Radium 20K or XM 20K on SLS HQI?

[Doubledown]

Greetings,

I currently run SLS Blue Wave HQI ballasts (250 watt) and want to run a "blue" bulb.

I was going to go with the XM 20K due to cost ($60/bulb), but recently I was told that Radiums were the better choice because they would last longer (9 months compared to 6 for the XM) and would be brighter.

Does anyone out there have experience with these 2 bulbs and would you please share them?

Thanks

[milsaltnewbie07]

I have had both, xm and radiums. The xm are a little bluer in my opinion but not as bright. The radiums i way brighter and a little more white. I believe that the radium brought out my colors way better as well as more growth. But your right almost 100$ sound harsh. If you don't care about the money definitely radium but if money is a concern then XM20k or you might even consider the 12k reeflux or the 14k pheonix. Both great bulbs and great color

[Mikigo]

ime, radium on hqi will give you great color the first 3 months. then, slowly to deteriate. they need to be changed out every 6-9 months.
xm 20k is dimmer, but the coral have great color for longer. change bulb every 9-12 months.
overall, radium give you better color over xm.
another alternative is helio 20k. give you color similar to radium at cheaper price.

[Doubledown]

Thank you both for your help.

[gcarroll]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12055376#post12055376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mikigo
ime, radium on hqi will give you great color the first 3 months. then, slowly to deteriate. they need to be changed out every 6-9 months. Are you referring to the 250 watt Radium or the 400 watt Radium?

[mpoletti]

I just oredered 3 250 watt radiums for my new set up. I also will being running them on the blue wave. I only paid $80/per. I have seen them cheaper that that too.

[Lagger]

Anyone else notice a loss of reds using the radium? Trying to figure out if it's the bulb or not.........

[BreadmanMike]

You know my vote Chris...

XM's are meant for standard magbetic ballasts. Most likely garbage after 6 months on an HQI.

Radiums will give you 8 solid months IME with them on a HQI ballast. I like the 400w Helios better then the 400w radium, but have never seen the 250w Helios.

[PaulErik]

The Radium 250-watt 20,000K lamp will have higher output then the XM on a HQI ballast. The Radium 250-watt lamp is designed for operation on a HQI ballast and should have a reasonable usable lamp life. The Radium lamp is actually rated at 270-watts. The XM would be over driven resulting in reduced usable lamp life and will have less output.

The 400-watt Radium is totally different and is not designed for a HQI ballast. HQI and even electronic ballasts will overdrive a Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp. The only ballast that will drive this lamp to specs is a magnetic pulse start or a European 3.25/3.5 amp lamp current limiting reactor ballast.

[stony_corals]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12056642#post12056642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PaulErik
The Radium 250-watt 20,000K lamp will have higher output then the XM on a HQI ballast. The Radium 250-watt lamp is designed for operation on a HQI ballast and should have a reasonable usable lamp life. The Radium lamp is actually rated at 270-watts. The XM would be over driven resulting in reduced usable lamp life and will have less output.

The 400-watt Radium is totally different and is not designed for a HQI ballast. HQI and even electronic ballasts will overdrive a Radium 400-watt 20,000K lamp. The only ballast that will drive this lamp to specs is a magnetic pulse start or a European 3.25/3.5 amp lamp current limiting reactor ballast.

PaulErik, totally agree with you on the '250'w radiums, however aren't the 400s also HQI bulbs, and in the US, the 400 HQI ballast isn't HQI at all but is HPS?

You don't lose reds with Radiums....

[Doubledown]

Sounds like the XMs are out.

In another post I was told that the Helios bulbs were not designed to run on HQI either so they would have a similar life expectancy to the XMs.

Looks like the Radiums will be the best option for a 20K bulb.

Thank you all.

[PaulErik]

The 400w Radium 20,000K is not a HQI lamp. They are designed to a different electrical standard. The manaufacturer only recommends magnetic pulse start or low current European reactor ballasts. Even electronic ballasts will over drive them. The 400w Radium 20,000K is really a 360-watt lamp.

The HQI ballasts commonly sold in North America are HPS 430W ballasts.

[Doubledown]

So the Radiums on 250 watt HQI ballasts is a good thing, yes?

[BreadmanMike]

yes

[gastone]

+1

made the switch to radiums on an HQI. I love it.