Show me your 20k Radium tanks?

[vmacisback]

400w Radium lumatek ballast with t-5 actinic supplements over a 36"x36"27" DD cube....its perfect, throws a great spread with a large lumenarc reflector. Sorry for the last pic but the tank is only 3 days old.:thumbsup:

 

[robertcedgar]

I am thinking of replacing my current bulbs with 20k Radiums when they are due. My system is a 140 gallon Oceanic Ultimate (48x24x28) and currently has a Hamilton Cebu Sun fixture running two 14k 400w Hamiltons which run on a Hamilton magnetic ballast, two 54w Hamilton blue and two 54w Hamilton purple plus. I have experienced good growth over the past nine months with my current configuration (since I purchased the fixture) and was wondering if I should replace my bulbs with 20k Radiums. I should add that I am not displeased with the current look of my lights. It is visually appealing. However, I have heard so much about the look and growth with Radiums that I am pondering this purchase. Any insight into this matter would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,

Rob

 

[hedgedrew]

Need more info onyour ballast. Is it m59 ? If so not great.

 

[hedgedrew]

To run the radiums use either m135 or hamilton hqi or switch to gallaxy lumitek electronic.

 

[Randy15]

View attachment 240321

 

[Adamc1303]

To run the radiums use either m135 or hamilton hqi or switch to gallaxy lumitek electronic.

What type is ice cap electronic?

 

[Ross33]

I'm setting up a 65g tank (36x21x21) and I plan to go with Lumatek ballast with 250w Radium. It is set up to be a full on sps tank. I also plan to run 2x39w T5's. Do you think I need to go with 2 radiums?

 

[biggles]

I'm running a single 250W radium with 4 x 39W T5's over my 40x24x18" display - you won't have a problem Ross :thumbsup:

Edit: I use a rectangular reflector run parallel to the long side btw.

 

[Ross33]

Have you ever measured your PAR biggles? Do you know the brand of that reflector?

 

[biggles]

Have you ever measured your PAR biggles? Do you know the brand of that reflector?

No i haven't ever done the PAR thing Ross but i have a pretty good eye after years of running radiums for what will grow where in my tank. That reflector came from the same place that sells the WP-25 and 40's and does a great job of covering a rectangular footprint, only $70- too I run the bulb 5" off the water and the halide covers all corals side to side. The SCC frag on the left hand side 'raft' rock is doing fine when compared to the others that are getting nuked up high as are the other acros that i have sprinkled everywhere. The only 'low' light area i would say is the right side sand bed near the overflow box - i shove flubbery things there lol. The T5's punch down the 18" with ease and stop any halide shading caused by only running a single bulb.

 

[Jeremy B.]

What type is ice cap electronic?

Electronic is just electronic, there is no ANSI code for electronic. Generally speaking, an electronic will drive a lamp a bit less harder than what a magnetic would, to what degree less though is all dependent on the type of magnetic ballast you would be comparing to and the bulb you're using.

 

[JPMagyar]

Electronic is just electronic, there is no ANSI code for electronic. Generally speaking, an electronic will drive a lamp a bit less harder than what a magnetic would, to what degree less though is all dependent on the type of magnetic ballast you would be comparing to and the bulb you're using.

Jeremy,

You have the most informed and independent views in our hobby today. What do you recommend to drive a Radium bulb that is available in the US?

Joe Peck

Your Humble Admirer

 

[Jeremy B.]

Jeremy,

You have the most informed and independent views in our hobby today. What do you recommend to drive a Radium bulb that is available in the US?

Joe Peck

Your Humble Admirer

It depends on the wattage. For the 250w Radium I like a magnetic HQI ballast (ANSI Code M80).

For the 400w if you can find an old PFO 400 HQI, Bluewave 400 HQI, or Taiwan 400 HQI that would be the best way to go. This ballast will overdrive the 400w lamp, however you can expect only about 6-8 months spectral life out of the lamp. If you go electronic then the best bet would be a Lumatek electronic on the "400 HQI" setting on it. The Lumatek will not drive the lamp to the same wattage as what the actual magnetic HQI ballasts mentioned above will, but it's still nice looking on that ballast.

 

[kaserpick]

Jeremy, as these magnetic HQI ballasts drive the lamp at a higher wattage, should you except the color to shift more towards an overall white look and away from the blue? I prefer a bluer look, and I'm running my 250w Radium on an electronic ballast. Will I most likely get the most blue out of the lamp with the electronic ballast?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[GRTTSOU]

An FTS from my tank!

My light has 4 power led at 50w each - 20000K (45mil) plus 4 T5 (2 blue + 2 purple)

You can see more pictures from my lighthere

 

[OneReef]

does anyone use a spider reflector with their 20k radiums and what is your experience?
Thank you

I have in the past. Worked great

 

[OneReef]

Ive been using Radiums for along time, in you guys experience, what is the growth difference from Radium 20K to Phoenix 14K?

 

[MammothReefer]

I have better growth in my DT which uses 2x SE 20k Radiums vs my frag tank which either uses 20k Ushio or 14k Pheonix 250w DE bulbs I don't know why but it just works out that way.

 

[Adamc1303]

Got my self 4 m135 Hamilton 400w HQI pulse start ballast! According to what I read this will give me the most par but the bulbs will have to change every 6 months. Someone please correct if I am wrong.


Thanks,

Adam

 

[henrystyle]

I'm using 2 switchable 250w-400w lumatek ballasts. Thinking of switching to 2 250w aqua medic reflex hqi ballasts.