Help me pick a 20k bulb for SPS color [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

fishfanatic06

04/08/2008, 07:56 PM

I have 2x150 watts of light over a 29 gallon. Yeah, I know, alot. So, I was wondering what you guys think the best 20k bulb is out there for SPS color and growth. I was thinking of Helios, Ushio or XM, but I am not sure how the growth will be with those.
Thanks!

PUGroyale

04/08/2008, 08:01 PM

Radium... there, yer done :)

fishfanatic06

04/08/2008, 08:24 PM

really? Do you think the par of the bulb is really going to matter that much considering how much wattage I have over my tank?

OnlyCrimson

04/08/2008, 11:00 PM

XM or the Radium in my opinion. I had a 250w SE xm over my tank and loved the colors.

143gadgets

04/08/2008, 11:36 PM

Xm = Great colors

Radium = Phenomenal colors

Comments based on 250w XMs and Radiums on Icecap Electronic ballasts.

kev apsley

04/09/2008, 07:03 AM

+1 for the Radium 20k...I changed to this bulb a month ago and the color shift in my corals sps/lps is amazing, this bulb has brought out the true colors in all my corals

al abaqueta

04/09/2008, 07:13 AM

Radiums. I use 2 250 W Radiums in my 90 gallon. Unbelievable colors with very good growth. A little more expensive and I change my bulbs every 8-9 months. Hope this helps. Al

Elmer

04/09/2008, 09:33 AM

RADIUM baby

kentrob11

04/09/2008, 09:41 AM

The nicest tank I've ever owned was a 90 gallon with a pair of 400 watt radiums on PFO HQI...The light was the most piercing white I've seen and the colors were outstanding...I'm thinking about going with a single over the 58 I'm setting up...

aznepydna

04/09/2008, 01:36 PM

I use DE Helios on Icecap ballasts and love them.

volcom69

04/09/2008, 02:01 PM

Wow alot for the radiums i think next time i change bulbs im going with the 20k either radiums or the helios.

Maximus

04/09/2008, 02:13 PM

I also miss my 400 watt radiums as well.:(

JOSE CASAS

04/09/2008, 02:20 PM

Radiums:)

jpa0741

04/09/2008, 04:17 PM

Does anyone run the Radiums on hqi ballast (m80). If so, do you also get decent growth. Sorry for the hijack, but I just setup my 240g with 250w radiums on hqi ballasts. I like color of the tank, but it is just cycling now. I am just wondering what kind of growth to expect. Tank is only 16" tall. I also 4 4' vho's.

kentrob11

04/09/2008, 04:44 PM

The par values aren't the greatest on radiums so I think it's best to go with 400watters. As far as heat is concerned, I ran the pair on HQI without fans but with a well ventilated Canopy and my tank temp rarely got over 84...

FishyBiz

04/09/2008, 05:12 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12288493#post12288493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 143gadgets
Xm = Great colors

Radium = Phenomenal colors

Comments based on 250w XMs and Radiums on Icecap Electronic ballasts.

And Helios = Even better color than Radiums.

My comments based on 400W SE bulbs on electronic Galaxy ballasts. ;)

fishfiend00s

04/09/2008, 07:36 PM

400 watt 20 k radiums with pfo hqi ballast cant beat them for stuning coral colors

volcom69

04/09/2008, 07:49 PM

So bascially what im getting from this is you cant go wrong with either radium or helio 20ks.

fishfanatic06

04/09/2008, 07:51 PM

I think I will go with helios. Sanjay reccomends Ushio though. Ive seen Ushio and real life and its pretty good, but Im not sure how it would compare to a helios.

cweder

04/09/2008, 08:41 PM

Sanjay is using Geiseman Coral bulbs now, not sure why he switched. I am using the Helios 20K 400 watt bulbs on Galaxy ballasts. They are supposed to be very close the the Radium only cheaper and last longer. Give off a nice blue look, very close to my 250 watt phoenix 14k's on magnetic HQI ballasts. I would say a 14 to 16 K look. They have not made spectacular coral out of all my coral, but help make the most out of what the coral can be. Not all coral has outstanding color no matter what you do. Thats my experience. So if you want the best color, you have to buy the good stuff. Unless your Iwan perhaps.

143gadgets

04/09/2008, 11:36 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12293556#post12293556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FishyBiz
And Helios = Even better color than Radiums.

My comments based on 400W SE bulbs on electronic Galaxy ballasts. ;)

PROVE it!!! :)

All these taken under 250w Radiums. :D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Hawkins.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Blue-Prostrata.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Alien-EYE-02.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Green-efflo.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Star-Chalice.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Nk1005115814.jpg

143gadgets

04/09/2008, 11:38 PM

panic

04/10/2008, 07:12 AM

I have used 400se Radium, XM20k, and Reeflux 12k. I find that:
- Radium makes the best blue, slowest growth.
- Reeflux has a nice blue/pink color, fastest growth but loses blue color to a bright white (great for the frag tank)
- XM has great BRIGHT blue spectrum, insane growth when new, but drops off after 3 months yet still good growth. Consistant crisp blue throughout life of bulb.

I generally swap after 10 months. I currently use 3 XM20k 400se on PFO mag ballast on display, 12k Reeflux on E on my frag tank

miwoodar

04/10/2008, 09:40 AM

I like my 250 radium on my coralife ballast. My second bulb is an SPS 20K (I can't run an HQI bulb on my second ballast). I definitely like the radium slightly better and would have ended up with two of them if I could have. My corals are growing fast (a few are growing about an inch/month) so I'm not so concerned about the fact that they are 20K bulbs.

Here's Sanjay's graph for my particular setup...the visual appearance isn't as close as the graph would suggest. I'm not sure why though (bulb variance, ballast variance, etc).
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/miwoodar/MHComparison.jpg

volcom69

04/13/2008, 06:20 PM

Wheres a good place to buy either the radiums or the helios, havent decided which one yet, but i think im going to try one of them.

trueblackpercula

04/13/2008, 06:41 PM

20k xm 400w on a icecap

aznepydna

04/13/2008, 06:45 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12321310#post12321310 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
Wheres a good place to buy either the radiums or the helios, havent decided which one yet, but i think im going to try one of them.

You can get either of them from **********. That is where I get mine.

volcom69

04/13/2008, 06:55 PM

Thank you

danfrith

04/13/2008, 07:27 PM

Can we see some pics of some tanks with radiums? Thanks.

SunnyX

04/13/2008, 08:24 PM

400W XM 20K FTW!!!! :D

143gadgets

04/13/2008, 08:30 PM

Here are some more pics under 20K Radiums :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Peace-Coral.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/20k.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Maxima.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/FFRed.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/gadgets-wm.jpg

danfrith

04/13/2008, 08:33 PM

Dangit, does Radium only make SE ended bulbs? Is there anything similiar to Radiums in DE form. Thanks for the pics gadgets.

143gadgets

04/13/2008, 08:34 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12322423#post12322423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danfrith
Dangit, just did some research and found that radium only makes SE ended bulbs. Is there anything similiar to Radiums in DE form. Thanks.

Not a chance! :)

danfrith

04/13/2008, 08:37 PM

Nothing?

ros_sco

04/13/2008, 10:05 PM

[QUOTE]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12322401#post12322401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 143gadgets
[B]Here are some more pics under 20K Radiums :)

Are those pictures under 250 or 400 watt Radiums?

FishyBiz

04/13/2008, 10:28 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12296220#post12296220 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 143gadgets
PROVE it!!! :)

LOL. I will say I think you got me on the pic skillz. I wish I had a macro.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/IMG_5621.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/IMG_4813.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/IMG_4618.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/IMG_4733.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/FishyBiz/IMG_4732.jpg

:rollface:

jjmcat

04/13/2008, 11:10 PM

I have used several bulbs but my favorite is the blue line 10k plus bulb.It was more blue then my XM 20ks and my 20K sps bulbs.I also liked the 14k evc bulb which comes in a close second for the price.

143gadgets

04/14/2008, 12:55 AM

danfrith- Not that I know of.

Scott- 250w :)

Fishy- Great pics! Love those zoas.

7thheaven

04/14/2008, 02:18 AM

Dear 143gadgets

I heard 250w Radium has different color compared to 400w..

Is it true? I am very interested in Radium, but some said 250w's

growth is not good.. but I think your corals color is so good.~!!

I have 100gal SPS tank (22 inch depth)and use T5 now..

Any opinion?

DaddyJax

04/14/2008, 04:13 AM

Has anyone asked you yet what kind of ballast you are using? I might have missed it. It might change what bulb brand is best for you.

miwoodar

04/14/2008, 06:25 AM

I heard 250w Radium has different color compared to 400w..

Is it true? I am very interested in Radium, but some said 250w's

growth is not good.. but I think your corals color is so good.~!!

I have good growth under a magnetic SPS 20K and an electronic Radium. Both are 250 watts and the ballast/bulb combos yield middle of the road PAR.

Yes, from what I've read, the 400 watt Radium bulb is actually made to be run at 360 watts. Due to ballasts available here in the US, a 400 watt Radium gets overdriven making them whiter and increases the PAR.

Here's three months of growth on my tank (January 2nd to April 2nd). The SPS 20K is on the left, the Radium is on the right.
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/miwoodar/CIMG0397.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/miwoodar/CIMG1297.jpg

stony_corals

04/14/2008, 10:37 AM

Radiums, radiums, radiums! Run them on an HQI ballast. XM20K are more 20K (blue) looking. It's not that the bulbs are different, its the ballasts that are different. A PFO 250W HQI ballast is a true HQI ballast, a PFO 400W HQI ballast is a HPS ballast, there is no American 400w HQI-compliant ballast, they are HPS. Therefore, the 250w radium and the 400w radium will look different.

Sanjay's data is great, but equally important to the bulb and ballast is which reflector you use. I forget who posted the thread, but a reefer posted a thread on the Reeflux 12ks, coralvue eballasts and lumenbrights and he was reading 1300 PAR.... pretty darn good, better than what most sps reefers are getting...

SunnyX

04/14/2008, 10:55 AM

Old pic from over a year ago of XM 20K 400W M59 Ballast along with 3 Actinic VHO's. Currently I am using XM 10K's with the M59's.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/SunnyX_photo/DSC_0349.jpg

GSMguy

04/14/2008, 11:04 AM

XM 20k, Ushio 20k, helios 20k, or radium.

miwoodar

04/14/2008, 11:11 AM

If I had my druthers with my 250 watt system, I would use the PFO HQI magnetic ballasts. As real life played out, one of my ballasts won't run an HQI bulb (hence the SPS 20K). The other is a hand-me-down electronic ballast that allowed me to run a Radium. I would have preferred to run two radiums.

When my ballasts go kaput, the system will be replaced with two 400 watt Radiums. Yes, technically 360 watts.

Sunnyx, your tank has always been one of my favorites.

stony_corals

04/14/2008, 11:15 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12325854#post12325854 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Old pic from over a year ago of XM 20K 400W M59 Ballast along with 3 Actinic VHO's. Currently I am using XM 10K's with the M59's.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/SunnyX_photo/DSC_0349.jpg

Why exactly did you switch?!? Amazing....

rutz81

04/14/2008, 03:26 PM

I am running 250W XM 20K's on a PFO HQI Ballast. I was considering going to Radium's on my next bulb, how will the look of the tank compare, blueness/brightness??

Thanks.

jpa0741

04/14/2008, 03:40 PM