CCR Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Trying to figure out what is going to properly run 20k 400wt radium's other than a tar PFO HQI. Ideas and why. Experience and compared to what would be the most help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 I have a galaxy 400 watt electronic ballast and a radium bulb on my set up. It is the best combination I have ever owned. I also have a elite mogul reflector. This defiantely is the best I've ever had also. I highly recommend this combination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 I'll have to look up the Ballast and reflector. I haven't heard of the reflector. Thank You for your feed back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Has anyone compared the lumenmax elite mogul reflector to the lumenarc ?????????? It will be going over a 210 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Has anyone compared the lumenmax elite mogul reflector to the lumenarc ?????????? It will be going over a 210 The Lumenmax Elite Penetrates deeper than the Lumenarc. The full sized Lumenarc has better spread but it is 19" x 19" The Elite is 15" x 15". I replaced a Lumenarc mini(14" x 14") with an Elite, it is much brighter. If you're trying to spread out more than 24" x 24" then the full size Lumenarc is the ticket. For a 210(30" tall) you want the Elite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I run 400 watt radiums on coralvue dimmable ballasts with lumenbright reflectors and love the color. I like my tank pretty blue though, and I run 2 6' and 2 2' VHO actinic with the radiums. I am going to start playing around with my par meter, a kill-a-watt, and the dimmer switch on the ballast to tweak them....if I ever get some free time,lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 I was wondering about the "dimmable" Are they tho ones that Patric has in his shop. I remember a club meeting and there was one that even cut out putt in half if the tank got to hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 No, I don't think these are the ones patrick has... I think most of his are PFO ballasts. These don't monitor heat, they just have a dimmer knob that can adjust the power output from -15 to +15%, so you can underdrive or overdrive bulbs. I have found that the color can dramatically change with power output. The 400w radiums burn a real blue if used on normal electronic ballasts, but can be made more white with an increase in power...this is essentially what HQI ballast do, overdrive them. What size tank are they going to run on? I would have done my 24" tall tank completely different from the start if I had the chance. The reflectors these days like the lumenbright and lumenmax elite are so good and putting all the par towards the water, people can get away with 250w where they used to have to use 400's. I have my 400s about 28" from the water surface and still get about 400 par on the bottom! This is great because I get little heat transfer to the water, but it is a bit overkill. If I decide to change, I would use the 250s with electronic ballasts. I have a 250w radium running on a coralvue ballast on my 70 gallon frag tank and the colors are by far the best I have ever seen! The 250 radiums are probably the best bulb on the market, and they are made to run at 250w, not a weird wattage like the 400w radium only designed to run at 360 watts. The colors are just outstanding and I dont have to use actinic supplementation. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Interesting information. The tank is 30"tall and I will have a ton of acro's so leaning to 400w, but I must say 250w hqi is an interesting thought. As money is a big issue, it equated to the lime needed to gather the equipment. I'm not in a hurry. Just have to plan it right. So deciding on the "right one" is the most important. I will also be running 2 actinic and 2 super white run with 2 660's. I have pretty much all the other equipment but lighting. I LOVED my PFO's400w hqi but way toooooooo much heat and power u sedge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 If you are ever in vancouver you are welcome to stop by my house and see the difference between 250s run on electronic and 400s run on electronic with or without actinic supplement. All of my bulbs are in the large lumenbright reflectors. I cant say enough good things about the new reflectors and how well they get the par to the bottom. I could make you a killer deal on 400w ballasts and bulbs and downgrade to 250s, lol. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 What about Hamilton?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krux Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 bluewave hqi ballasts will run the radiums, i know thats what steve used to run his on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 If you are ever in vancouver you are welcome to stop by my house and see the difference between 250s run on electronic and 400s run on electronic with or without actinic supplement. All of my bulbs are in the large lumenbright reflectors. I cant say enough good things about the new reflectors and how well they get the par to the bottom. I could make you a killer deal on 400w ballasts and bulbs and downgrade to 250s, lol. Mike What brand are the ballasts, the 400 and age? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmike Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 They are coralvue dimable and they are about 6 months old now. The radiums are about 2 weeks old now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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