helios 400w 20k

[moe]

i wanted some input on these bulbs.how is color compared to xm20ks or radiums and how do you like their intensity.
thanks
moe

[Detritivore]

contact o2manyfish, he uses them(250w DE).

i have seem them in action, and i think they look really great. they are very bright, but not too blue, which is why i like them. the colors of the corals really come out too.

[VegasMike]

Chris at Reefermadness uses them in the 400 watt version. That is what made me go this direction. And the fact that Dave has been a big proponent of Helios for quite a while.

Mike

[o2manyfish]

They are much brighter bulbs than the XM's. Even Sanjays testing proved that the 20K Helios is in fact the brightest 20K bulb Sanjay tested.

They are brighter than the Radium. And they last alot longer than the Radiums. And they are quite a bit less than the Radium.

Radiums consistently seem to get the best color out of corals. However, the Radiums only hold their color and intensity till about 90 days. Which makes keeping your corals happy can be real expensive for those of us running multiple bulbs.

I have seen some spectacular tanks running the Helios bulbs. They definitely hit a color spectrum that seems to really bring out contrasting colors in the corals. And the Helios bulbs are running 6-9 months without any color shifts.



Dave B

[GTR]

Will they fire using an Advance M59 ballast?

SteveU

[GTR]

Never mind... looks like they will and will draw only 385 watts but at the same time only deliver 96 PPFD. Not many good choices for that ballast in high CCT bulbs.

SteveU

[Aged Salt]

Excellent synopsis, Dave, thnx. Bob

[Miguelito]

Dave, do you know if Eric (fragfarmer) is using Helios also? His 250W 20K mogul bulbs look pretty incredible and were visibly brighter and bluer than the XM 20K bulbs. He mentioned they were Chinese but I don't think I ever got a name. Pretty nice bulbs, I picked up a couple.

[OUinLA]

I don't think Eric is using Helios

[moe]

thanks for everybodys replys.helios it is.
moe

[7thheaven]

Where can I buy this bulb?

Thanks...

[VegasMike]

I just ordered mine from Chris at www.reefermadness.us. You have to call him to place the order though as they are not on his site. He has been running his for months with very little/no color shift on PFO HQI ballasts, so he has been pushing these things very hard. I'll be running mine on an electronic ballast becasue I did not want the added heat so I won't get the par he is running, but I think he has them elevated quite a bit also.