ok. I ran them on standard mag ballasts.

I can also vouch for the Radiums on HQI ballasts.. DAMN they look nice.

Why can't you do the HQI/Radium combo with a Lumerarc reflector? The PFO isn't a bad reflector at all but it ain't no lumenarc.

No reason. I was just looking at the PFO, as its wired for the ballast/pendant combo, instead of wires sticking out everywhere to hook up and at more cost.

So going over performance data tonight;

Iwasaki 175w 15K, w/electronic...86 PPFD, Reg. ballast..71 PPFD

Radium 250w 20K, w/electronic...66 PPFD, HQI ballast..85 PPFD

Iwasaki still is best bang for a buck, but guess the problem with them is as someone mentioned before, if you dont happen to like the colour, you're stuck.

Here,s an interesting value,

Sun Aquatics 250w 10K...w/electronic...104 PPFD...with a regular ballast 111 PPFD :surprise: I use to run the 14K in this bulb abd thought it lacked in par. Heard the 10K was a good one but never looked it up before.

if you remember my lighting comparisons between AB, radium and SA the AB was the best, followed by the SA 10K, then the radium, then SA 14K then SA20K this was all on a HQI ballast. problem with SA is the owner screwed me over so I have a personal beef with him, but the bulbs were good, although some problems with consistency in color. but I think he released a 12 or 13 K to mimic the AB color which is absolutely my favorite bulb.

Steve

I would go with the coralvue ballast, lummenarc reflector but for a bulb I would use a 14K 250w Phoenix. I have a galaxy ballast with lummenarc pendant and 14K 250w Phoenix (cost 400$ new) and I can not say enough good things about this bulb and reflector, its very blue and crisp for a 14k bulb.

Probably seen this picture before but I'll post it again, its my frag tank with the above combo on it for lighting.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...m2/reef025.jpg


And a up close shot

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...2/DSC00892.jpg


Thanx

Sean

I have 2 -250 w Phoenix 14k bulbs over my tank and in 2 weeks my browned out corals coloured right up including some frags which I purchased that were previously under 12k 400 w Coralvue bulbs. One of the montis is now such an insane blue that it almost looks fake. I bought them at OA and will definately buy them again. Does anyone know the par value on these bulbs?

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.c...&Submit=Search

Thanks fkshui ! Mine are on Coralife ballasts which I think probably aren't the best. If the ballasts die ,I'll try Pfo hqi seeing I have a new one sitting in the box.

Well the ballast & reflector decision is done. :lol:

Purchased the 250w Galaxy ballast & a Reef Optix reflector. I was looking at the Lumenarc type reflectors but got a good deal on the combo. Thanks Quinn.

Still looking at bulbs. I may borrow a SA 10K for now. Seems many running the Galaxy/Radium combo on Rc but most seem to be 400,s. Not as bright as the HQI but pretty nice looking.

Funny you mention the SA 20K Steve. It has pretty impressive par on electronics. Much more than the 14K and more than the Radium.

Thanks for all the posts.