Help choosing MH bulbs!

[bagz727]

Hi guys! Want your opinions on helping me choose between reeflux 20k & radiums 250w. Ill be using it w/ icecap electronic ballasts and lumenarc 3 minis. I dont mind if they are on the blue side, whats important for me coral colors. Ty

[stevereef]

I'm just purchased 2 (250w) of each of these bulbs to test: Reeflux 12K, Radium 20K and Ushio 12K. I plan to run them with my 2x110w URI Super Actinics. I will post some photos when I completed my test.

[reef_doug]

Between Reeflux 20k and Radium 20k, Radium for sure!

I would certainly add Phoenix 14k to your list on considerations. IMO color isn't quite as good as the Radium 20k but will slightly better growth.

[dzhuo]

Ill be using it w/ icecap electronic ballasts and lumenarc 3 minis.

The IceCap will not run the Radium to spec which means it will significantly shorten the life of the bulb and you won't see the color as you expected.

[bagz727]

The IceCap will not run the Radium to spec which means it will significantly shorten the life of the bulb and you won't see the color as you expected.

Im willing to take the risk coz ive seen others using radiums w/ the new icecap electronic ballast with no problems! Cross fingers! :)

[dzhuo]

Good luck. :)

[alton]

20K Reeflux will be bluer in color. My Radium are less blue than the 12K Reeflux they replaced. Both grew SPS very well, the Radium are about 10% brighter. I use Coral Vue Ballast.

[bagz727]

20K Reeflux will be bluer in color. My Radium are less blue than the 12K Reeflux they replaced. Both grew SPS very well, the Radium are about 10% brighter. I use Coral Vue Ballast.

Do you use an hqi ballast or a electronic ballast? Ty

[stevereef]

from my experience the 14k Phoenix will shift color drastically around the 4 month period. They turn very white. I was using the 250w setting on my Galaxy select-a-watt ballast. I hope to post some photos of new 12k reeflux, 20k ushio, and 20 radium with and without VHO super actinic supplementation.

[bagz727]

Thanks, will wait for your post!

[stevereef]

I debating on switching to an all T5 setup, I decided keep my MH/VHO setup and ditch the 2x39w T5 supplemental. I'm finding out keeping it simple seems to always work be but I'm always lured way with all the options out there.

12k Reeflux, 20K Ushio and 20K Radium Test
First the photos, then I'll share my impressions with you all...


first two pictures are 250w 12K Reeflux with 2x110 UVL Super Actinics, second two pictures are the same just with out the Actinics.


I found, when compared to the other mentioned bulbs, in terms of brightness the 12K Reeflux and Ushio 20K bulb were the same. However, the 12k Reeflux didn't do anything for me for color. I felt that the 20k Ushio really brought out the color of the coraline algae and other corals in the tank.

[stevereef]

In this post, we'll be looking at 20K Ushio bulbs. In the first two photos I'm running the 20K Ushio bulbs with the UVL Super actinics. The last two without the actinics.

I really like these bulbs. Again same, I felt it was the same brightness as the 12K Reeflux but the 20K Ushio really yielded better color and contrast.

[stevereef]

First photo: Full tank shot with 12K Reeflux on the left and 20k Ushio on the right - actinics on.

Photo 2: close up of 12k Reeflux without actinics
Photo 3: close up of 20k Ushio without actinics


Photo 4: close up of 12k Reeflux with actinics
Photo 5: close up of 20k Ushio with actinics




Again, notice the colors and depth of color that the Ushio bulbs brings out.

[stevereef]

I'm not sure why I didn' take photos with all 20K Radiums but I have some comparisions to share with you all.

Photo 1: 20k Radium (left) and 20k Ushio (right) with actinics on

Photo 2: 20K Radium closeup with actinics on

Photo 3: 20K Ushio closeup with actinics on


My impressions:
The 20K Radiums are really bright!!! They light up the entire tank. However, I felt that it wash out the color. I could tell that the black on the back of the tank, the purple on the coraline algae was not really standing out.

However the 20K Ushios, while not as bright, colors were contrasted, the blacks were black & the coraline algae was really that deep purple. I sound like a HD TV sales person.

[stevereef]

Photo 1: Full tank shot, this time 20K Ushio (left) and 20K Radium (right) with actinics.

Photo 2: Closeup of 20K Ushio with actinics
Photo 3: Closeup of 20 Radium with actinics

Photos 4: Full tank shot, this time 20K Ushio (left) and 20K Radium (right) without actinics.

Photo 5: Closeup of 20K Ushio only
Photo 6: Closeup of 20 Radium only

[stevereef]

missed photo from above
Photo 6: Closeup of 20 Radium only

[Mr. Brooks]

Radium!!

[stevereef]

Photo 1: 12K Reeflux - the bulb housing was the largest out of the bunch.

Photo 2: 20K Ushio - The glass housing was in the middle out of the bunch. The inside arc tube was the same as the 12K Reeflux.

Photo 3: 20 Radium - The smallest housing off them all. However the acr tube was the largest.

Photo 4 & 5: Just UVL Super Actinics.

[stevereef]

In the end, I ended up selecting the 20K Ushios. Don't get me wrong, I like the 20K Radiums but I feel that the colors were getting washed out. Admittingly, I ran the 20k Radiums at the 250w setting on a Galaxy select-a-watt electronic ballast. I didn't bother to change the setting to HQI, I know I can get the bulbs to burn whiter but over driving the bulbs will wasn't going to yield to the color or contrast I was looking for and it was go to shorter the life span of the bulb.

Although, I started out looking for the best growth bulb at the cost of color, I've flipped my position. Shoot, I was ready to go ditch my MH/VHO setup for T5s. I may still do this one day. But for now, I really like the 20K Ushio with my Super Actinics. There's depth of color and contrast.

I realize photos can't capture the true essence but I least this will help some of you gather more data as you gather information as you attempt to make a decision doing your research.

[evsalty]

missed photo from above
Photo 6: Closeup of 20 Radium only
Can you do side by side fts pics but without the actinics? The actinics are blending both sides making it hard to tell the true difference.

[stevereef]

sorry, I packed the bulbs and shipped them back.

[evsalty]

Admittingly, I ran the 20k Radiums at the 250w setting on a Galaxy select-a-watt electronic ballast. I didn't bother to change the setting to HQI, I know I can get the bulbs to burn whiter but over driving the bulbs will wasn't going to yield to the color or contrast I was looking for and it was go to shorter the life span of the bulb.



IIRC the 250w radiums are ment to be driven at higher wattages. You were actually underdriving it running it at only 250w. It is spec'd to run on an M-80 magnetic ballast at over 300w's.


Well it sucks that you sent them back. Like I said above having the actinics on does not really show the true difference between these bulbs. Oh well.

[stevereef]

just checked with the wife, they haven't shipped out yet. I'll run the Radiums on HQI setting to see if there's any difference.

[sneeyatch]

It's my understanding that mogul base Ushio bulbs require pulse start ballasts to operate correctly. This was a design change back at the beginning of 2010 IIRC.

DFS confirms this in their overview.

[bagz727]

Well if the radiums were in 250w setting, i dont find them dim & blue! I think its just what im looking for! Thanks for the pics!

[stevereef]

@ evsalty and bagz727: I plan to run the Ushio and Radium on the HQI setting to see if I can obtain different results. I'll post them tomorrow.

[stevereef]

20K Radium at HQI setting on a Galaxy Select-a-watt ballast with and without actinics
Photo 1: Full tank shot with 20K Radium with UVL Super Actinics

Photo 2: Side shot with 20K Radium with UVL Super Actinics


Photo 3:Full tank shot with 20K Radium ONLY

Photo 4: Side shot with 20K Radium ONLY


As you can see, very bright! Too bright for my taste and not enough color.

[stevereef]

20K Ushio with HQI setting on a Galaxy Select-a-watt ballast with and without actinics

Photo 1: Full tank shot with 20K Ushio with UVL Super Actinics

Photo 2: Side shot with 20K Ushio with UVL Super Actinics


Photo 3:Full tank shot with 20K Ushio ONLY

Photo 4: Side shot with 20K Ushio ONLY


This bulbs suits my taste. I suggest if you test different bulbs yourself. I'm not too sure if the photos really bring out the true visible colors to make a determination. Best of luck and I hope this could help some of you out there. BTW: I was introduce to the 20K Ushio by a Tank of the Month from earlier this year. The tank owner live out in Hong Kong and has an awesome SPS tank.

[bagz727]

Thanks steve, this helps a lot!! :)

[bagz727]

Steve, i forgot to ask if the radium on 250 setting is bluer than the radium in hqi setting or no diff. between the 2? thanks

[stevereef]

The HQI setting yielded to less bluer effect, I suppose because you are driving the bulbs at a higher wattage? But still IMO, I felt that the Radiums washed out the colors.

Check out this Tank of the Month Radium tank. http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/75-tank-of-the-month


Check out these Tank of the Month Ushio 20K tanks
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/78-tank-of-the-month
http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/81-tank-of-the-month

Ultimately, it is a matter of lighting preferences. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.