400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Curious to see if anyone locally is running these puppies. Been readin lots of hype about em and want to see with my own eyes. In person preferably but pics work for me too. [img]smile.gif[/img]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Only in my dreams, man.

Maybe on a future tank, if I can get my hands on those Blueline ballasts. But, I think I've kind of promised myself that if I ever put 400W'ers over a reef tank, that then I have to look at having only ONE reef tank, not 3, because, (whine whine) my utility bill isn't a lot of fun right now.

Ok so this doesn't really answer your question. Sorry 'bout dat.

What I really wish, is that there'd be people trying the 150W DE 20k Radiums, or the 250W Radiums as well, so we could get a feel for those ones. As far as I can tell, nobody online is using them! And I'm not sure I want to be the one breaking into new territory. However, I am still kind of considering trying the 150W, I have the ballast for it already, sitting in a box, waiting for me to do something with it. It's that, the Iwasaki 50k, or a 150W DE 10K (maybe AB or Ushio). But not sure what tank to try it on, maybe my 20g, but, really the only thing in there is the green carpet, and I'm not really convinced the anemone really cares what colour temp. light it has..

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Tony,

Any info is good info. So they run much better on the bluelines huh? Most people don't say what they are running the bulbs on for ballasts so I was assuming that some were running them on regular PFO or other ballasts.

hmmm.. I am really leaning towards re-doing my lighting scheme here. Running two NO actinics on a workhorse, two 10000K VHO's(I'll have enough laying around to last me for about 6 years) on a workhorse that come on an hour after the actinics then a 400W radium that is on for 6-8 hours max.

grrr.. decisions decisions..

Thanks Tony..

anyone else have input?

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

From what I understand, they give off the best blue/white combo light with the most PPFD on the Bluelines, and the Bluelines draw the least amount of current, so these are the most efficient ballasts. But availability is an issue, there aren't any to be bought anywhere at the moment! Supposedly a new batch is being worked on and will be available "real soon now."

So the next best ballast is the PFO HQI's. Not quite as efficient, but almost, and can easily be bought since availability is not an issue. And some say the they like the light better on the HQI's, so there is probably a matter of preference there, hard to tell without seeing both setups in person.

I guess the Radiums on a typical M59 ballast and they're just blue, so probably not worthwhile investing in the bulbs if not going to invest in the ballasts as well.

Sanjay had a good article on this this some time back, "Do Ballasts Really Make a Difference?" Something like that. Can't remember which one it was now! Darn, sorry.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Hmmm.. I wonder how the 250W raduim would do on an HQI ballast. Grrr.. Maybe I'll just go 10000K with a 400W ballast. I have seen those running.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Hi Tony,
I think your thinking of this one... http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/...omparison.html
How are the frags?
Duaine

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Duaine,

Thanks a lot.. [img]smile.gif[/img] Gonna read it later this afternoon. I shouldn't even be here. Calculus final is in an hour. :( Man my head hurts.

as an aside. If I ever say I miss school in a couple of years hit me upside the head. Anyone..

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

DJ88 -- good luck on the exams. Man, there's something I don't miss. I once thought about going back to school and gettin gmy masters, but, I'm far too addicted to the feeling of not having to worry about exams anymore! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Rocky -- yeah that's the one, thanks.

cheers

[ 24 May 2002, 10:03: Message edited by: delphinus ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Darren, my plan for my 50 gallon is to run the 400w iwasaki for the first year and then switch over to a radium when I do the bulb change.. I'm hoping I'll get nice growth out of the iwasaki for a year and then colour them up with the radium.

What did you originally have in mind for lighting?

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Can anyone out there have any opinions on the 400W 10k MH bulbs? Big difference from the Iwasaki?

I have to replace my bulb soon, which should I go for? Iwasaki or 10k? I have 2x 40w NO Actinics.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I had gotten away from being a student as well. Till I was booted out of the Navy and they said they would pay for more.. can't pass that up.


Kinda off topic but ... you know, I've been out of university for about 7 years now. I still get nightmares where I'm walking into a final, and I suddenly realize that I have skipped every single class of that course in that semester, so I was walking into a final not knowing a doggone thing. Eeeyikes. :eek: Seven years later!

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Well it looks like you're getting pretty damn nice growth and colour out of the 250 as is. I guess it depends on where you wanna put the money.. I wonder how much more it costs per month to run a 400 over a 250. Probably be about the same if you are running a short photo on the 400.

Why is it that we always want to keep upgrading when things are already working well? It's the addiction I guess... :rolleyes:

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Hi Darren seem like my email get you curious!

This link are from Dr mac Coral farm all is
coral are farm under Radium, 20k

http://www.drmaccorals.com/sys-tmpl/oursystems/

There a ton of pic there I will send other Pic
comparison to

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Here are some radium pic!!!!!!!
awsome!!!!1

http://reefcentral.com/vbulletin/att...&postid=444125

http://reefcentral.com/vbulletin/att...&postid=444126

http://reefcentral.com/vbulletin/att...&postid=444128

There are some link

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...adium+and+user

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...ghlight=radium

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...ghlight=radium

http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...ghlight=radium

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Well my life as a student is done for now.

sigh.. time to get drunk.. :D

Tony,

I had gotten away from being a student as well. Till I was booted out of the Navy ;) and they said they would pay for more.. can't pass that up.

Adam,

What I am thinking right now is a 400W with two NO actinics for sun up sun down and two 10000K VHO's since I have them. Only run the 400W for 6-8 hours and the 10000K's for 10 hours. I dunno.. just bouncing possibilities through my head.

Otherwise it's the 250W and VHOs.

easy as that.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">yeah but with the radium you skip all the
fluo and still have the best color

I have read a lot of post from radium owners and
I dont ever remeber one at all that are not absolutlie happy on the other hand I read all sort of setup and combo and it seem like people alway try to improve in some way and not 100 happy , that why I want to give them a try, not that I dont like my Iwasaki setup but IMO the radium from what I have read and pic I have seen are realy amazing!

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

hey darren,
not that i've seen those bulbs running before, but if i could...i would run my lighting like the way you have planned out. for the types of corals you have and your tank design...i feel that you will get good growth and awesome color.
JMO tho

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I tink I have finaly found a sheap HQI ballast for the radium I will post when shure

For those of you interesting by the Radium 20k I could probably have them for the price of an Iwasaki

Look other tread of a guru amaze by is new radium
note that they absolutly not need any actinic

http://www.canreef.com/ubb6/cgi-bin/...c;f=1;t=000717

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Looks like someone else has found out about the 430W HPS ballast trick :D

There is no such thing as "400W HQI". That's just PFO's label on a product they sell, which apparently is just a 430W HPS ballast. Advance makes one (part#=71A85E6) and so does Venture (part#=V90C2050). The Venture ballasts are available over here in Calgary for about $100 at the hydroponics stores ("Bumper Crop" my secret reefing supply store, because they sell much the same things any LFS sells, but much cheaper.). I haven't been able to find the Advance ballasts yet (but to be fair I've only called two stores so far).

I might try this myself in the future, but I don't have the ability to try anything at the moment, due to severe drought of funds.. :(

PS. The really "cat's meow" ballast for these are the Blueline e-ballasts. Smallest power draw, highest PPFD output.

[ 31 May 2002, 12:22: Message edited by: delphinus ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I found new pic coparison

Full tank with brand new 20k
http://adriansreeftank.homestead.com...ew_20K_new.jpg

Full tank with 20K after a two week period
http://adriansreeftank.homestead.com...20K_2weeks.jpg

Left side of tank with Ushio 10K
http://adriansreeftank.homestead.com..._10K_Ushio.jpg

Left side of tank with brand new 20K
http://adriansreeftank.homestead.com...de_20K_new.jpg

Left side with 20K after two week period

http://adriansreeftank.homestead.com...20K_2weeks.jpg

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I recieved my 400 watt 20K yesterday. Fired it over the empty 170. Very nice light. Brighter than my 12K, even to my eyes and thats with a normal PFO ballast.

But I would say, even thought its brighter, like the 12K,s, its still not bright enough,{on a normal ballast}, to light the 48 inch by 32 inch tank alone.

As the 170 is going to house mostly lps & mushrooms it may be enough for them, but my large leather may not like it. I was going to leave it in the 180, but its only going to be sps and various anemone polyps.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I tink this comfire what we read before the PFO regular is not enought for the Radium you need the HQI(430 agro) or the blueline

another ting is that if we take steve tiree study in consideration he state that 100% of the radium
light is absort compare to 40% of an iwasaki so
maybe you coral will react positive even if it look dim. I tink you should try it on your regular ballast for a bit only to see how realy
you coral will react it will make a very good point IMO about the Tyree study

Anyway I tink a 400 for you 170 is definativaly not enought but we will find.

How about the temps doug the ting I am a bit afraid in my 130 whith 3 radium is the heating issus I hope I will be able to not run any chiller that my great fear

By the way what kind of reflector you have whith
the Radium? I ask this because after upgrade my flat refector whith the spider tipe I see a very big diference in light and not just in light 2 more degree in temp water those reflector done what they are made for reflect all in the tank!

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Perhaps thats a good point Stephane. I will give it a run and see how they respond. When I tried with the 12K, I had sps in there also. I know for sure my huge bubble coral will just love it. :D I wonder if bulb life is different between the different ballasts.

My pendant is an Icecap fixture. Uses the parabloic reflector. To my eyes, my tank is just as bright with a normal white reflector as compared with the parabolic ones. But I also have seen the tests regarding reflectors.

I know that a single 400 is pushing it on the tank, but because of its almost square shape, it works pretty good. I am careful about whats on the outside. Some blue mushrooms or similar would be my choice.

Of course I have the 180 with much more lighting, for the corals that require such.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

As strange at it is I have read somewere that the regular ballast is harder on the bulb I tink because voltage is to low but this need to be verified

The HQI ballast have a voltage of 200 volt and the radium spec said that this bulb should be run on 230 volt but the difference probably is the amp
on them

If my memory is good MH ballast are 95 volt ballast but hight amps so it match the same wattage but different volt

I dont know a lot about ballast I know that oldreefer and paulerick on RC know them well maybe we should ask them

If you have a mutimeter I would be curious what voltage are on the bulb out of you regular ballast + what Amps it draw on the 110v.

Ho and dont forget that this bulb need to be break before give good lightning most of the new user complain about the brightness the first 2 week on HQI ballast

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Wowwwwww! I have fired up the Radium 400 in the midle of my Iwasaki 250 and the difference is only amazing now I know what yelowich mean the Radium are simply amazing I cant beleve my eye I will post pic of it soon and comparison between saki and Radium

Biy Biy Iwasaki!!!!!!!! :D :cool: [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 31 July 2002, 15:35: Message edited by: stephane ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

man the corals do look pretty under thease light but the rock looks washed out and solid blue which disapoints me.. I think you would need strong white suplment with thease bulbs to make everything look right.

Steve

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Stircrazy,

What type of ballasts are you running the radiums on? IMO the light is at its best when under the 400w HQI ballasts. They are bluer than the HQI when using the electronic ballasts, and if you use tar, they would probably look like actinic (ie:everything looking blue). Just wondering...

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

jb1974
I am not running them I am just making a observation on every picture of them I have seen.. the corals stan out wonderfully but eveything else looks washed in blue.. kinda like looking at a tank with whimpy actinics on and nothing else.. maby it is just me..

Steve

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When you will see one in person you will change your mind IMO As every one who have it said photo
dont get justice to the bulb I will see when i take my own photo but for now the color of everyting is just beautiful and I know from people who run it that it will be even beter after the burning period

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Stephane:

What ballast did you end up using with the radiums? M59,M135,AGROSUN, Blueline ??

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I just put an Iwasaki on half my tank and the color of the bulb looks like daylight. But its only been 2 days and already the colors of the corals are looking great compared to the 10K german side, which looks realy dim. IMO Iwasaki is the way to go.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

The hps 430 agro I will love to compare to a blue
line but they are very expensive and for now Im satify whith the agro

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

My only concern with the AGROSUN is how much life you will get out of the bulbs. Some say only 6-8 months.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

I just took some more pics yesterday after the bulb burn in on the 360 (tank has been running for about 7 weeks) . I am inept at using the computer so I will get my husband to post the pics tonight [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01 August 2002, 07:55: Message edited by: jb1974 ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

From what I have read it will give more like 10 month but we will see

Anyway the agro ballast are very cheap I have them
for 85$ compare to 300$ for a blueline he will not pay for itself before long time and maybe in a couple of years we will have new kind of light so I dont want to invest for to long. You know reefkeeping change very fast even if for now I tink the best bulb on the market is the radium 20k and we have it cheap , one years ago I was 100% with iwasaki then there was 10k now the radium so ..........

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Are you shure your 10k have the right ballast?
a 400 10k who is dim is for only two reason defective bulb or rong ballast

All 10k bulb are made from europe and there ballast are realy different than hour so the problem is probably the ballast ;) or you tank is very very deep

[ 01 August 2002, 21:47: Message edited by: stephane ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

Yep, you are right, wasn't long ago the double ended 10K HQI bulb was the latest rave.

I am going to go for the radiums, but I might try a M135 ballast for a longer bulb life, If the color is too blue I might throw in a Iwasaki 250 watt in the middle to whiten it up and provide the growing power for the corals.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

What is the size of your tank (lenght)
if you tank is to long mine is 6'the iwasaki in the midle will look very ugly I have try it and you see only the yellow in the midle and everyting look more dull under the saki

When you put the radium beside the iwasaki it is noting but ugly until you have a lot of actinic and then the radium is a litle to blue. the best combo will be a radium an a saki in the same reflector but a lot of watt !!!!!!

[ 02 August 2002, 00:31: Message edited by: stephane ]

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

The tank is 5 feet. A iwasaki in the middle of two radium 20K will surely add some yellow to the appearance as you suggest, but might be worth experimenting with, or maybe add a 10K and forget about the actinics.

400W radiums. anyone here use em?
 

the problem is not that the lamps add to much yellow overall it is only because the yellow is in the midle between two with blue colum

maybe in your five foot if the lamp are higher and if you dont utilize reflector like spider who
reflect the light praticaly only under them it will be good but the two light color need to be mix perfecly to look good IMO

If I was you I will put the two radium whith spider reflector whith blueline or agro ballast an a mix of daylight and actinic for the dusk and dawn

I read a lot from people who have the Radium and most of them like it by there owns

If you have a scware tank then it will be different but with a tank that size it's hard to mix well

[ 02 August 2002, 10:26: Message edited by: stephane ]