Coralvue or Radium

[Doug]

Down to two choices for the lighting over my cube.

1. Coralvue electronic ballast w/dimming capability, {good for acclimatizing}, 250w 12K Reeflux bulb & Lumenarc pendant.

2. PFO HQI ballast, 250w radium, PFO pendant. {Steve,s suggestion, }

Thats it. Although I still look at this nice 150w HQI plus normal actinics down at the store. I still say it looks brighter than most 250w bulbs over 10K.

Thoughts or experience,s welcome.

[mr_alberta]

I really liked the Radium, HQI ballast with Lumenarc pendant. I ran two of them over my previous tank. Absolutely loved the look. I also think Radiums look way better on an HQI ballast vs Electronic.

[Doug]

I was thinking of the PFO pendant w/the Radium, as it quick connect matches the ballast. Could use the Lumenac though.

Only reason for considering the 12K Reeflux, is I read they run their best on the CV electronic and give a really good par rating. I,m still looking for where I found that.

[Stones]

I'm currently running two Radium 250 watt 20K's on a PFO HQI ballast and am rather pleased with the overall colour. In my opinion, its more like a 15K colour temp than 20K but I seem to get better growth out of the radiums than with any other 20K I've tried in the past.

[Doug]

Do you get a decent bulb life with the 250,s & HQI ?

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Doug

Do you get a decent bulb life with the 250,s & HQI ?

Doug, the HQI ballast in a 250 will actualy give you better life than a probe start ballast and about the same as a pulse start.

Steve

[Skimmerking]

Well doug whit the 250's that i ran on the aqua medic electronic ballast you saw how bright the 13 kmegachrome bulbs were the 14 k were pretty good thou. you i take it that you went back to the 45 gal cube. again i see. I remember that when you had the 225 upyou had the 400 w radiums going with blue line ballast. you like the color there ,why not go back to it. or are you looking to stay with the 250 range... or use the 250 range with the radium

[Doug]

Thanks Steve. I know you like that combo. So nobody uses or likes the new CV ballast & 12K reeflux combo. I,ve been looking for the Rc thread but my IE is not working correct when bringing up a search there or even trying to bring up my messenger e-mail??

Hi Mike.

[muck]

I wasn't overly impressed by the Reeflux Bulbs when I ran them.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by muck

I wasn't overly impressed by the Reeflux Bulbs when I ran them.

Neither was I, but I ran mine on a normal PFO ballast. I still think I read someplace that the CV electronic drives them real well but sure cant find it again.