Choosing my lighting retro kit(PFO,HelloLights,Advance, etc)

[Anonymous]

Jason,
FWIW, I have two 400 radiums and one 250 saki on my 100 gal. The light is so bright white that there are no shadows under my rock. Although 20K sounds like it will be too blue, it's not. I'ts whiter and brighter than most 10Ks I've seen.

Before you buy, call Dr. MAC on his phone, provided at www.drmaccorals.com He'll convince you that I'm right.

BTW, PFO ballasts are just about the best made hardware I've seen on the market. IceCap MH systems are relatively new.

Go with two 400 radiums and a single saki, either 400 or 250, trust me man!!!!!!!!!!

Snapper

 

[ThrillYa]

Two questions/comments....

1.) Found this little piece of info on Reef Fanatic's site

PFO MH250W HQI ballast. For use with HQI bulbs ONLY.

So are they saying what I think they are saying... that I/we couldn't be able to run a 12K Sunburst or some other single ended bulb? Or do I have no understanding of what HQI means?

2.) How come no consideration for the 12K Sunburst. It seems to look pretty good in the comparisions at MarineDepot (http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_bulb ... sp?CartId=)? Not too blue but really brings the color out in the tank.

 

[mountainbiker619]

ThrillYa,


HQI are double ended, meaning they are connected at both ends. The connections are different then the connection used on MH screw end bulbs. I suggested the 12K, I have them enroute along with a set of 14K.

 

[King Jason]

Yes, and HQI ballasts can power Non-HQI SE bulbs (like the Radium).

Here is the Radium bulb:

 

[LA-Lawman]

Hi KJ,

I have been busy with work or o iwould be postin'

I have a 14k setup that i am very happy with... The 14ks are blurer of course than the 10ks. but just right... my coraline algae has taken off. since the switch....

I didnt think it would matter. but i am sold on the hamilton 4k bulb... good quality too.

 

[3Twenty5]

So what choice was made? I am in the same debate myself, I am deciding between either 2 blueline or 2 Ice cap ballast running 175 10k with 2 95watt VHO, or running 175 20k Radiums and no VHO? Has anyone tried running Radium with VHO 10ks to offset the blue?

 

[jethro]

Hey King Jason...

if they would quit taking taxes out of our checks and we had to write checks to pay taxes every week, we would all be Repubicans.

 

[mountainbiker619]

Lawman..have you tried the 12k sunburst? I had blueline 14k's on mine..but to blue for my liking..went to sunburt 12k's and it has such a natural look..looks as though you are in shallow water in the tropics somewhere. A great example is the desktop background in win2000 and XP called Paradise.

 

[Anonymous]

Radiums do not come in a 175 watt format.

 

[King Jason]

I actually haven't purchased anything yet, but I will be getting this setup:

2x 250w HQI ballast and 20k Radiums
1x 400w HQI ballast and 20k Radium
2x 6ft VHO actinic (or if too blue I will use 50/50's to average out “blueness”)
1x Huge electric bill C/O Mr. Davis.

All with Spider reflectors and Icecap ballasts. I will be buying the Icecap kits from Marine Depot.

 

[LA-Lawman]

MB619,

I have not seen the 12k sunbursts..... who has got them... do you have any pics of your tank???

 

[mountainbiker619]

Lawman..I got mine from marinedepot
http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_bulb.asp?CartId=

I am taking some pics tonight and will post...just hope
the pics give off the coorect look...but if you look at the windows desktop pic I mentioned above...thats shows almost exactly as to how the water looks.

 

[ThrillYa]

MB619,

I have not seen the 12k sunbursts..... who has got them... do you have any pics of your tank???

I purchased my 12k Sunbursts at ReefFanatic http://www.reeffanatic.com/cgi-bin/mas/ ... type=store.

There is a good comparison of bulbs including the Sunburst at http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_bulb_info.asp.

 

[mountainbiker619]

bump

 

[Anonymous]

Jason,
Why not skip the VHOs and just get three 400 watt 20K radiums. You won't need anything else. The color will be surprisingly bright white. The 400 watt formats may even be cheaper if you get three, over the 250/VHO combo.

BTW, sunburst bulbs are crap. They have about half the PAR of the same wattage 10K, and there have been reports of them exploding. Their color is also much bluer than 20K for some unknown reason.

Eric

 

[Anonymous]

duh, double post

 

[King Jason]

Jason,
Why not skip the VHOs and just get three 400 watt 20K radiums. You won't need anything else. The color will be surprisingly bright white. The 400 watt formats may even be cheaper if you get three, over the 250/VHO combo.

BTW, sunburst bulbs are crap. They have about half the PAR of the same wattage 10K, and there have been reports of them exploding. Their color is also much bluer than 20K for some unknown reason.

Eric

I would go with 3 400's but electricity in CA is too expensive. If the VHO's aren't needed that would be cool. I'll have to play with the setup and see how it looks.

 

[Anonymous]

You'll probably consume less electricity with the three 400 watt lights than you would with the VHO/250 watt combo. If you go with electronic ballasts (IceCap or Blueline) there is not doubt it will be more efficient!!!!

 

[LA-Lawman]

any more info on the sunburst bulbs... i would hate to buy two and have them explode.... the 14k's are great. i hardly need my actinics. Since i switched from a 10k to a 14k my coraline has taken off. it is great. if i switch back to a 10k will i get bleaching.....

 

[mountainbiker619]

Lawman,

I just started using the 12k bulbs...so I have no personnal background on them. Here is a pic of dual 12k bulbs only. The pic does not reflect the actual way it looks.