Comparison - Radium 250/400 - Cozumel Sun / Lumenbright Large / Lumenmax Elite

[gws3]

While trying to decide what lighting to run on my new 300DD build I decided to try different combinations of Radium bulbs and reflectors.  For those who have transitioned to LEDs this information may not be too useful, but for those who love Radiums the info below may be very relevant.

 

I evaluated the following bulbs:

 

400 W Single Ended Radium 20k (brand new)

250 W Single Ended Radium 20k (purchased from fellow reefer as having only been run for one day)

250 W Single Ended Radium 20k “Old” (previously run for 10 months on Bluewave ballast)

 

I evaluated the following reflectors:

 

Cozumel Sun - 0.194” thick glass - 10.5” from glass to water

Lumenbright Large - 0.150” thick glass - 10.5” from glass to water

Lumenmax Elite - 0.125” thick glass - 10.5” from glass to water

 

I used a Kill-A-Watt meter to measure watts and amps.  I also used this to make sure the bulbs were warmed up, after about 5 minutes I made sure the consumption and current were stead.  Then I used a Apogee PAR meter to take readings at the following locaitons:

 

 

The following readings were taken:

 

I also set up the DSLR and took some RAW photos.  Aperature was set to 8.0, shutter speed 1/50 s, ISO 400. 

 

Lumatek 250SL - Cozumel Sun

 

Lumatek 250SL - Lumenbright Large

 

Lumatek 250SL - Lumenmax Elite

 

Bluewave 7 - Cozumel Sun

 

Bluewave 7 - Lumenbright Large

 

Bluewave 7 - Lumenmax Elite

 

Lumatek 400 - Cozumel Sun

 

Lumatek 400 - Lumenbright Large

 

Lumatek 400 - Lumenmax Elite

[gws3]

Some side by side comparison for bulb/ballast combos:

 

Lumatek 250SL:

 

Bluewave 7:

 

Lumatek 400:

 

And now plots of the data:

All Bulbs and Ballasts:

 

Lumatek 250SL:

 

Bluewave 7:

 

Lumatek 400:

 

Cozumel Sun:

 

Lumenbright Large:

 

Lumenmax Elite:

 

 

Thoughts:

 

Bulbs/Ballasts:

The Bluewave 7 and Lumatek set to 250 SL drove the 250w Radium very similarly.  The Bluewave magnetic ballast consumed about 30 more watts than the Lumatek, and had a very minor increase in PAR.  It seems the electronic ballast is slightly more efficient.  The Lumatek set to 400 and driving a 400w Radium was much brighter than the 250w Radium, color was significantly different as well as apparent in the photos.

 

Reflectors:

As anticipated the Cozumel Sun exhibited the best spread and lowest peaks.  More interestingly, the Lumenmax Elite had the most concentrated spot light effect, while the lumenbright large was somewhere in between the two others. The Lumenmax Elite has impressive peaks, but very low par at the bottom of the tank.  The Lumenbright Large had moderate peaks, but impressively had just as high par values as the Cozumel Sun at the bottom of the tank.

 

Build quality of the reflectors varied slightly. The Cozumel Sun had the best build quality and solid feel.  It also included the protective glass as well as four adjustable hanging cables.  Several of the cable locking mechanisms broke under normal handling, fortunately there are eight included.  It had to most adjustability to accommodate the significant size difference between the 250W and 400W bulbs.  The Lumenbright large had the second best build quality, and also included the glass shield.  It however required modification for the 250W bulb to be centered in the reflector.  The Lumenmax Elite had the lightest materials, although fit and finish was acceptable.  It does not include the glass shield, which was purchased separately.  It did not require modification to center both size bulbs.  Neither the Lumenbright Large or Lumenmax Elite included adjustable hanging hardware.

 

 

Subjective Thoughts:

Par output from the 250W Radium on Lumatek and Bluewave was very similar. However, light output using the Bluewave was more aesthetically pleasing.  With the Lumatek the light was hazy and somewhat artificial, with the Bluewave it appeared more crisp and natural.  This was a minor difference, but worth noting.

 

 

Conclusion:

For lighting the 300DD, which is 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, I will most likely use Lumenbright Large reflectors coupled with 250W Radium Bulbs driven by Bluewave Ballasts or similar M80 ballasts.  Once three lighting sets are mounted, this combination should produce around 200 par at the bottom of the tank with peaks between 400-500 par, which should fit nicely for a SPS dominated tank.

 

The other combination I found interesting was the 400W radium in the Cozumel Sun.  I think this combo could light a 3 foot by 3 foot area adequately, possibly even a 4 foot by 4 foot area.  Since I will be using three bulbs over a 6 foot length, I do not need this much spread.  It is no wonder that many wholesalers and aquaculture facilities used to use 400W Radiums in Lumenarcs.  A 400W Radium in a wide spread reflector can really illuminate a large area rather evenly.

[gws3]

Reserved

[DuffyGeos]

WOW......I just scanned through this and am totally impressed!!!!!

 

Time for an in depth read.  You are going the same direction I am.

[zygote2k]

this reminds me of those people who use tube amplfiers.

[surf&turf]

Love me some MH!! 

[AlanM]

If you integrate under the measured points of reflector with a wider spread and with the narrower spread do you end with the same total light? Wondering if some of the reflectors are shinier than others and send more total light down than others. Summing up the measurements at the same depth might demonstrate.

[pizzaguy]

Aside from the lights anyone notice the sick rock work. That's gonna look unbelievable with some graham colonies on it.cant wait for the build thread

[gws3]

To some extent. There's been some really good work analyzing reflectors:

 

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

 

They took a lot of data points to generate those graphs.  I limited my effort to one day...  I don't have enough time to be as thorough as those folk.

 

Also I was selfishly only considering radium bulbs and the specific reflectors I am considering for the 300.  I wanted some real life numbers with water in the tank. 

 

I think was surprises me the most is the color difference between the 250W and 400W radium... I expected them to be very similar.

 

If you integrate under the measured points of reflector with a wider spread and with the narrower spread do you end with the same total light? Wondering if some of the reflectors are shinier than others and send more total light down than others. Summing up the measurements at the same depth might demonstrate.

[ridetheducati]

Good write-up.  FYI, I am going to mount Lumenbright/Lumatex in September.

[matt]

Good write-up.  FYI, I am going to mount Lumenbright/Lumatex in September.

?? ...see you later leds?

[ridetheducati]

?? ...see you later leds?

 

Initially I was not going to remount my MH, but I have been collecting more and more high-end SPS corals and do not want the LEDs to change the colors.  For example, my Del Fuego is not holding its color and I need to protect my investment.  

[ridetheducati]

I think was surprises me the most is the color difference between the 250W and 400W radium... I expected them to be very similar.

 

Under my eyes, the 400w Radium/M80 combination looks better than the 250w combination.  400w Radium has that ice-blue look.

[wildcrazyjoker81]

I run the 250W Radium with Galaxy ballast and they look pretty blue to me. But then again I haven't tried a 400W so don't have much to compare to. You put in a lot of work for sure and it is a lot of good information. I too am sticking with MH/T5 route over LED's. Just makes more sense as I start to get ramped up more and more on SPS.

[zygote2k]

looks like a Kessil to me.

[Rburgee]

I need to check this out in person.

[DuffyGeos]

Not to get off topic....but I am.....I was spending sometime looking at the lighting differences in the pictures and I have one question. If you live in Baltimore, in the upper left corner of the pictures, is that a poster or an outside window? Cause those look like Palm trees? :blink:

[howaboutme]

Not to get off topic....but I am.....I was spending sometime looking at the lighting differences in the pictures and I have one question. If you live in Baltimore, in the upper left corner of the pictures, is that a poster or an outside window? Cause those look like Palm trees? :blink:

 

This looks ilk his unfinished basement and what you're seeing is the foil backing to the insulation.

 

Back on topic.

[gws3]

Yes it's the crappy blanket insulation in the unfinished basement.  Palm trees would be much nicer.

[gws3]

A riveting update:

 

I've been running to 400w Radium in the Cozumel Sun reflector for the last two weeks.  I'll be taking it down this weekend to put up three lumenbright pendants.  After a few days I noticed the 400w bulb color shifted and reduced output as it broke in, it turned out being closer to the 250w than I originally thought.  There still is a noticeable difference in color... the 400 is more pinkish to my eye while the 250 is more icey blue.  Not convinced I prefer one to the other.  In hindsight I should have broken in both bulbs for a week and then done my comparison.  But too late now as I am more interested in getting my final lighting put up than redoing the comparison. 

 

Once I get the lumenbrights mounted I'll put the 400 in one end and the 250 in the other for a side by side color comparison and maybe a few more par measurements.

 

Here's the 400w Radium before it was broken in:

 

 

Here it is after two weeks:

 

 

Here is the 250w Radium on M80:

 

Edited August 22, 2014 by gws3

[DuffyGeos]

I am actually very interested in your comments and observations. I am planning on running Lumenarc 3 reflectors with either 250 or 400 Radiums and leaning toward the 250. I have a 8' x 30" x 24" acrylic tank with 4 openings on top so my goal was to line up each of 4 reflectors above each opening.

 

I was also debating on running either two 6' ( I think that is as long as they make them) VHO bulbs on each side of the reflectors.

 

OR

 

Run T5's - again I think 6' is the max bulb length, but please correct me if I am wrong.

 

Then I was thinking about maybe running 3 LED strips between each reflector, or 5 so I also have them on the outside ends of the 4 reflectors. More so the add more color (don't think I will need the color) or to be able to have moonlight.

 

Any input?

[ridetheducati]

I am actually very interested in your comments and observations. I am planning on running Lumenarc 3 reflectors with either 250 or 400 Radiums and leaning toward the 250. I have a 8' x 30" x 24" acrylic tank with 4 openings on top so my goal was to line up each of 4 reflectors above each opening.

 

I was also debating on running either two 6' ( I think that is as long as they make them) VHO bulbs on each side of the reflectors.

 

OR

 

Run T5's - again I think 6' is the max bulb length, but please correct me if I am wrong.

 

Then I was thinking about maybe running 3 LED strips between each reflector, or 5 so I also have them on the outside ends of the 4 reflectors. More so the add more color (don't think I will need the color) or to be able to have moonlight.

 

Any input?

 

If you can manage the heat, four Radium 400w is the way.  I would only run 250w Radiums if I wanted to SLOW down the growth process.

 

I currently have 2 of 3 400w Radiums mounted as I am monitoring the heat.  Will probably mount the third MH next weekend.

 

Radium 250w - PPFD:85

Radium 400w - PPFD:147

[DuffyGeos]

If you can manage the heat, four Radium 400w is the way.  I would only run 250w Radiums if I wanted to SLOW down the growth process.

 

I currently have 2 of 3 400w Radiums mounted as I am monitoring the heat.  Will probably mount the third MH next weekend.

 

Radium 250w - PPFD:85

Radium 400w - PPFD:147

Tony-

 

So you think the 400w is the way to go?  

 

Do I need to add any other lighting or are the 20k radium bulbs all I need with some LED moonlight?

 

Are you running any other lighting, or are you taking  LED's down?

[Ryan S]

When I get my 300g dd someday, I'll definitely be running 3 400w radium 20k bulbs, so this thread has been very helpful. I don't think LEDs are necessary plus the 400s are so strong, I'm not sure you'd even notice the LEDs? I might use some for night time viewing.

[DuffyGeos]

When I get my 300g dd someday, I'll definitely be running 3 400w radium 20k bulbs, so this thread has been very helpful. I don't think LEDs are necessary plus the 400s are so strong, I'm not sure you'd even notice the LEDs? I might use some for night time viewing.

That is what I was thinking, moonlight, or be able to have some slight resemblance to a sunrise/sunset  before/ after the MH kick on.