Radium metal halide bulbs will not be produced anymore!

[A. grandis]

That Radium halides and cassette tapes aren't being produced anymore.

You posted a bunch of stuff and then got upset when we told you the truth.
You came to halide thread to make mess and think the halide users will be happy to read your stuff? Please feel free to join any LED thread you want. Go tell them how good LEDs are and show your "wonderful colonies". You are not helping much here the way you are posting. Sorry, but sometimes we have to actually write this way so people can see what's really going on.

 

[Nonya]

You posted a bunch of stuff and then got upset when we told you the truth.
You came to halide thread to make mess and think the halide users will be happy to read your stuff? Please feel free to join any LED thread you want. Go tell them how good LEDs are and show your "wonderful colonies". You are not helping much here the way you are posting. Sorry, but sometimes we have to actually write this way so people can see what's really going on.

Never understood the blues confirmation bias you always bring up. Don't the Radiums push heavy blue?

 

[A. grandis]

I need to stock up on some 250 watt radiums. I think I have two years worth left. Anyone besides Hamilton sell them?

Wait and see what's going to happen. There might be a chance for Radium to produce a number of bulbs next year. There is a big chance for Hamilton to get back in business and make their bulbs again too.

 

[DIYreefer]

Hard to understand why some of the LED uses are so insecure and always bring themselves to a thread like this, where only halide users should be interested! LED users... this is a metal halide thread! You are welcome to come here to learn and help, but I don't think us, halide users, are very happy to see what you have to say about your LEDs in comparison. This is a halide thread! Spend your time on LED threads, please. You already have your troubles there!

But what about those of us that use both?!?! Actually, my display tank utilizes all 3... led, t5, and mh.

I really don't have a dog in this fight. Each source has its pros/cons. I just pop into this thread in hopes of seeing that someone has heard us, and will continue to produce radiums indefinitely.

 

[Nonya]

You posted a bunch of stuff and then got upset when we told you the truth.
You came to halide thread to make mess and think the halide users will be happy to read your stuff? Please feel free to join any LED thread you want. Go tell them how good LEDs are and show your "wonderful colonies". You are not helping much here the way you are posting. Sorry, but sometimes we have to actually write this way so people can see what's really going on.

Didn't you ask him his point?

You posted a bunch of stuff and then got upset when we told you the truth.
You came to halide thread to make mess and think the halide users will be happy to read your stuff? Please feel free to join any LED thread you want. Go tell them how good LEDs are and show your "wonderful colonies". You are not helping much here the way you are posting. Sorry, but sometimes we have to actually write this way so people can see what's really going on.
This is a metal halide thread. You came to provoke the friends with your posts trying to exercise your "blues confirmation bias". We are trying to be polite. Please don't act like a kid anymore.

I never got upset. When you posted that Radium is winding down MH production, you had to expect the complete cause and effect discussion. When it comes to any aging technology, something new will always come along. Look at audio: Gramophone, records, 8-track, cassette, CD, digital. At some point people move on. I'm sorry that your preferred lighting is going away, but it's 100% linked to the popularity of LEDs. You can't discuss MH in a vacuum.

 

[A. grandis]

But what about those of us that use both?!?! Actually, my display tank utilizes all 3... led, t5, and mh.

I really don't have a dog in this fight. Each source has its pros/cons. I just pop into this thread in hopes of seeing that someone has heard us, and will continue to produce radiums indefinitely.

You and anyone interested are more than welcome to join us, of course. Anyone! I see everyone here as a friend. Even Oreo!?! LOL! I believe it's fair to say that this thread has a distinctive topic and to discuss LEDs X MH is definitely not part of this thread. Most of the halide users are just tired of it! I mean... common sense. Thanks for chiming in!!

 

[Z Burn's Reefing]

Didn't you ask him his point?

I never got upset. When you posted that Radium is winding down MH production, you had to expect the complete cause and effect discussion. When it comes to any aging technology, something new will always come along. Look at audio: Gramophone, records, 8-track, cassette, CD, digital. At some point people move on. I'm sorry that your preferred lighting is going away, but it's 100% linked to the popularity of LEDs. You can't discuss MH in a vacuum.

Yes, people move on…but at some point people also move back, lol…the problem with your repeated use of the cassette tape analogy is the assumption that the new technology is better than the old technology…we unfortunately don’t believe and agree that leds can grow and color coral better than metal halide. Many that grow and sell stony corals for a living also agree, but have moved on to led (kind of). Just listen to a few of the latest podcasts out there - to this day many of them feel strongly that metal halide is king for growth and color. Maybe led will get there, the radion gen 4s were a great step. The newer fixtures do a better job of now providing a blanket of light (I.e. ati straton). Things are improving. In general, leds do a great job now, but us stony coral enthusiasts that have grown coral under all lighting options want to continue to run metal halide for as long as possible, because we’ve seen and noticed something different. It will be a sad day for sure when I no longer have the choice. Now, back to determining how many more radiums I should order…

 

[ronnie]

I wish I could find a 36” 250w SE MH fixture so I can justify buying some radiums lol

 

[oreo54]

I need to stock up on some 250 watt radiums. I think I have two years worth left. Anyone besides Hamilton sell them?

Forgot who but there price is $149/bulb

 

[oreo54]

Wait and see what's going to happen. There might be a chance for Radium to produce a number of bulbs next year. There is a big chance for Hamilton to get back in business and make their bulbs again too.

Meanwhile you lose customers weekly..

 

[Yanir34]

That Radium halides and cassette tapes aren't being produced anymore.

What's your point ?
it seems to me that you trying to make people crazy here.
that is not polite way .
old school reefers knows exactly how corals grows under MH.
that is their preference....why you can't accept it ?

 

[oreo54]

Why an Iwasaki grew corals better and more err "colorful.
Keep in mind that there was a lot of blue photons and as mentioned more gross than in the Radium.
2x the par of a Radium.
Unfortunately many of the ballasts that produced the most photons are no longer available.
Also keep in mind that the current existing bulbs may have been "tweaked" to conform to modern ballasts.

Please note the color temp given by the manuf RARELY was the actual color temp of the bulb itself.
Its real bad above like 12000k

https://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php

Spectrum aside for a minute, there is one thing that you can get from this old data vs new leds.
Par/watt
A quality royal blue led can push 2.1-2.3 PAR /watt
A quality cool white 1.6 to 1.7 PAR/watt
A radium.. 1.2-1.3
An Iwasaki 2.4 PAR/ watt.

Point is "technically" one of the few (maybe the only one) that can push more PAR/Watt than an LED.
At least on paper. And from one measurement By one person In the past with defunct ballasts.

Where all those photons come from:

It's really in a class of its own.
Unfortunately not really liked on a visual basis.
THAT is a whole can of worms. From spectrum to aesthetics.
Keep in mind that a lot of this may not apply to any currently available substitutes like the 6500-7500k lamps one can still find.
Can it be replaced w/ led with the right "materials" and thinking?

Underwater Light Field and its Comparison to Metal Halide Lighting

This article presents some data on the underwater light field on a reef and compares it to the artificial light field over our reef aquaria, along with discussion of other features of natural lighting that are often not simulated in our aquariums.

reefs.com

Clearly there is a wide discrepancy between the spectral irradiance provided by MH and the natural under water light field. We know from experience that we can grow coral under all the 3 major classes of metal halide lamps 6500K, 10000K and 20000K, so the corals must either adapt to the spectrum or ignore the spectral quality. Unfortunately I do not have any definitive answers to this, hopefully further research will be able to provide more definitive answers.....The Radium shows almost 8-12 times the radiation at 454 nm than what would be observed in nature.

Sorry for all this, but the thing is in order to make the future one does have to learn from the past.
Or just hope the pasts stays around..

Lots of hints, no REAL explanations.

 

[Troylee]

My electric and heating oil bills are high enough as it is. I'm sure 1,000 watts would smoke my entire tank. I'm very happy with what I've got, just as you and Grandis are with halides.

My tank is bursting at the seams with colonies and frags. I'm getting ready to break out the welder(s) and go really big.

1000w my tank cost $54 a month in electricity for everything… it’s close to 350 gallons wet!

 

[Pntbll687]

That Radium halides and cassette tapes aren't being produced anymore.

I WANT MY CASSETTE TAPES BACK!!

You know, they were the best selling way to listen to music for years

 

[Pntbll687]

What's your point?

That Radium bulbs, just like cassete tapes, will not be produced anymore. They were at one point the peak of technology and widely used. They are now outdated technology, that is still used by some.

I used halides. They were good. I don't think they grew coral any better than the led/t5 combo I use now. I will say, the color was more appealing to the eye, and much easier to take pictures with than the led lights.

But why do MH users get in such a "get off my lawn" rant and attitude whenever someone says LED grow coral just as well as halides?

 

[Nonya]

What's your point ?
it seems to me that you trying to make people crazy here.
that is not polite way .
old school reefers knows exactly how corals grows under MH.
that is their preference....why you can't accept it ?

Not at all. I was "old school", as you say. I learned from personal experience that, while halides worked, they have too many negative traits that have been covered many times.

 

[PeterErc]

I WANT MY CASSETTE TAPES BACK!!

You know, they were the best selling way to listen to music for years

Oh no, don’t start the analog digital debate. One debate per thread.

My halides do sound better than my LED lol

 

[jason2459]

Ford is better then GM/Chevy/Dodge combined.

 

[A. grandis]

That Radium bulbs, just like cassete tapes, will not be produced anymore. They were at one point the peak of technology and widely used. They are now outdated technology, that is still used by some.

So what? We still have Hamilton 20K.

I used halides. They were good. I don't think they grew coral any better than the led/t5 combo I use now. I will say, the color was more appealing to the eye, and much easier to take pictures with than the led lights.

That's your opinion.

But why do MH users get in such a "get off my lawn" rant and attitude whenever someone says LED grow coral just as well as halides?

Because that is your opinion, but not true to all!

See post #290 and #297, besides many of us here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...-not-be-produced-anymore.985695/post-11832017

Radium metal halide bulbs will not be produced anymore!

If anyone will have the answer to this I know it will be someone here. I just received an order for two radium, 400watt bulbs. One of them appears to be damaged. I’m attaching a picture of the damaged bulb for you to see. There seems to typically be a small flat piece of metal that is...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[jda]

You all need to get out more. Not only are cassettes making a comeback in a real way, some very popular artists offer their music on cassette first and it often is sold out the longest. Try and convince a Swiftie that cassette is old school or out of style. There has been more investment into making cassettes than discs in the past few years - similar to halide out teching LED lately. Cassette comeback is EASY to google. A lot of indy labels and artists sell both vinyl and cassettes - this is a great way for them to make money instead of the streaming services, so support them and buy some cassettes. I expect re-releases on cassette soon, so you can find your Arena Rock that you used to play in your Camaro in WalMart or Target soon - be on the lookout for Rush, Journey or Kansas.

FWIW - cassettes can sound great if you have a good player. Most people never had a good player. I am a McIntosh guy but since they don't make cassette players, I have a very expensive and vintage cassette player where anybody could tell the difference between this and lossless digital if the tape was not kept in a car dashboard for a decade or otherwise damaged.

This debate will always rage with lights until LEDs offer what MH and some T5 do. There are spectrum outside of the visible range that appear to matter - the more that a LED user looks into this, the more that the see it - the debate then switches to "making sacrifices" instead of "they are the same" which is where actual productive debate can happen.