Radium metal halide bulbs will not be produced anymore!

[oreo54]

The goal is growing coral and in that measure the ‘new’ technology is not a clear cut better replacement (per the analogy)

It's not a " clear cut" worse either.
Sadly there is not actual scientifically relevant data either way.

As to analogy crt's vs flat panel is much better.
Both crt and mh have/ had in the end a limited to a few number of producers.
Both have a more err fragile bulky and high- ish toxin content ( one lead the other mercury).

Both excelled in some areas. Both weaker in some areas in regards to their new replacement.

They are more parallel paths than in line competition.

Aesthetics and ease alone ( with a few exceptions) favor led over its brethren.

As to efficiency regardless of l/w ( which is currently close to doubling that of mh. Consider whites with a l/w of 150-ush and now remove the phosphor) light delivery and less " wasted" photons have the advantage
Now spread is another story but targeted delivery still favors led. Reflector inefficiencies, restrike ect.

Why out of all the fields led is replacing legacy lighting you can't achieve at least a 25% energy savings over a reef tank is a mystery though. Granted 25% isn't earth shattering to a single tank owner.


"Better" is always a loaded word.
Better for who and for what and why?

One a side note t5's ect are as different from mh as LEDs are .. Little to no ir, uv, or radiant heat ( hand burning under a bank?)

Different spread/ shadow patterns. Yea opposite but still " different".

All different paths to roughly the same goal though.

Are led prices obscene...well I guess.
Happens in low volume specialty markets
At one point a horticultural Kessil was significantly cheaper than a " reef" one with mostly only a diode " color" change.
If say xr-30's were down to $400 total for 205 watts of photons this conversation would be a lot different.

As to spectrums.well that is a manuf. choice with no clear cut scientific guidelines except blue is good a lot of red is bad.....


Bulbs may survive drastic price increases due to availability/ monopoly pressures but who will build the fixtures?
ATM few and the ones available also have high margins (?) or costs due to shipping/storage bulk.

I have no dog in this hunt...

https://zeiss-campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/lightsources/images/metalhalidelampsfigure4.jpg

 

[BeanAnimal]

It's not a " clear cut" worse either.
Sadly there is not actual scientifically relevant data either way.

As to analogy crt's vs flat panel is much better.
Both crt and mh have/ had in the end a limited to a few number of producers.
Both have a more err fragile bulky and high- ish toxin content ( one lead the other mercury).

Both excelled in some areas. Both weaker in some areas in regards to their new replacement.

They are more parallel paths than in line competition.

Aesthetics and ease alone ( with a few exceptions) favor led over its brethren.

As to efficiency regardless of l/w ( which is currently close to doubling that of mh. Consider whites with a l/w of 150-ush and now remove the phosphor) light delivery and less " wasted" photons have the advantage
Now spread is another story but targeted delivery still favors led. Reflector inefficiencies, restrike ect.

Why out of all the fields led is replacing legacy lighting you can't achieve at least a 25% energy savings over a reef tank is a mystery though. Granted 25% isn't earth shattering to a single tank owner.


"Better" is always a loaded word.
Better for who and for what and why?

One a side note t5's ect are as different from mh as LEDs are .. Little to no ir, uv, or radiant heat ( hand burning under a bank?)

Different spread/ shadow patterns. Yea opposite but still " different".

All different paths to roughly the same goal though.

Are led prices obscene...well I guess.
Happens in low volume specialty markets
At one point a horticultural Kessil was significantly cheaper than a " reef" one with mostly only a diode " color" change.
If say xr-30's were down to $400 total for 205 watts of photons this conversation would be a lot different.

As to spectrums.well that is a manuf. choice with no clear cut scientific guidelines except blue is good a lot of red is bad.....


Bulbs may survive drastic price increases due to availability/ monopoly pressures but who will build the fixtures?
ATM few and the ones available also have high margins (?) or costs due to shipping/storage bulk.

I have no dog in this hunt...

https://zeiss-campus.magnet.fsu.edu/articles/lightsources/images/metalhalidelampsfigure4.jpg

I think you may have missed the context and point of my response. Twas not about picking a winner, price or comparing pros/cons.

 

[JCOLE]

Radium 20K Single End Bulb

Why does BRS recommend this? Radium bulbs are the most sought after single ended bulb in the reef aquarium hobby. Many successful tanks that run metal halide lights use the radium bulbs for their impeccable track record in the hobby. Unique crisp white color with a strong blue tint More natural...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I might have contributed to that.....sorry! Just wanted to add to my collection!

 

[A. grandis]

I might have contributed to that.....sorry! Just wanted to add to my collection!

I'm so very glad you did, my friend!
I've got some before the sale.

 

[jmichaelh7]

I'm so very glad you did, my friend!
I've got some before the sale.

What ballast are you running yours on 400w ?

 

[A. grandis]

What ballast are you running yours on 400w ?

I don't use 400W bulbs over my small systems at home. I choose between 150WDE, 175WSE and 250WSE bulbs. There are not many choices of ballasts to run the Radium 400W bulb today. The available 400W e-ballasts on Super Lumens is what many utilize and it works fine. Pretty soon the 400W bulbs will also start to be missed as the stocks are sold out!

 

[Tom Caknakis]

I knew this day will come.... but I'm ready.

I tried ALL lights. Radions G4, G4pro G5pro, ATI sunpower, Kessils, Philips Coral Care 2, Hydra's 32....but man, nothing beat halides in term of esthetic.

Yes, there are thousand reasons why halides are outdated. But in my opinion, tank under halides just looks gorgeous!

 

[jmichaelh7]

I knew this day will come.... but I'm ready.

I tried ALL lights. Radions G4, G4pro G5pro, ATI sunpower, Kessils, Philips Coral Care 2, Hydra's 32....but man, nothing beat halides in term of esthetic.

Yes, there are thousand reasons why halides are outdated. But in my opinion, tank under halides just looks gorgeous!

Your good for 5 years!

 

[djf91]

Has anybody used the SPS (South Pacific sun) DE bulbs from Champion Lighting?

 

[SpSDrew]

I knew this day will come.... but I'm ready.

I tried ALL lights. Radions G4, G4pro G5pro, ATI sunpower, Kessils, Philips Coral Care 2, Hydra's 32....but man, nothing beat halides in term of esthetic.

Yes, there are thousand reasons why halides are outdated. But in my opinion, tank under halides just looks gorgeous!

You are making me want to get a second case of ushios while they have them.

 

[SpSDrew]

I did get some heap Ebay bulbs in so ill let one burn in for awhile and get some par and spectrum numbers on it.

 

[jmichaelh7]

You are making me want to get a second case of ushios while they have them.

Everyone raving about ushio , i have a box ready so when these hamiltons go out. I can't wait .

Do you have side by side pics

 

[Troylee]

I did get some heap Ebay bulbs in so ill let one burn in for awhile and get some par and spectrum numbers on it.

Curious on those.. i just picked up a 250w oddysea 48” fixture for $20 so I couldn’t pass it up! Everything works on it and I just wanted the ballast as back up for my display.. now I’m pondering a frag tank with it and getting those bulbs lol

 

[jmichaelh7]

Curious on those.. i just picked up a 250w oddysea 48” fixture for $20 so I couldn’t pass it up! Everything works on it and I just wanted the ballast as back up for my display.. now I’m pondering a frag tank with it and getting those bulbs lol

That be nice. Set it up as your frag tank and post some pics. $20 you can't beat it!

 

[djf91]

Lighting - Metal Halide - Drygoods - PFO Lighting 37” Fan Cooled Metal Halide / PC Light Hood

PFO LIGHTING 37” Dual Halide / PC Fan Cooled Custom Powder Coated Light Hood Comes Complete … just add your choice of ballast . Comes with 250w XM 15000K Bulbs … $500 OBO Shipping from California available in the lower 48 only … Thanks for looking ! Feel free to ask any questions !

www.reef2reef.com

Here’s a blast from the past.

 

[TaylorPilot]

4K killed plasma TVs which had better motion than LED. It is what it is.

I still sport a 65" Samsung plasma, and it looks better than almost everything but the latest version of LG and Samsung Oled screens. It has literally taken a decade for the tech to catch up to the tech that they mothballed. They can make LCD panels cheaper, so they told everyone they were better and steer the market, then say they got rid of the tech because no one wants it. I guarantee if Ryan got on BRS TV tomorrow and said MH is the best lighting tech ever and everything else is a compromise, they would have a rush on the remaining bulbs they can get. Americans in general are horrible consumers, and that isn't changing anytime soon.

 

[djf91]

I still sport a 65" Samsung plasma, and it looks better than almost everything but the latest version of LG and Samsung Oled screens. It has literally taken a decade for the tech to catch up to the tech that they mothballed. They can make LCD panels cheaper, so they told everyone they were better and steer the market, then say they got rid of the tech because no one wants it. I guarantee if Ryan got on BRS TV tomorrow and said MH is the best lighting tech ever and everything else is a compromise, they would have a rush on the remaining bulbs they can get. Americans in general are horrible consumers, and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[GARRIGA]

I still sport a 65" Samsung plasma, and it looks better than almost everything but the latest version of LG and Samsung Oled screens. It has literally taken a decade for the tech to catch up to the tech that they mothballed. They can make LCD panels cheaper, so they told everyone they were better and steer the market, then say they got rid of the tech because no one wants it. I guarantee if Ryan got on BRS TV tomorrow and said MH is the best lighting tech ever and everything else is a compromise, they would have a rush on the remaining bulbs they can get. Americans in general are horrible consumers, and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Plasma can’t display 4K. That’s why it died. That tech been around since 2013. I know. I bought the first 4K Sony Bravia LED.

It’s not just about marketing. It’s about progress. LED are progress as are OLED.

Defending the past just to defend the past doesn’t make it better. Just means some haven’t moved on because the past was good enough for them now. Kind of like vinyl records. Sound better than digital replications yet I can carry thousands of records in my phone. Now only the purist have vinyl and that’s their choice but arguing with me that it’s still better or that I’m only using my phone because some long hair promoter told me is ridiculous as if I can’t decide for myself.

MH are not ergonomic is deployment. Need hanging kits. My XR15 sits atop a mount with a perfect height for its spread although would be nice if that’s as adjustable. MH are inefficient thereby waste power. Save the planet not their thing or my electricity bill. Come in several spectrums but chose one. LED afford me endless combinations. MH often required chillers. LEDs much less of an issue in that respect. MH had a much lower life expectancy and why those devoted to old tech scramble to acquire bulbs before they run short on supply or one day gone permanently.

I’m not saying one should or shouldn’t. Just my observation on how I see the progress of MH and plasma reminded me of that evolution.

Was trying to trigger anyone. Not looking to pick a fight. Each there own my thing hit don’t accuse me of being a lackey who follows BRS on my decision tree. I’m smart. I’m old. I’m experienced. I can exude for myself. As others should too. Although did love VHO which evolved into T5 and now becoming just as extinct as MH for may of the same reasons.

Can’t control change. Best adapt to it.

 

[jda]

Don't confuse progress for better in all cases. Vinyl and film can still do things that digital cannot - I get that most people cannot notice and even some that can notice like the convenience. Analog is infinite and digital has limits... period. Some humans have limits too, I guess, even though they could be infinite if they wanted to. I would say to adapt to change, not just change to change. I purchased a few 50s and 60s jazz vinyl collections about 15 years ago for a few hundred dollars that could now buy a house. My carbureted cars go up in value and the fuel injected ones go down... and both have super low emissions and get similar gas mileage (this was harder on the cars with carbs, for sure... so some extra work).

What is weird is that I can hear difference in vinyl vs supposed lossless digital music (I am a McIntosh and Focal Utopia guy, so have the gear that can do it), see the difference in digital vs film photos, laserdisc vs DVD, etc... but I could not care less about LED vs Plasma vs Film for watching things. To each their own, I guess. I love my 86" TV and hated projectors. If you have not seen actual film, it looks stunning... but you need a super dark room. I have a few dozen films on reels and a projector with a really good sound board that I got with a vinyl collections and it amazing to watch.

I also like individual stand up arcades and not mulit-cades, too. Just me, I guess.

My favorite analog thing is screen printed posters over those from a printer. I feel that if you cannot tell or do not like screen printed better, then you are a savage.

In any case, I decided to sell all of my remaining 400w MH bulbs. I will never use them. I have XM 10k, Radiums, CoralVue, etc. Be on the lookout for a post if you are a 400w user.

BTW - Ryan and the other dude did have a video where they said that MH was still the best performing light out there, hands down. It happened a few times. They admitted that they did not use it over their tanks so that they could sell other types of lights. Maybe the video has disappeared like some of their other videos that have not aged well.

 

[GARRIGA]

Vinyl likely not appreciated by those not having better audio equipment or tone death as my self. Worked with a guy in the mid 90s that had a $25k sound system. That was a lot back then. Kind of still is today but I wouldn't have known the difference because to the extend he could appreciate sound, I was tone death. Yet today I carry my entire CD collection on my phone. All 130 plus of them. Recall the day a server like devise was offered that could hold X amount of CD and thought that was amazing. Doubt that or CDs sold today.

Miss my Z28 Holly carb and racing cam yet Maxima today can beat me. Ford Raptor much cooler and faster and that wasn't a thing when vinyl or halide were mainstream.

Not saying one must embrace technology but change happens. Perhaps one day I buy that 68 Corvette I've covetted or a 54 Chevy like my father had. Just because but I'm still riding new because there's so much that has advanced such as shocks, ACC and power windows. Not that I can't crank but what a PITA it was for my father having to get out and let me in the back seat or roll it down to throw coins that not only no longer in vogue because swipe to pay has evolved but so have the collectors gone extinct. New might not be better but old isn't lasting forever, either.

Last point. LEDs have advanced greatly since first offered as knowledge has advanced and new components either discovered or better deployed. Not impossible to imagine that one day LED or that next thing is just as good if not better than old reliable. Could OLED be the next game changer for reefs? Don't know but I know I won't be holding onto to the past longer than the present shows me there's a greater overall benefit.