14k MH bulb dim

ThePurple12

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I just got a CoralVue 14k 150w metal halide bulb from Ebay. I put it in and it's waaaay dimmer than the previous 6,500k bulb. It's so dim that the corals almost look shaded. When I stare into it (dumb, I know), I can look at it for a while without being blinded, much more so than the previous 6,500k.

I doubt its ability to grow my seagrass and corals.

Is this natural for 14k bulbs, or should I return it?
 

flyfisherman

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Dont stare into bulb. Maybe a bad bulb, but should look less yellow, more crisp white/blue. If worried, get a 10k but that will be yellow too.
 
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WVNed

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In general going up in K does look dimmer to the eye. Is your bulb working right? I dont know.

20k 250W
IMG_2508_heic-M.jpg


10k
IMG_2501_heic-M.jpg


The shots are done with the same setting on the camera ISO 125 f8 1/60 sec
the lower K bulb makes more light our eyes can see

I have some 14k bulbs coming to find a happy medium between these two.
 
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ThePurple12

ThePurple12

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In general going up in K does look dimmer to the eye. Is your bulb working right? I dont know.

20k 250W
IMG_2508_heic-M.jpg


10k
IMG_2501_heic-M.jpg


The shots are done with the same setting on the camera ISO 125 f8 1/60 sec
the lower K bulb makes more light our eyes can see
I think mine's a bad bulb then. I'll try to get a picture
 

WVNed

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Does your ballast have a knob. Mine gets bumped to the wrong position sometimes and dimms one of the bulbs.
 

WVNed

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The other mistake I made was running the higher K bulbs too low on the tank because it looked dim.
They are making the same amount of light.
I had to raise them back up.
 
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ThePurple12

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Thanks for the suggestions. No knobs, and raising the fixture didn't do anything.

Here's what it looks like, and it's much worse in person:
IMG_2149.JPG
IMG_2148.JPG
 

Bpb

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Correct. If you have a DE fixture. Use Phoenix 14k bulbs. Period. Unless you want to run a 10k tank there’s no need to shop around. Phoenix 14k is as close to a perfect DE bulb for growth and looks balance as you’ll find today
 

oreo54

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Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. It must be a defect.
You know, it's kind of tricky.. You have "eye bright" 6500k next to a somewhat eye dull 14000K bulb.


w/ all the green in the 6500k bulb it will always look brighter..
The degree is a matter of interpretation..

I assume also the 6500k is same power 150W.

Eye, and even cameras are a terrible tool for judging light output..
That said, does look underpowered...

I assume you looked w/ the 6500k off?

Oh and if the same fixtures, swap the 2 bulbs out, to eliminate a ballast problem..
 

C. Eymann

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How long has it been burning? more than a few hours? if so and it still looks like this, probably a bad gas mix in the envelope.
 

DogsRule

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Not sure if this is the issue, but some bulbs are designed to run with a specific ballast. Not having the correct combination can really alter the look & performance of a bulb. Research to make sure your new bulb is compatible with your existing ballast. HTH
 
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ThePurple12

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Not sure if this is the issue, but some bulbs are designed to run with a specific ballast. Not having the correct combination can really alter the look & performance of a bulb. Research to make sure your new bulb is compatible with your existing ballast. HTH
My ballasts say HID Electronic Ballast. I‘m new to MH. Does this mean anything?

I can‘t find any information on the CoralVue bulb, it appears to be discontinued.
 

oreo54

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My ballasts say HID Electronic Ballast. I‘m new to MH. Does this mean anything?

I can‘t find any information on the CoralVue bulb, it appears to be discontinued.
Some info..

.....has also developed high quality electronic metal halide ballasts to power these bulbs. We offer our ballasts in single, dual, triple, and dimmable lamp models.
Plenty on eek bay..but not seeing 14000k 150W.
Any chance it's the wrong wattage?
Counterfeit?
Old?
 
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