radiums (1 Viewer)

[bevoboy]

Anyone using these bulbs? What wattage? What ballast are you running them on? Any supplemental lighting? What bulb do you think most closely compares as far as color? Worth the money in your opinion?

TIA.

 

[AquaNerd]

i wouldn't get radiums. you will love them, but they will become harder to replace. supposedly an issue with customs and radium didn't fill out all of their paperwork or something like that.

 

[soymilk]

i use radiums. They are normally listed as 20k bulbs, but they looked around 14-15k to me. They were very intense and gave the tank a very natural blue sunlight look.

Didn't know radiums were having probs getting imported in.

 

[bevoboy]

i wouldn't get radiums. you will love them, but they will become harder to replace. supposedly an issue with customs and radium didn't fill out all of their paperwork or something like that.

Thanks Brandon. I read about that issue. Surely they will get it sorted out, sales to the US would be too big a loss.

I've also read about NEUCO's new 20k offering that supposedly rivals the radiums for intensity and color. Heard anything about them?

 

[bevoboy]

i use radiums. They are normally listed as 20k bulbs, but they looked around 14-15k to me. They were very intense and gave the tank a very natural blue sunlight look.

Didn't know radiums were having probs getting imported in.

How do they compare to say the Reeflux 12k or Phoenix 14k? I've not seen a tank with radiums in person but am looking at giving them a try (I have a bulb fetish).

What wattage are you running? What ballasts do you use?

 

[RR-MAN]

I'm trying 400 watt 20k Radium next, presently I'm using ReefLux 20k which is a pretty good bulb and I'm happy with them.

 

[lesd]

I've been using 250W Radiums on magnetic HQI ballasts for a couple of years. Recenly plugged in a SE 14K Phoenix bulb (same ballast) and I really can't tell a difference.

 

[bevoboy]

So I popped for some radiums (like I said, I have a fetish...and BRS had a killer deal on them). Put them in yesterday and WOW! The color isn't nearly as blue as I expected from a 20k bulb but they are quite bright and have some actinic pop to them. They really brought out the oranges, reds and blues in my tank.

I'm very curious to see how the color sets in over the next few weeks. I think I may have found my grail...at least I hope so.