Question for halide guys.

[rynek23]

I have two 250 watt se halides in lumen brights running on the coralvue non-dimmable ballast what would be a good blue lamp? I know radiums are the best of the best but from what I've read my ballast won't fire the bulb right. The ballast are electronic idk if that means anything. I have Coralvue 20ks in there now and they are so so i just want more blue. I don't mind slower growth for more pop in colors. I know this the best place to get help which is why i love r2r thanks in advance for your help everyone!

 

[Russellaqua]

IME XM 20K are pretty blue. I used them for a while myself but haven't tried other 20K bulbs to compare them to.

 

[gilmour01]

evc 20k have nice color...not sure if they make a SE

 

[Myteemouse]

I run the exact set up you do lumen brights and ice cap ballasts 250w SE
I like coralvue 20K's they are not to blue they are more white than blue like the XM's I had..
The radium 20K is supposed to be the best 20K bulb out there??

 

[condor]

i have noticed a quality drop in the xm's , my 2 suggestions are reeflux which are awesome bulbs or old reliable hamilton tech

 

[macawmagic]

I'd say reeflux 12k. I know it doesn't sound blue, but it's a pretty blue 12k. Gorgeous bulb in my opinion!

 

[xrayrider]

I am still sold on radiums. I have run them on a 250 watt electronic Icecap ballast in the past with no problems. I am currently running them on the exact same ballast you are using, a Coralvue electronic non-dimable 250 watt halide ballast. I have had zero issues with the Radiums not firing on Coralvue ballasts. You should go with the Radiums they are the bluest and bring out colors the best, and will work fine with that ballast. The only electronic ballasts I have had issues with Radiums not firing the first try were ARO electronic non-dimable 250 halide ballasts. I had to switch to XM bulbs until I could afford to switch the crappy ARO ballasts out for Coralvue ballasts.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I used Reeflux 12k for two years but my coral growth was dismal. I recently switched to XM 15k and I like them much better. Next set will be Radiums or the new SE Phoenix though for comparison.

 

[Murfman]

I run Reeflux 12K and they are more blue than the 20K Reeflux.

 

[Troylee]

xm 20k's is about as blue as it gets imo.... they will also fire any ballast including old school mag...;)

 

[jaslapp1]

20K radiums all the way!!!!! nothing else compares

 

[650-IS350]

Heard Radiums are topnotch

 

[Gondore]

I run the 250 watt Radiums on my 90 gallon in the Lumen Max 2 reflectors and Gallaxy electronic ballasts. I haven't seen any MH that give you as good of colors as what the Radiums do. I also get good growth from these bulbs.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Does anyone know if Sanjay or anyone else has tested the Radiums and the new Phoenix SE bulbs and have PAR or other results? I am real curious how they compare to many of the 10k and 15k bulbs. I love the growth with 10k but dislike having to supplement actinic. on the flip side I am not a big fan of blue either, I want the corals to Pop like actinic, still grow like under a 10k and not be too blue. So far the XM 15k has been best for me. Don't know the PAR on them either but the coloration and growth are both better than I got with the last two sets of Reeflux 12k.

 

[pitbullguy]

I have ran xm 20000k for years. I switched to electronic ballasts a year and half ago and they are less blue than with magnetic ballast. But I still like them and my growth and color are excellent.

 

[aharrow]

Spend the extra money on Radiums. There is NO comparison. I have used XM 20k, coralvue, and another brand I can't think of at the moment and my radiums crush them hands down. You will not be sorry. Don't worry about the xtra 20 or 40 dollars you spend, you will thank yourself every single time you look at your tank. hands down one of the best "xtra" money I have spent is on Radiums.

 

[rynek23]

Thanks for the imput guys I think i will give the radiums a shot now that i know the ballast will fire them right! As far as spending the extra money I think most of us have learned a long time ago its better to shell out the extra cash up front than later you always get what you pay for in this hobby.