14k MH bulb dim

[ThePurple12]

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?

 

[ThePurple12]

bump?

 

[flyfisherman]

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.

 

[ThePurple12]

Dont stare into bulb.

I know, I was just trying to gauge the brightness;Bucktooth;Bucktooth

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

It's less yellow, but it's not crisp, just dim.

 

[WVNed]

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

20k 250W

10k

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.

 

[ThePurple12]

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

20k 250W

10k

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]

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

 

[WVNed]

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.

 

[ThePurple12]

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:

 

[WVNed]

No, that doesn't look like a 14k bulb. I get blue and no yellow from mine.

 

[ThePurple12]

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. It must be a defect.

 

[WVNed]

I am running Hamilton bulbs. You might look into those.
https://hamiltontechnology.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=24_89_96

 

[jda]

Get the Phoenix 14k. There is no need to mess around with anything else in DE bulbs.

 

[Bpb]

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]

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]

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.

 

[ThePurple12]

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.

I took it out and replaced it with the old 6500 yesterday, but I had it running all day with no change.

 

[DogsRule]

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

 

[ThePurple12]

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]

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..
https://www.whitecorals.com/en/-coralvue-150w-14k-de-double-ended-cs17001

.....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.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=CoralVue+14,000K&_sacat=0Plenty on eek bay..but not seeing 14000k 150W.
Any chance it's the wrong wattage?
Counterfeit?
Old?