Radiums or stick with Hamilton?

DR REEF · 12/06/2012, 03:36 PM

Hello everyone,
It's time to change my bulbs and I was looking for some advice. I have a 24" 250W/4x24w T5 Hamilton tech fixture. When I bought the fixture it came with a 10K Hamilton tech bulb along with 4 460 T5 ho bulbs. Along with there standard electronic ballast.
So I'm looking for more pop out of my lights. I have really nice growth with current setup, but I'd like colors to pop more. I was thinking about just getting the 14k Hamilton tech bulb with new 460 t5's. This way I wouldn't sacrifice growth to much. However I hear so many good things about the radiums it makes me wanna get them. Now I've read that the radiums don't run as good with electronic ballast. Basically I'm looking for some advice on what you guys think would be best. Thanks in advance!!

DownwardDawg · 12/06/2012, 03:42 PM

Since you have the electronic ballasts, I would choose the Hamilton 14K bulbs. I don't think there's that much of a difference in appearance. I run the Radiums but I have the Hamilton magnetic HQI ballasts. This is just my opinion. I'm certainly no expert.

trinity1012 · 12/06/2012, 03:44 PM

do u have single end or doulble end fixtures?
if you have single end i would try radiums. if you have double end i would get pheonix

DR REEF · 12/06/2012, 03:53 PM

I have single end. Do you guys think I would lose to much par if I ran radium on electronic ballast?

DR REEF · 12/06/2012, 03:53 PM

Forgot to mention I keep mostly Sps

rtparty · 12/06/2012, 04:01 PM

If I remember correctly, 250w radiums need to be run on magnetic ballasts, not electronic.

The Hamilton 14k will bring in more blue although I thought my Hamilton 14k was still way too yellow.

Some good t5 bulbs will really help. Hamilton t5s are pretty low end. Get ATI bulbs instead and you should see better color.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

AcroporAddict · 12/06/2012, 05:34 PM

Radiums can be run on electric ballasts and provide excellent rendition and color, IME. They may be specified per the manufacturer to magnetic ballasts, but don't let that at stop you. Coralvue, Lumatek and Galaxy ballasts all run Radiums. I've used CoralVue and Lumateks with 250 and 400 watt radiums, and they are excellent and give wonderful color and growth to SPS.

tkeracer619 · 12/06/2012, 05:51 PM

They run just fine on electronics (dimmer and blue) and e ballasts (slightly less par/ slightly more blue) but are best run on a m80 magnetic ballast (white with hint of blue).

The radium is not a 250w bulb but a 290w bulb.

You will loose about 25% par but that might not matter so much depending on the levels you currently have.

DR REEF · 12/09/2012, 07:56 AM

Thanks for the advice guys! I think I'm gonna go with the Hamilton 14K and get 3 true actinic ATI bulbs and one purple plus. When I get the radium I want it to run at its full potential or just seems like a waste of money. So I'm gonna wait till next time I change bulbs, and get new ballast too. Possibly even go up to 400w. What do u guys think about the 14k and 3 true actinides and 1 purple plus. Open for other suggestions on the T5's

Michigan Mike · 12/29/2012, 10:06 AM

I would skip the actinics and get 3 blue plus & a purple plus. The halides will overpower actinics.
Digging this thread out of a shallow grave...

12/06/2012, 03:36 PM	#1
DR REEF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Manalapan, NJ Posts: 20	Radiums or stick with Hamilton? Hello everyone, It's time to change my bulbs and I was looking for some advice. I have a 24" 250W/4x24w T5 Hamilton tech fixture. When I bought the fixture it came with a 10K Hamilton tech bulb along with 4 460 T5 ho bulbs. Along with there standard electronic ballast. So I'm looking for more pop out of my lights. I have really nice growth with current setup, but I'd like colors to pop more. I was thinking about just getting the 14k Hamilton tech bulb with new 460 t5's. This way I wouldn't sacrifice growth to much. However I hear so many good things about the radiums it makes me wanna get them. Now I've read that the radiums don't run as good with electronic ballast. Basically I'm looking for some advice on what you guys think would be best. Thanks in advance!!

12/06/2012, 03:42 PM	#2
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Since you have the electronic ballasts, I would choose the Hamilton 14K bulbs. I don't think there's that much of a difference in appearance. I run the Radiums but I have the Hamilton magnetic HQI ballasts. This is just my opinion. I'm certainly no expert. __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

12/06/2012, 04:01 PM	#6
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	If I remember correctly, 250w radiums need to be run on magnetic ballasts, not electronic. The Hamilton 14k will bring in more blue although I thought my Hamilton 14k was still way too yellow. Some good t5 bulbs will really help. Hamilton t5s are pretty low end. Get ATI bulbs instead and you should see better color. Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

12/06/2012, 05:51 PM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	They run just fine on electronics (dimmer and blue) and e ballasts (slightly less par/ slightly more blue) but are best run on a m80 magnetic ballast (white with hint of blue). The radium is not a 250w bulb but a 290w bulb. You will loose about 25% par but that might not matter so much depending on the levels you currently have. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/06/2012, 03:44 PM	#3
trinity1012 sps addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: spokane,wa Posts: 496	do u have single end or doulble end fixtures? if you have single end i would try radiums. if you have double end i would get pheonix

12/06/2012, 03:53 PM	#4
DR REEF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Manalapan, NJ Posts: 20	I have single end. Do you guys think I would lose to much par if I ran radium on electronic ballast?

12/06/2012, 05:34 PM	#7
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	Radiums can be run on electric ballasts and provide excellent rendition and color, IME. They may be specified per the manufacturer to magnetic ballasts, but don't let that at stop you. Coralvue, Lumatek and Galaxy ballasts all run Radiums. I've used CoralVue and Lumateks with 250 and 400 watt radiums, and they are excellent and give wonderful color and growth to SPS.

12/09/2012, 07:56 AM	#9
DR REEF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Manalapan, NJ Posts: 20	Thanks for the advice guys! I think I'm gonna go with the Hamilton 14K and get 3 true actinic ATI bulbs and one purple plus. When I get the radium I want it to run at its full potential or just seems like a waste of money. So I'm gonna wait till next time I change bulbs, and get new ballast too. Possibly even go up to 400w. What do u guys think about the 14k and 3 true actinides and 1 purple plus. Open for other suggestions on the T5's

12/29/2012, 10:06 AM	#10
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	I would skip the actinics and get 3 blue plus & a purple plus. The halides will overpower actinics. Digging this thread out of a shallow grave...