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View Full Version : Best Ballast for 250W Radiums SE


mattiej
03/17/2011, 07:18 AM
What is the best ballast to run a 250 watt SE Radium? I was looking at the Lumentek dimmable multi-wattage ballasts. I also have the opportunity to purchase Ice Cap ballasts.

nanojg
03/17/2011, 07:38 AM
IceCaps will underdrive the radium. The lumentek will work OK on the hqi setting; however, the 250 radium is made to be fired on a true hqi ballast (at around 330 watts)

mattiej
03/17/2011, 07:55 AM
Nano, thanks for the info. Where would I buy a true HQI ballast?

t4zalews
03/17/2011, 08:01 AM
I run my radiums with galaxy ballasts...they run them at 280W...the color is a nice white with a little blue. I highly recommend this combination

mattiej
03/17/2011, 08:23 AM
Some much to absorb here. After some reading the HQI ballasts seem to be preferred for Radiums. From additional reading the true HQI ballasts are magnetic and will properly drive the radiums (atleast give better color to the tank). The problem is I have been looking at getting away from magnetics and going with electronic ballasts. Any thoughts?

nanojg
03/17/2011, 08:39 AM
the radium on an electronic ballast puts out very little par, it is also very blue

t4zalews
03/17/2011, 09:40 AM
the radium on an electronic ballast puts out very little par, it is also very blue

except for galaxy ballast, I believe I read before that sunlight supply specifically designed this ballast with radium's in mind.

mattiej
03/17/2011, 09:44 AM
Any idea of what lamp would be comparable to Radiums on Ice Cap ballasts?

t4zalews
03/17/2011, 09:48 AM
Any idea of what lamp would be comparable to Radiums on Ice Cap ballasts?

I've used XM 20k, Hamilton 14k, Reeflux 12k...i like the xm20k out of all of these, but I still find the radium to be the superior bulb. If I were to try another bulb I'd probably try the SE Pheonix 14k..as I really like the DE version, or the AB..but both of these bulbs are more expensive, $100+

nanojg
03/17/2011, 10:00 AM
I liked the hamilton 14k

Dyraxe
03/17/2011, 12:59 PM
Aqua medic Reeflex cube hqi ballast are so much better looking then any electronic ballast. I switched a few months back myself.

mattiej
03/17/2011, 02:06 PM
I assume that I could run other lamps on the HQI ballasts, am I correct? I just want to keep options open in case, god forbid, I don't care for the Radiums.

nanojg
03/17/2011, 02:09 PM
Most other SE bulbs are overdriven on an HQI ballast.