Your favorite Metal Halides for Acropora Growth and Coloration

[X-37B]

All my corals came from led lit systems. Never had an issue with putting them on the bottom for a week or 2 and then putting them in place when running halides.

Just use common sense.

Alot of reefers tend to over think the lighting issue.
Its just one piece of the reef puzzle.

Yes back in the day we ran halides for 12 hrs with no problem and good growth.
8hrs is a good photo period after trying them all.
Run the blues for the same period of time and use ramp up/down.

Imo, its best to set the time and then adjust your halide height down to the level you want.

For blues I would run Orphek light bars. Radions will also do the job quite well.

I will most likely never run t5's again after my experience with the Orpheks. One bar = 2 t5's.

I ran t5's and all other old style tubes over the years. For me the bars just beat the t5's if your just looking for color support for your halides.

I gave away my t5's but still hold onto a 36" 6 bulb Giesemann fixture that is a quite nice setup. I cant seem to let it go, lol.

Its nice to have as a backup system to all my halide and led fixtures.

 

[A. grandis]

I’d rather T5’s myself, but I already have the Radions. They are so easily controlled which is a huge plus. A buddy came in from out of town and he’s running 14K Ushio’s. We were talking about how 14K almost drowns out all the blue supplements. He’s gonna switch to Hamilton 20K. We were wondering if the Radium’s will be similar since their 20K. We know it won’t run that bulb to spec, and only the M80 seems to do that the best, but would it be similar to the Hamilton 20K or will it be totally different? I mean is it ok to run the Radium on RB 250w eballast? Will there be a big PAR loss compared to a Hamilton that runs to spec.? I know there will be a par loss compared to the Radiums running to spec on M80’s, but let’s say specifically only comparing it to Hamilton 20K. How much different is that gonna be?

As far as I know:
1) Radiums' spcs is to be used with M80.
2) Hamilton 20K is to be used with M58 or e-ballast.
3) Hamilton 20K on e-ballast will look very similar to the Radium on M80.
4) ReefBrite e-ballast will adjust to the bulbs you choose and run it.

I don't have any practical experiences with any of the ReefBrite gear yet.

 

[Reefahholic]

3) Hamilton 20K on e-ballast will look very similar to the Radium on M80.

I wonder if the Radium on the eballast will look close the the Hamilton 20K or be much bluer since it doesn’t run to spec.

I think I remember somebody running the Radium on an eballast so maybe they will post some pics. Would be really nice to get pics of the Hamilton 20K and Radium comparison on the eballast.

Here’s @Smites Hamilton 20K on eballast:

 

[A. grandis]

I wonder if the Radium on the eballast will look close the the Hamilton 20K or be much bluer since it doesn’t run to spec.

I think I remember somebody running the Radium on an eballast so maybe they will post some pics. Would be really nice to get pics of the Hamilton 20K and Radium comparison on the eballast.

Here’s @Smites Hamilton 20K on eballast:

Hamilton 20K on eballast will look like the Radium 250W on M80.
Differences between eballasts will vary.
Pics from different cell phones won't show the real thing.
I ran Radium on eballast for a while too. Looked bluer.
Easiest and cheapest way to go is with Hamilton 20K on eballast.
Specially cause M80s are so hard to find, and it will consume more electricity.

 

[Reefahholic]

My LEFT Halide stopped working. My buddy came in from out of state and we were setting up some stuff on my Hydros. I needed an extra outlet so I put both halides on a 2-way power cord. Turned it on this morning and perfect. They both fired and no problems. Then, I wake up to only the right side on. So my buddy (electrician) troubleshoots everything with a voltage meter and the ballast were good, extension cords good, 2-way good, both moguls good, but we saw the LT bulb looked more burnt than the right. So he concluded it’s the bulb. I said so there is zero chance it’s that 2-way and he said no. Just a bad bulb I guess.

Here’s what both bulbs look like:


Good:

Bad:

 

[Reefing102]

Looks like a bad bulb to me. With the red coloration and burnt. Interesting for the short lifespan

 

[Kfactor]

I run a radium on a e ballest to me it’s not very blue this is with 2 kessils and my reef brite hybrid fixture

 

[wrassie86]

My LEFT Halide stopped working. My buddy came in from out of state and we were setting up some stuff on my Hydros. I needed an extra outlet so I put both halides on a 2-way power cord. Turned it on this morning and perfect. They both fired and no problems. Then, I wake up to only the right side on. So my buddy (electrician) troubleshoots everything with a voltage meter and the ballast were good, extension cords good, 2-way good, both moguls good, but we saw the LT bulb looked more burnt than the right. So he concluded it’s the bulb. I said so there is zero chance it’s that 2-way and he said no. Just a bad bulb I guess.

Here’s what both bulbs look like:


Good:

Bad:

Was that a Hamilton bulb?

 

[Mellotang]

Got some brand new never burned 250 watt iwasaki 65k par monsters if anyone needs

 

[Reefahholic]

Was that a Hamilton bulb?

Yep.

 

[wrassie86]

Yep.

I had three go one after another in a months time, the replacements have been fine. Hamilton good about replacements.

 

[Reefahholic]

I had three go one after another in a months time, the replacements have been fine. Hamilton good about replacements.

Yes, Dave took care of it no problem. I showed him the pictures and told him we checked everything with a voltage meter.

Hi Jared,

I will send you a replacement 250 watt 14,000K bulb with a pre-paid USPS return label for the return of the original at no cost to you. It will ship today via USPS 9400111206207366401333. You can just use the same box to return the original lamp.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thank you.

Dave
Hamilton Technology
Los Angeles Office
14902 S. Figueroa Street
Gardena, CA 90248
www.hamiltontechnology.com
Phone: 310-217-0036
Fax: 310-217-8821

 

[Reefahholic]

Looks like a bad bulb to me. With the red coloration and burnt. Interesting for the short lifespan

Yeah, literally only ran it for 13 days and then it just didn’t come on.

 

[Reefahholic]

I run a radium on a e ballest to me it’s not very blue this is with 2 kessils and my reef brite hybrid fixture

Could you grab us a shot with just that Radium on.

 

[Reefahholic]

Well, with the left side out….and waiting for a bulb replacement I noticed that the RT side looks better. Better PE…corals look healthier in that light.

It’s also really funny that all the fish seem to swim around in the Halide light more than on the LT side. Almost like they know it’s brighter and more natural. Who knows.

 

[wil-yuhm]

Well, with the left side out….and waiting for a bulb replacement I noticed that the RT side looks better. Better PE…corals look healthier in that light.

It’s also really funny that all the fish seem to swim around in the Halide light more than on the LT side. Almost like they know it’s brighter and more natural. Who knows.

If fishy paid power/electric bill perhaps they might favor other side

 

[wrassie86]

Yes, Dave took care of it no problem. I showed him the pictures and told him we checked everything with a voltage meter.

Hi Jared,

I will send you a replacement 250 watt 14,000K bulb with a pre-paid USPS return label for the return of the original at no cost to you. It will ship today via USPS 9400111206207366401333. You can just use the same box to return the original lamp.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thank you.

Dave
Hamilton Technology
Los Angeles Office
14902 S. Figueroa Street
Gardena, CA 90248
www.hamiltontechnology.com
Phone: 310-217-0036
Fax: 310-217-8821

Time to get some spares, even if there ebay bulbs.

 

[Reefahholic]

Should I get a pair of Radiums or Hamilton 20K?

Or Ushio 14K?

Hmmm…..

 

[Kfactor]

Could you grab us a shot with just that Radium on.

Yep I will for you guys

 

[X-37B]

My LEFT Halide stopped working. My buddy came in from out of state and we were setting up some stuff on my Hydros. I needed an extra outlet so I put both halides on a 2-way power cord. Turned it on this morning and perfect. They both fired and no problems. Then, I wake up to only the right side on. So my buddy (electrician) troubleshoots everything with a voltage meter and the ballast were good, extension cords good, 2-way good, both moguls good, but we saw the LT bulb looked more burnt than the right. So he concluded it’s the bulb. I said so there is zero chance it’s that 2-way and he said no. Just a bad bulb I guess.

Here’s what both bulbs look like:


Good:

Bad:

Yea that bulbs fried. I have had it happen over the years. Sometimes you just get a bad bulb.