PDA

View Full Version : Lumatek Ballast alternative ?


devmasa
08/14/2015, 10:55 AM
Lumatek is out of business.
What are other alternative digital ballasts that will run a radium 250W SE bulb as good as the Lumatek ballast ?

MarksReef
08/14/2015, 11:40 AM
250w Mogul Base

The 250w Mogul Base Radium is a unique lamp in that it’s actually rated as a 270w lamp and is specified to be ran off of an M80 Magnetic HQI ballast. This is one of the very few metal halide lamps on the market which are single ended that are spec’d for this particular ballast. This does not mean that the lamp can only be ran off of a magnetic M80 HQI ballast though. Other ballasts that are very common to run this lamp with are standard electronic ballasts such as the ReefBrite, old IceCap, or the Vertex ballast. With the introduction of the somewhat new “Select-a-watt” ballasts that are now on the market such as Lumatek, and even better the Luxcore brand, you can choose to run this lamp at standard 250w, closer to spec of 270w with the “250” or “250 HQI” settings that are on these select-a-watt ballasts.

When running the lamp off of a magnetic M80 HQI ballast you will pump a good amount more of white light through the lamp, which is easier to see with the naked eye. This is the result of the lamp running at a slightly higher than intended wattage, at 330w. Please note that actual wattage to the lamp will be slightly less due to power loss through the wiring. This makes the lamp have a very good mix of white and blue light, and excellent PAR numbers for a bulb that is heavier weighted to blue side of the spectrum.

Running the lamp on the standard electronic 250w ballasts will produce the most blue out of the lamp that you can get. The wattage does drop down on the lamp to approximately 245w, and the more visual white light is more subdued to the naked eye. PAR levels do decrease, but you do gain some in terms of coral coloration that is displayed.

When using an electronic ballast that has a select-a-watt setting on it and running it on the “250 HQI” you split the difference in output between a standard electronic 250w setting and the magnetic M80 HQI numbers. This gives a very good balance of blue and white mix to the lamp, and splits the difference between PAR numbers that generally equate to growth, and more blue light, which usually helps with maximum coral coloration.

250w specs are as follows:

Lamp Wattage: 270w

Ballast Spec: ANSI Code M80 Magnet HQI

M80 Magnetic Wattage: 330w

Electronic 250w Setting: 245w

Electronic 250w “HQI” or Super Lumens: 300w

Average Lamp Life: 9-10 months @ 8hrs/day

alton
08/14/2015, 11:45 AM
Coralvue Luxcore

devmasa
08/14/2015, 12:30 PM
Coralvue Luxcore

CoralVue didn't perform well and was not recommended :

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1866427

MarksReef
08/14/2015, 12:38 PM
keep reading, they are under reviewed by only a few or just straight up get an m80 ballast that they are designed for perfectly.

Greg 45
08/14/2015, 01:51 PM
Running radium's on ReefBrite.com Ballasts
Also using there pendants. Par values increased due to there reflectors.

MarksReef
08/14/2015, 01:57 PM
Running radium's on ReefBrite.com Ballasts
Also using there pendants. Par values increased due to there reflectors.
Thats good to hear. I'm using the 20K ReefBrite bulb and just ordered the Radium. Im hoping the par is better (I have a meter).
How high are you hanging your fixture?
http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab117/flstf136harley450/Aquarium/IMG_3869_zps8zss8dhm.jpg (http://s855.photobucket.com/user/flstf136harley450/media/Aquarium/IMG_3869_zps8zss8dhm.jpg.html)

Greg 45
08/14/2015, 03:16 PM
Mark if you want more par. I would ask you to try a 10k bulb. My par meter is on loan . On my phone in lux mode I get 8000 lux with radium. If I go to a cheep 10 pulsrite bulb I can get almost 60,000. Using reefbrite ballast and fixture. On facebook Tullio opened a page called Aquarium Lighting Group . Hope this help.

MarksReef
08/14/2015, 03:31 PM
Mark if you want more par. I would ask you to try a 10k bulb. My par meter is on loan . On my phone in lux mode I get 8000 lux with radium. If I go to a cheep 10 pulsrite bulb I can get almost 60,000. Using reefbrite ballast and fixture. On facebook Tullio opened a page called Aquarium Lighting Group . Hope this help.
Thanks.
I talkes to him on the phone for a while. Nice guy.
Im running the 1/2 10K and 1/2 20 K Reefbrite rite now so it switches everyday from 10K to 20K.
I hate the 10K look (love the par) and was hoping I could get better par out of a Radium instead of Reefbrite in the 20K range but I ordered it so I'll find out.
Thanks

alton
08/14/2015, 06:53 PM
I have 3 x 250w on my 300 DD and I have a Par reading of 200 to 250 on the sand where I keep a bunch of Sps. I have been running them for 5 years on this tank with great success using lumen bright reflectors