While trying to decide what lighting to run on my new 300DD build I decided to try different combinations of Radium bulbs and reflectors. For those who have transitioned to LEDs this information may not be too useful, but for those who love Radiums the info below may be very relevant.
I evaluated the following bulbs:
400 W Single Ended Radium 20k (brand new)
250 W Single Ended Radium 20k (purchased from fellow reefer as having only been run for one day)
250 W Single Ended Radium 20k “Old†(previously run for 10 months on Bluewave ballast)
I evaluated the following reflectors:
Cozumel Sun - 0.194†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
Lumenbright Large - 0.150†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
Lumenmax Elite - 0.125†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
I used a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure watts and amps. I also used this to make sure the bulbs were warmed up, after about 5 minutes I made sure the consumption and current were stead. Then I used a Apogee PAR meter to take readings at the following locaitons:
The following readings were taken:
I also set up the DSLR and took some RAW photos. Aperature was set to 8.0, shutter speed 1/50 s, ISO 400.
Lumatek 250SL - Cozumel Sun
Lumatek 250SL - Lumenbright Large
Lumatek 250SL - Lumenmax Elite
Bluewave 7 - Cozumel Sun
Bluewave 7 - Lumenbright Large
Bluewave 7 - Lumenmax Elite
Lumatek 400 - Cozumel Sun
Lumatek 400 - Lumenbright Large
Lumatek 400 - Lumenmax Elite
I evaluated the following bulbs:
400 W Single Ended Radium 20k (brand new)
250 W Single Ended Radium 20k (purchased from fellow reefer as having only been run for one day)
250 W Single Ended Radium 20k “Old†(previously run for 10 months on Bluewave ballast)
I evaluated the following reflectors:
Cozumel Sun - 0.194†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
Lumenbright Large - 0.150†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
Lumenmax Elite - 0.125†thick glass - 10.5†from glass to water
I used a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure watts and amps. I also used this to make sure the bulbs were warmed up, after about 5 minutes I made sure the consumption and current were stead. Then I used a Apogee PAR meter to take readings at the following locaitons:
The following readings were taken:
I also set up the DSLR and took some RAW photos. Aperature was set to 8.0, shutter speed 1/50 s, ISO 400.
Lumatek 250SL - Cozumel Sun
Lumatek 250SL - Lumenbright Large
Lumatek 250SL - Lumenmax Elite
Bluewave 7 - Cozumel Sun
Bluewave 7 - Lumenbright Large
Bluewave 7 - Lumenmax Elite
Lumatek 400 - Cozumel Sun
Lumatek 400 - Lumenbright Large
Lumatek 400 - Lumenmax Elite