Which 250w DE halide bulb to replace radium?

[rskillz]

Just realized my new lighting fixture (coralife aqualight pro) for my 180g won't support a radium, as they don't come in 250 DE. Kinda bummed about that. Which bulb will be the best replacement? I like a LOT of blue, but I also will house a LOT of SPS.

The fixture has 3 250 DE bulbs that will power my 180g along with 4 96w CF.

I guess I'm down to three choices really.

 

[crewdawg1981]

20k Reeflux

 

[rskillz]

Crewdawg1981;618912 wrote: 20k Reeflux

I think those are recommended for electronic ballasts, pretty sure these are magnetic

 

[jead85]

i have some ushio's i am switching to radiums. ushio's are tooooo purple
on that note, heard nothing but good about pheonix and xm

 

[acroholic]

I'd do Phoenix in a 250 watt DE.

 

[mvm]

+1. Best combination of coral color and growth.

Acroholic;618968 wrote: I'd do Phoenix in a 250 watt DE.

 

[wineman]

Acroholic;618968 wrote: I'd do Phoenix in a 250 watt DE.

Have to agree with Dave on this one!! I think you will find the best blue & should see great growth over the 20k.

 

[acroholic]

Forgot about EVC...good choice as well.

 

[rskillz]

Phoenix it is. Thanks guys! (I haven't ever gone wrong taking Acros advice before)

Edit:

Acroholic;619003 wrote: Forgot about EVC...good choice as well.

Hmmm, never heard of EVC, I'll check em out.

 

[acroholic]

Rskillz;619036 wrote: Phoenix it is. Thanks guys! (I haven't ever gone wrong taking Acros advice before)

Edit:

Hmmm, never heard of EVC, I'll check em out.

EVC is the same bulb as Helios, just rebadged. Helios is still sold, but not in the US much because they had such poor quality control. Many online sellers stopped stocking them because they had a 50% return rate. I haven't heard that about EVC, however.

Here is where ballast selection makes a difference. I got great rendition, but poor PAR when I ran Helios/EVC bulbs on the CoralVue e-ballasts I use. Grouper Therapy runs EVC on PFO magnetic Ballasts (M-80) designation, I think, and he gets good PAR, and I will assume at least decent rendition.

So the brand ballast you have for them is important when deciding to run EVC bulbs or not. That is why I like Radiums. They have good rendition and good PAR for a 20K bulb on my CV E-ballasts. Phoenix bulbs seem to fit that criteria for most folks on whatever ballast they run, which is probably one reason they are widely recommended, as they work with most equipment with good PAR and nice rendition. I ran EVCs until I decided there was not enough PAR coming from them for my growing SPS colonies, even though the color was very good.

 

[rbredding]

Rskillz;619036 wrote: Hmmm, never heard of EVC,

me either... (do they make SE lamps also or only DE?)

 

[acroholic]

Rbredding;619049 wrote: me either... (do they make SE lamps also or only DE?)

Both.