250w Helios 20k SE

[FlipCyd]

Just got these bulbs from EricF. I put 1 side by side w/ a radium on a pfo magnetic pulse ballast. They look very similar, and for a considerable price difference.

Radium 250w 20k SE
Pros:
Crisp white color w/ blue tint
Makes the color of corals pop
No actinic supplementation needed

Cons:
Price
Must be run on a pulse start, HQI, or electronic ballast


Helios 250w 20k SE
Pros:
Crisp white color w/ blue tint
Pops red orange and yellow better than the Radium
No actinic supplementation needed
Cheaper than the Radium

Cons:
Don't know yet



RESULTS:
The Helios 20k SE bulb is a great alternative to the Radium for 2 reasons: price and similar (if not better) performance. According to fragfarmer.com amd Sanjay's test, the Helios has more par than a Radium.
http://www.fragfarmer.com/250watt-20...ase-p-508.html

[Nick_Kun]

wow, that would be my next bulb purchase then.

- Nick

[GoTakuF1]

Wow, better coloration and higher PAR and the best part, it's cheaper than the ledendary Radium. Excellent review, thanks Drew!

[chin_monster]

I have always got great coloration with these lamps and good to decent growth rates. The only "issue" being a BLUE tank -these are really blue lamps.

[iVgOnMaD]

interesting, what ballast did you try them with? I was thinking about picking some up.

TIA

I have always got great coloration with these lamps and good to decent growth rates. The only "issue" being a BLUE tank -these are really blue lamps.

[limestro]

Do you have any pictures to share?

~Mike

[chin_monster]

The All Seas Marine "green" HQI (400 and 250) and standard PFO (250) -everything SE lamps.

[FlipCyd]

It's gonna be blue no matter how you look at it it's still a 20k bulb. If you run them on a hqi ballast and slightly overdrive them, it gives it a whiter color. EricF is running his on a pfo hqi ballast and his tank is a lot whiter than mine.

[GoTakuF1]

Hey Drew, are the PAR data on Sanjay's site for the Helios 20k DE or SE?

[FlipCyd]

He hasn't tested the 250w SE, only the 400w SE.

[GoTakuF1]

Ah, gotcha. Looks like an electronic ballast like the Icecap is the way to go on the DEs, burns 88 watts less with only 10ppfd less than the M80s like the PFOs. Got any pics, Drew?

[FlipCyd]

I took a pic, but it looks like crap. You can't really tell the color difference between the Helios and the Radiums in the pictures. My camera sucks, I bought it to take pics of the kids.

Ah, gotcha. Looks like an electronic ballast like the Icecap is the way to go on the DEs, burns 88 watts less with only 10ppfd less than the M80s like the PFOs. Got any pics, Drew?

[Nick_Kun]

Anyone else using these bulbs on an electronic ballast? I'm due for a new bulb.

- Nick

[Lo0seR]

I ran them on a 400 watt Icecap, way to blue. Over time I got a BlueWave HQI thats 400watt and this bulb is spot-on when overdriven, have ran Radiums with this ballast but prefer the Helios. I first seen this bulb when I got my MonsterMash from Chin, at that time he ran it over his prop tank at Trey's place, Charles till this day that goes down as the prop tank hall of fame. Those colors on those SPS's you had is why I'm still in this hobby today, and yes it's still alive and about 4" across.