Show me your 20k Radium tanks?

Adamc1303 said:
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
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This is not the same as the 430 Son Agro ballast that we refer to as "HQI". Actually, the M135 is a pulse start ballast which will run the Radium 400 watt bulbs closest to spec, but they will definitely be bluer than when running the Son Agro. The lamps should not have a shortened life with that ballast and you could expect a year or more, but I would recommend watching PAR levels and corals for any changes. You did make a good choice, IMO. Just not going to see the crazy PAR or coloration from the Radums compared to the Son Agro 430 "HQI".
 
kaserpick said:
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!
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Yes, you would get the most blue out of an electronic ballast, which will slightly underdrive the 250w Radium. The spec ballast for the 250w which is an M80 "HQI" ballast will get the longest spectral life out of the lamp, but it will also run more white. Both underdriving and overdriving of any lamp, regardless of what it is, will decrease spectral life.
 
I just recently acquired a 48" 400W Giesmann Spectra w/20k Radiums and 4 T5's (2 Blue+ and 2 Purple plus) using an icecap ballast.

I plan on putting this over a standard 120, 4x2x2. Will 2 400W be too much for this size tank?
 
dowtish said:
I just recently acquired a 48" 400W Giesmann Spectra w/20k Radiums and 4 T5's (2 Blue+ and 2 Purple plus) using an icecap ballast.

I plan on putting this over a standard 120, 4x2x2. Will 2 400W be too much for this size tank?
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No, but you might need a chiller or room air conditioner. Some sticks might be better up high and some down low. Of course the up high sticks will eventually shade the down low sticks depending on placement.

I ran a 120g tank with 2 250 watt 10K Ushio and 1 400 watt 20K Radium over the center, along with 2 110 watt VHO and had phenomenal growth/coloration.
 
Nanook said:
No, but you might need a chiller or room air conditioner. Some sticks might be better up high and some down low. Of course the up high sticks will eventually shade the down low sticks depending on placement.

I ran a 120g tank with 2 250 watt 10K Ushio and 1 400 watt 20K Radium over the center, along with 2 110 watt VHO and had phenomenal growth/coloration.
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Awesome! The guy I bought the fixture from gave me a chiller as a bonus. :)
How high did you have the lights from the water surface?
 
You're going to need to get a bigger tank with all the increased growth you're going to see!
 
Nanook said:
You're going to need to get a bigger tank with all the increased growth you're going to see!
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Haha! Im just now upgrading to the 120 from a 85 bowfront. I already have corals outgrowing the tank and hitting the glass. I'll have to weed out the "everyday" sps and just go with the nice stuff.
 
dowtish said:
I just recently acquired a 48" 400W Giesmann Spectra w/20k Radiums and 4 T5's (2 Blue+ and 2 Purple plus) using an icecap ballast.

I plan on putting this over a standard 120, 4x2x2. Will 2 400W be too much for this size tank?
Click to expand...

It's the Mercedes "S" class of lights. Awesome score on one of the best fixtures made. Don't be afraid to start it higher and lower it down a little week by week.
 
dowtish said:
Haha! Im just now upgrading to the 120 from a 85 bowfront. I already have corals outgrowing the tank and hitting the glass. I'll have to weed out the "everyday" sps and just go with the nice stuff.
Click to expand...

I need this problem! :p

Jeremy B. said:
Yes, you would get the most blue out of an electronic ballast, which will slightly underdrive the 250w Radium. The spec ballast for the 250w which is an M80 "HQI" ballast will get the longest spectral life out of the lamp, but it will also run more white. Both underdriving and overdriving of any lamp, regardless of what it is, will decrease spectral life.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response and great info!
 
I miss threads like this :(. I am running the a 400 radium on lumatek ballast on my 8 month old 60 cube. I been running at regular 400w for a few months, I'm going to try bumping it up to the 400w SL setting.
 
Thanks Kasey. I am just getting things back on track. I have been busy working, not paying attention to water parms, suffered lots of STN as a result. Seems to have stopped now. This tank will be taken down soon. I am transferring contents in a custom cube 32x32x26. I am going to use the 400w sfiligoi hood on the new tank as well.
 
This thread made me pick up a Radium bulb yesterday :thumbsup:

Had been running a custom LED set up for the past few years but kind of got tired of the overly blue look and the issue of shading since the LED's were so focused and direct.

Decided to go with a 250 SE set up again on my nano and since I am upgrading to a custom 28"x28"x22" 75g cube in the next week or two (waiting on Lee Mar to finish the build) I decided I wanted to do the MH again as I was never really able to duplicate MH colors like I had before on my corals with the LED's

So first bought a 20K XM a few weeks ago and wasn't completely happy, saw this thread and bought a 20K Radium the color is great nice and crisp. I think I am going to disassemble my LED set up and use a few of the Royal Blue LED's as extra supplemental lighting and then it should be all good for the new tank :dance:

Once I get the new cube up and running ill post pics. planing on doing a mainly sps tank again. Give it one more go haha.
 
jackson6745 said:
Thanks Kasey. I am just getting things back on track. I have been busy working, not paying attention to water parms, suffered lots of STN as a result. Seems to have stopped now. This tank will be taken down soon. I am transferring contents in a custom cube 32x32x26. I am going to use the 400w sfiligoi hood on the new tank as well.
Click to expand...

Sounds great! You really know how to rock a cube. Your aquascaping has always been top notch. That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing the new setup! Do you have a build thread yet?
 
Thanks Kasey. No build thread yet. Everything is in the works. Once I get the tank and stand in my possession I will start a new thread.
 
Four 150 watt Radium HQIs with 16 ATI actinics.


JPeckA3_zpse006b776.jpg
 
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