Metal Halide Par question

I feel like a lot of the longtime halide users get hung up on out of production bulbs because they’ve had so much success with them over the years.

I’ve had equal success with Reefbrite twin arcs, Hamilton, and Aquabright Solutions bulbs.

I favor Reefbrite for the aesthetics, and because the twin arcs last twice as long.
 
I feel like a lot of the longtime halide users get hung up on out of production bulbs because they’ve had so much success with them over the years.

I’ve had equal success with Reefbrite twin arcs, Hamilton, and Aquabright Solutions bulbs.

I favor Reefbrite for the aesthetics, and because the twin arcs last twice as long.
I ordered some Twin Arc but didn't notice they sent me 20k instead of 10k. I didn't care for the 20k look. I plan to try again with 10k's.
 
I ordered some Twin Arc but didn't notice they sent me 20k instead of 10k. I didn't care for the 20k look. I plan to try again with 10k's.
That’s funny you say that, the 20k twin arcs are more daylight than 20k Hamilton and Aquabright solutions. I’m running 20K twin arcs now.

I ran 10k once. The algae and the acros grew faster! I didn’t like the way the acros looked brown under the 10k bulb, but there’s no denying the growth! They also looked great under LEDs once the Halides shut down for the day.

20K Twin Arc:
IMG_2275.jpeg
 
That’s funny you say that, the 20k twin arcs are more daylight than 20k Hamilton and Aquabright solutions. I’m running 20K twin arcs now.

I ran 10k once. The algae and the acros grew faster! I didn’t like the way the acros looked brown under the 10k bulb, but there’s no denying the growth! They also looked great under LEDs once the Halides shut down for the day.

20K Twin Arc:
IMG_2275.jpeg
They seemed really dim to me compared to the XMs. Your tank looks great under them.
 
I don’t get a ton of par from my halides. Depending on The bulb I use, I can squeeze some out. But in my opinion running Hybrid T5/LED/Halide is the stuff dreams are made of. I’m about 16” off the water, I have the high intensity lenses on the XR30s. The T5s are 7-9” off the water. My rocks go about 1/3rd up the water column and I have 900 par at the top of my rocks and 550-600 on the sand. I’m waiting on some M80’s so I can run some Radium’s. I’m surprised the XR30s are staying glued together. I’m now at 100% all channels and schedule in full spectrum, and that is for 9.5 hours out of the 14 hours they are on. The fans are on 9 of those hours. While I hate these LEDs because of Mobius and their price tag when new, I will say as I knock on wood, I have been beating the hell out of them and they haven’t spilled their beer yet.


Hi WhatCouldGoWrong71,

Where did you buy the M80's. I'm desperately looking for two. Thank you!

TommyF
 
Hey guys got my fixture today. I have two Hamilton 20k and two aquabrite solutions 20k, 250w. What’s the word with the reefbrite 14ks? Worth the $120 to pick some up?? Driven with reefbrite ballast
Depends on the color you are after
 
Mine has the 'wings' on the side for the XHO that I haven't taken off yet. It looked different.. .LOL
Cool! I need to come up with a way to add 2 Meridian 14K edge bars to my new builds fixture
I have the RB but not impressed with the reflector. I am spoiled from my past MH fixtures.
So I am working on a way to add two edges to this 21×21 fixture which was $100 less than the RB single.
The flange is replaced with the Louvered panels. It should look good over my 36×36 system.
Screenshot_20250821_134142_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20250821_135449_Chrome.jpg
 
Cool! I need to come up with a way to add 2 Meridian 14K edge bars to my new builds fixture
I have the RB but not impressed with the reflector. I am spoiled from my past MH fixtures.
So I am working on a way to add two edges to this 21×21 fixture which was $100 less than the RB single.
The flange is replaced with the Louvered panels. It should look good over my 36×36 system.
Screenshot_20250821_134142_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20250821_135449_Chrome.jpg
What site did you get that from?

**nevermind found it**

What size area do these cover?
 
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