Show me your 20k Radium tanks?

[Reefer33]

So you think VHO bulbs right up at the bottom edge of the lumex reflectors (without any reflectors) will give good results??

If you look at the first picture there is only 1inch in front and back of the reflector. Isn't a VHO bulb around 1.5inches wide?

Do you think having the bulb overlap the bottom ledge of the reflector will impact the spread? (I guess I could experiment with a piece of PVC to see)

Another option is to move the reflector forward or back and then i'll have 2 full inches on one side..

I know the UVL VHO Bulbs are famous, but I was hoping maybe to get the same results with LEDs along the sides.

If I go with VHO do you not use a reflector?

I think you would be just fine mounting the vhos under your reflector and letting the reflector, reflect the top side of the VHO back in the tank a little. The LEDs will be blue but they aren't going to pop like that Actinic 03 bulb, which is by the way is more purple and really makes the corals fluoresce. JMO

 

[fishdoc11]

VHO's have a reflector (white paint) painted on the inside of 1/2 the bulb.

 

[FFrankie]

Here's mine with 2 - 250Watts. Taken with a point and shoot camera.:-(

How come I don't see my pictures unless I sign in?

Awesome corals stonecold! :beer:

 

[stonecold]

Stonecold,

I can see your pics just fine. Nice tank by the way! What kind of ballasts are you running? Looks a little more blue than those running the galaxy ballasts?

I'm using a Dual PFO HQI ballast.

 

[stonecold]

Awesome corals stonecold! :beer:

Thank you for the kind compliment, FFrankie.

 

[mnestroy]

I think you would be just fine mounting the vhos under your reflector and letting the reflector, reflect the top side of the VHO back in the tank a little. The LEDs will be blue but they aren't going to pop like that Actinic 03 bulb, which is by the way is more purple and really makes the corals fluoresce. JMO

Hmm so tempting, but do I realy wana jack up my electric bill another 10 dollars a month

So you really don't think LEDs can accomplish a good combo with Radiums?

If i went VHO does it matter what drives them?

 

[Reefer33]

Hmm so tempting, but do I realy wana jack up my electric bill another 10 dollars a month

So you really don't think LEDs can accomplish a good combo with Radiums?

If i went VHO does it matter what drives them?

Don't get me wrong, the LEDs will get you more blue color but really it's the Actinic 03 that gives the coral that super fluorescent color. The Actinic 03 is really a purple colored bulb and not so much blue. It doesn't matter which ballast you use to drive them, so long as they are VHO rated. You can track down some ARO ballasts for VHO for fairly cheap.

 

[juststartingout]

Lumatek & 20k Radiums?

Lumatek & 20k Radiums?

I need to re-lamp and am thinking of removing the 4 Lumenarc III's at 250 watt and changing over to just 3 reflectors running at 400 watt (20K Radiums) The tank is 30" deep and 96" x 36". I would be running the Lumatek adjustable ballasts. I'm just looking for feedback/opinions from you Radium 20k users. Thanks in advance.

 

[Alex T.]

On Lumatek 400 watt ballasts they'll have a more white look with hint of blue. I have 400 watt Radiums on Galaxy ballasts and love them. Obviously your par will be much better and the spread of a 400 watt will be able to cover more corals with less reflectors and cheaper bulb replacement costs.

 

[SkyPapa]

Here my rebuilt 180g with 3 250W Radiums on Hamilton HQI and 2 160W UVL 03 on an Icecap 660.

 

[tegee]

I am currently running (3) 250w Radiums on M80 HQI ballasts and love the color. But will I get significantly more "growth" if I switched to (3) 400w Radiums? Or can I simply just ramp up the photoperiod to obtain the growth of my sps's that I am looking for?

TIA

 

[mojojojo]

just purchased a pair of radiums, and it doesnt look "as blue" as hyped. am i missing something here? im using generic eballast.

 

[tegee]

just purchased a pair of radiums, and it doesnt look "as blue" as hyped. am i missing something here? im using generic eballast.

Generic eballasts??? That's probably the reason. M80 HQI, the new Select-a-Watt's are ARO's are best.

 

[Finkle]

I am running a 150 radium HQI in my stock Biocube ballast. The color is amazing, but it took me 2 weeks to get all corals used to it.

 

[Emoezekielsr5]

Here's a short video of my 180 running Dual 250W Single Ended Radiums powered by a dual PFO HQI Ballast.

http://www.vimeo.com/8480593

 

[ritter6788]

I am running a 150 radium HQI in my stock Biocube ballast. The color is amazing, but it took me 2 weeks to get all corals used to it.

I was disappointed in the 150w Radium. The colors of sps were better but the growth was pretty stagnant. I have the 150w Radium over my 20 gal. softy tank and it is doing great for them but in my 75 I had better sps growth from Phoenix and Ushio 14,000k.

 

[henrystyle]

I heard radiums are hard to get now.. Sold out everywhere..

 

[Stylaster]

here is my 120g chalice dominated system. The lights are 2 250w SE 20k radiums running icecap electronic ballasts

 

[dzhuo]

Here is an update shot of mine. Color is slightly off and looks a little whiter in person:

 

[Frick]

I heard radiums are hard to get now.. Sold out everywhere..

There was a little complication with import documentation. So you might not see them in the U.S. for a bit. Might be able to get them over seas still not sure.