Radium metal halide bulbs will not be produced anymore!

jda · Jun 15, 2023

LEDs for reefing have not evolved since multicolored chips were introduced over white/blue alone. There is different board/app tech, different lenses and different configurations, but no wholesale changes. That was a decade ago, or so. There is not much more to advance. No matter. LED is not likely the end state in general lighting, so there will be new things to play with in the hobby too - lasers or something else is going to be coming soon with many retailers noting fatigue* and homeowners stating that they are just not the same**. Something will be out to compete with LEDs soon.

* few of the local box stores have taken out their LEDs and replaced them with clear roof tiles and T5s. I asked the manager and he said that corporate made this decision and did not know why. We get a lot of sun in Colorado, so this might not be possible everywhere.

** this might just be dogma, people liking what they are used to or choosing terribly cheap LED bulbs which do look sterile and bad.

There are changes to MH happening right now for reefing. There have been new MH bulbs in the hobby since LED last made a massive change. The brands likely did need consolidating into fewer players. There are no regulatory bans for hobbies, just companies who are getting old and getting out. I like that the newer Hamilton bulbs have MUCH less heat than Radiums and look almost identical - this was an excellent change. There is a current glut of nice over the tank fixtures.

GARRIGA · Jun 15, 2023

I’m talking specifically about LED development such as comparing technology used today with the G6 Vs first Radions. No clue how the exact LED itself operates but do know its deployment has improved. Recall early on lots of reported failures yet today it seems many have success.

I’ve actually thought of deploying T5s on my garage ceiling when I was contemplating that becoming a coral farm. Did similar when it was a breeding operation for boas at my old house using full spectrum T8s. However, today were I back to wanting that coral farm. LEDs seem more practical as I can change the spectrum to suit my needs but I’d still have true full spectrum bulbs for photography. Probably not feasible and very likely not having a farm, either.

Wasn’t aware MH technology has improved but still require a hanging solution not suitable for all but the most dedicated and that then remains a niche. Can’t see spectrum ever being adjustable without a cluster of bulbs where some can be turned off. Don’t know if dimmable. Believe T5s still aren’t.

I get it. They are better at growing corals. Learned that in the 80s over VHO. Grasp that’s still the sentiment and belief today which I’m confident is based on experience and possibly lab results but still don’t see how they will continue to compete as lens technology advances such as the wider spread in todays’s G6 vs not that long ago G4 design.

Very likely my bias will never open my mind to going back to wanting MH but understand it was that look I preferred before today’s heavy blues. Why I got the Pros thinking that would best replicate. Granted some 30 plus years later hard to remember exactly what I saw other than I know I just like that look and deep blues aren’t it.

Still not going to hang lights from the roof and having ann enclosed canopy would require some major advancements in power efficiency for MH or clever use of fans to dissipate that heat. Plus chillers last on my mind. Something that convinced me VHO then a better ergonomic option.

jmichaelh7 · Jun 15, 2023

I was able to get a box of Ushios. Never had the opportunity to try Radiums

Bpb · Jun 15, 2023

I dunno….I’m pretty happy with my 2700k general use led bulbs throughout the house. Equally as happy as I was using 100 watt incandescent lights. I don’t buy expensive ones either. I’d hate to have to go back to fluorescent bulbs for general purpose. But I guess I’d just use whatever was available and move on. I tend to be an oddball though

jmichaelh7 · Jun 15, 2023

Bpb said:
I dunno….I’m pretty happy with my 2700k general use led bulbs throughout the house. Equally as happy as I was using 100 watt incandescent lights. I don’t buy expensive ones either. I’d hate to have to go back to fluorescent bulbs for general purpose. But I guess I’d just use whatever was available and move on. I tend to be an oddball though

You have pics ?

Bpb · Jun 15, 2023

jmichaelh7 said:
You have pics ?

I meant more as just general home use. There was a comment above about people being dissatisfied with general use leds and stores going back to tubes. I could have misinterpreted

cdnco2004 · Jun 15, 2023

This is old news. All T5 bulbs will be discontinued in the near future. No one will be making them, and this has been widely known for years.

Troylee · Jun 15, 2023

cdnco2004 said:
This is old news. All T5 bulbs will be discontinued in the near future. No one will be making them, and this has been widely known for years.

Old news! T5’s we’re banned 10 years ago

Bpb · Jun 15, 2023

A loosely similar dichotomy in my main "hobby", more so than reefing even, can be seen in the recent advances in digital amp modeling for guitars and basses. Obviously various forms of solid state amplifiers have been around since the start, along side valve amps. But recently, digital modeling has gotten so good, it is indiscernible for all practical purposes, to the vast majority of users. I do still know studio engineers that record to tape using all analogue outboard gear. It does present its challenges.

I think I fall in the "good enough" category of people on the subject, much like I do with LED lighting on reef tanks. I cannot deny, there is a certain magic in the sonic qualities found in analogue gear at the highest level (personal opinions, content irrelevent, just speaking on production quality) in releases such as Aja and Gaucho (Steely Dan), Out of the Blue (ELO), DSOTM and The Wall (pink floyd). There's a sonic butteryness you just dont find now, even with some of the most fastidious attempts at doing a retro attempt with modern production. That being said. Nearly all of the players I know supporting a family as musicians have migrated away from tube amplifiers and are now using digital amp modeling and in-ear monitors. Is it as good as the real thing? In a vacuum, probably not. But when considering the weight, cost, and upkeep of the real deal, the modern alternative is certainly "good enough."

I am a man of modest means. We do fairly well as a family, but I cannot afford alot of the luxuries I'd love to have. In a higher tax bracket, I would absolutely set aside my air pods and spotify in favor of a well made vinyl collection and real tube amp receivers. I can appreciate the difference in experience. But I'll stick with good enough.

The massive difference between reefers, and musicians on the matter: Musicians arent at each others throats over "tube vs digital" decisions the same way reefers are at war over "bulbs vs diodes". At least none of the ones I associate with. I guess when you're providing life to living organisms it's a little different.

A. grandis · Jun 18, 2023

What I'm taking out of the lack of halide gear in the market right now is that the pressure of the LED market, making a significant influence in many different ramifications is actually pushing old halide manufacturers out of it. People that understand the precious unique value of metal halides for those results we know and for the application we once had just don't want to fight anymore with the huge crowd of LED manufacturers, distributors and users. Some of those halide manufacturers must be retiring from their jobs and "accepting" the change in the market, tired. Their kids aren't interested in their parents' business and much less interested in a strong probability of failure investing in halides for the hobby. CMH in this hobby could be a very wealthy business if the right people would be willing to take that torch! We all know that fixture design, features, and proper application for what this hobby offers today, and for what has been thought in the past 15 years, basically prohibits most of what would be invested in new halide gear. But if you think, that is only true IF LEDs would be completely left out of the equation though. If a fixture would incorporate LEDs in any shape or form as an alternative, it would sell!!!!! The presence of metal halides over reef tanks do make a HUGE difference for growth speed, tissue health, and pigment and colony formation. This market has been brainwashing people to accept and to idolize many things and ideas that are DEPENDENT on LEDs alone. Trying to eliminate other sources of artificial light sources was their ultimate goal and careful manipulation. Am I the only one seeing that!? The whole market of this reef aquarium industry has actively working their way to change the essence of this hobby in basically all ramifications. The organisms aren't the focus anymore. The natural reef isn't what we would try to reproduce anymore. The hobbyists hardly share their frags, and when they do, it's because those frags are considered low in monetary value, or "surpassed" by "new strains". It's like a race! People worry about someone taking advantage of them and to get their frags and sell to others. Sad truth! Corals and other organisms are called "things". People don't realize that even the friendships don't have the same values as they used to. The whole society is poisoned and the hobby followed this sad trend.
Can all this change and get back to what it was? Who would be the first person to "sacrifice" and show the example? Would that person be the example, or mocked? Are we actually able to change this new generation? I think the answer is already there, once most of the people who could make any influence in this hobby are actually doing the opposite publishing videos every day to feed the snow ball and dictating what we all should follow. It's a shame, but as for now, I think metal halide users could consider themselves as a fragmentation of this hobby that have different values and visions, with an unique experience and a different way to bake their cake. A different taste of reefing that will select some of us as the "old guys", or "old style", or the followers of the old guys. Bringing that slice of the reef home with the sun for the corals to show their glory, as we try to reproduce what we see in the ocean. It has been like this for at least the past decade and it's not going to change until they take our last breath or the last bulb. Or unless someone really take that torch and risk some capital!

Sisterlimonpot · Jun 18, 2023

I feel like the lead in should've been "TL;DR, The unstoppable momentum of progress is phasing out MH's. We can fight it but we cant stop it"

Most trends and practices in this hobby seem to be cyclical, I highly doubt MH will have that opportunity to make another appearance 10-20 years from now.

JCOLE · Jun 18, 2023

You're correct. There is nothing stopping it, and it is what it is. MH is dying, if not dead already.

Long live nano tanks. Because in the future, the only tanks most hobbyists will be able to afford to run will be 55 gallons and under.

Bpb · Jun 18, 2023

I’ll go back to the big picture…the “hobby brand” of metal halide bulb options aren’t manufacturers in the supply chain. They’re merely packaging. Many of the commonly found LED products on the market for illumination are manufactured by the same companies that were/are making metal halides. They’ve just tooled up and diversified their business model and are making what sells. Sure, kessil and Philips are manufactured in house, but that’s about it.

Sorry @JCOLE I didn’t intend that to be a direct reply to your post in case it alerted you to a quote

A. grandis · Jun 18, 2023

JCOLE said:
You're correct. There is nothing stopping it, and it is what it is. MH is dying, if not dead already.

Long live nano tanks. Because in the future, the only tanks most hobbyists will be able to afford to run will be 55 gallons and under.

Except for ReefBrites, in terms of aquarium related, and some general Horticulture CMH, though. We still have some hope, at least we are alive. LOL! But each day that goes by we see that only a small percentage of hobbyists even get interested to run halides, selected by exposure. The availability is what kills the market of any product. They knew that would be the best marketing strategy and went for it in the name of money! New hobbyists coming every day and they can only "know" and see LEDs around, so... Yup, we are a small group that at this moment won't get any probability to expand, unfortunately. And ReefBrite wants to keep themselves small as far as I understand.