Type of/find MH bulbs ?

Delphinus · #1 03-05-2007, 05:10 PM

What lights have you tried and what ballasts are you running? I find that the range of answers to this really runs the gamut because what one person likes may not appeal to another and even the same lights run on different ballasts can have different effects. Think Radiums run on probe starts versus pulse starts versus overdriven on HQI ballasts.

Although my big tank isn't setup yet, I am planning to run 400W Radiums on HQI ballasts. I have the ballasts, I have the lights and I have Lumenarc reflectors so it's all ready to go (I just don't have the basement ready for the tank). This look of Radiums-on-HQI is really one of my favourite looks for a tank but it seems to me it's no longer in favour by many. I'm not sure why that is, is it a cost issue or are Radiums simply a little outdated nowadays?

Reefer Rob · #2 03-05-2007, 08:43 PM

PM Jason at Proline, he should be able to direct you to someone in your area where you can get the Aquaconnect bulbs when they come in. Apparently they'll be another 2 or 3 weeks.

muck · #3 03-05-2007, 09:44 PM

Gold's carries the Aquaconnect bulbs. Talk to Albert for those.
Don't buy the XM 15K bulbs. They are not great bulbs at all.

andestang · #4 03-05-2007, 11:47 PM

They had some at one point, but not lately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by muck

Gold's carries the Aquaconnect bulbs. Talk to Albert for those.
Don't buy the XM 15K bulbs. They are not great bulbs at all.

andestang · #5 03-06-2007, 12:19 AM

Did you just get an update on this ? I've been looking for about a month now. Anyone have any info on stock on these ? I'll try Jason and see what he has to say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

PM Jason at Proline, he should be able to direct you to someone in your area where you can get the Aquaconnect bulbs when they come in. Apparently they'll be another 2 or 3 weeks.

Reefer Rob · #6 03-06-2007, 12:24 AM

Jason has had a problem with customs. They are coming, worth the wait IMO.

BCOrchidGuy · #7 03-06-2007, 03:52 AM

As I understand it Radiums are actually a 360 watt bulb either High pressure sodium or mercury vapour and they are run on 430 watt ballast that is designed to run the other of these two lights. Meaning, if the radium is a HPS then it's run on a MV ballast or if the radium is MV it's run on a HPS ballast. Either way it's overdriven by about 60 watts. I could be wrong, that's just the way it was explained to me.

Doug

Delphinus · #8 03-06-2007, 05:27 AM

That's only if run on a "HQI" ballast which is really a HPS "SonAgro" ballast at 430W, overdriving the lamp. If run on a pulse-start "ANSI M137" (or whatever it is) then it's closer to the 360 (and bluer and dimmer). The probe starts (M58) are probably somewhere in between (I'm not sure).

What's better about the Aquaconnect lamps? I haven't been following lighting trends lately. Seems there are about a billion different combinations out there...

support@proline · #9 03-06-2007, 07:49 AM

Tony
What makes these bulbs so great is that ,usually you sacrifice par for color ,I find these bulbs to be a happy medium & also the bulb does not loose spectrum & intensity as quick as some other brands.
Here is a comparison of Aquaconnect 14k DE on Icecap Vs Geissmann 20k DE on Icecap

on Pfo

as you can see it spikes a bit bluer & also has more than twice as much par.
after using this bulb for a while I noticed better color because of the new spectrum & also more intensity,many others have reported the same.
I think Rob here runs one & a few other people as well.
In Alberta Golds carries them
Bay side corals in Sask
Hidden Reef/J&l
I will update you guys when they land
Regards
Jason