap (old model) electronic ballast with a 6hr/day photoperiod?

 

[hovhanh]

Btw, I just ordered my radium. I can't wait to see this thing in my lumenarc 3.

 

[henrystyle]

Radiums are nice but IMO they lose there color at around the 3-4 month mark.. I find that mine is fading. Got the bulb in September. I have no supplemental lighting so it is easy to notice. I run it 6 hours a day since I got it. Gonna try the EVC 20k next go around. It was either the EVC or XM 20k I was going to try.
Im running 250w on a bluewave hqi ballast. Forgot to mention Radiums also make all my acros look blueish....Can't explain it...Excellent eye appeal when new though...

 

[henrystyle]

Radiums are nice but IMO they lose there color at around the 3-4 month mark.. I find that mine is fading. Got the bulb in September. I have no supplemental lighting so it is easy to notice. I run it 6 hours a day since I got it. Gonna try the EVC 20k next go around. It was either the EVC or XM 20k I was going to try.
Im running 250w on a bluewave hqi ballast. Forgot to mention Radiums also make all my acros look blueish....Can't explain it...Excellent eye appeal when new though...

 

[mpoletti]

Radiums are nice but IMO they lose there color at around the 3-4 month mark..

I do not find mine shift until 7-8 months; I run my bulbs for 9-10 months. When you shoot a digital camera with a fixed wb setting and it does not need to be changed for that long, I think that electronic sensor would also agree.

 

[mpoletti]

I could be wrong, but here are my bulbs at 8 months

 

[Toadally]

Do you have the dimmable ballasts or the straight E-ballasts? I was thinking that having the ability to go from 250w > 275w > 400w > 500w on a single ballast would give me boat loads of options. IMO, they should be called "selectable" and not dimmable but oh well.

I have the older eballast.

 

[henrystyle]

I don't know..Maybe I'm looking at the tank to much....LOL
mpoletti - you have 250 or 400?

 

[Nanook]

With 400 watt Radiums I can see a difference starting at the 6 month mark, by 8 months it is time to change them, IMO/IME.

 

[Nanook]

My 250 watt Radiums on HQI ballast are just about at the one year mark and still look great.

 

[mpoletti]

I don't know..Maybe I'm looking at the tank to much....LOL
mpoletti - you have 250 or 400?

250's. The XM's are just way to dull for me

 

[fishypets]

With 400 watt Radiums I can see a difference starting at the 6 month mark, by 8 months it is time to change them, IMO/IME.

That was my experience with this bulb as well. I replaced them at the six month mark.

 

[klondike4001]

That was my experience with this bulb as well. I replaced them at the six month mark.

How many hours a day are you guys running them that they need replaced at the 6 month mark? I currently run a 6 hour photo period. I am wondering if running only 6 hours would make a difference with bulb life.

 

[fishypets]

I was running mine seven hours a day. At a six hour photo period you might get 7 months.