MH 150 watt DE 20k bulb par question

[alien_frag_farm]

Does anyone one know what 150 watt DE 20K bulb has the highest par rating? thanks.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Don't know for sure but the new Coralvue 20k is supposed to be very high for a bluer bulb. Thats my next bulb come December, it'll be replacing Reeflux 12k which I really like.

 

[litenyaup]

i use the xm 15k 150watt de bulbs and the color is very blue, but the corals are gowing very fast!! since ive got them, the coral have really come to life!!

 

[alien_frag_farm]

i guess i would have to know what ballast you are using as well :) thanks.

 

[iceman0124]

Everything i've read puts the Radium 20K right at the top of the list, and while a little more pricey than others, it aint bad, $89 at MD, and all reports say its not overly blue, nice bright white but very stong actinic look without the need for actinic supplementation. Mine should be here tomorrow, I'll let you know how it works for my JBJ nano cube with JBJ gearbox magnetic ballast.

 

[alien_frag_farm]

thanks for all the replies :) Hey iceman, can you post a pic when you get the chance? thanks.

 

[iceman0124]

Sure,

Heres the stock bulb (14k), I bought the setup used so I have no idea how old the stock bulb is...tank has been up and running at my house a couple weeks now, before that it was running with just the main plain rocks for about a month in the store, no lighting.

I'll try and gets some pics of the radium after its been running a few hours, then another about a week later after it should be mostly settled in. The hairy mushrooms were a nice rusty orange in the store under some 400W SE 20k's, cant rember what brand but they were very blue, as you can see underm y current lights they are quite brown....

 

[alien_frag_farm]

Sounds good :) thanks a lot ice, i really appreciate it.

 

[iceman0124]

A few hours with the radium....a "slight" difference...:wink:

 

[alien_frag_farm]

definitely seems bluer :) how do you like them so far?

 

[iceman0124]

I like it a lot, colors seem to saturate more every time at the tank, zoos that had no real color before are nice and vibrant orange and greens, the brown mushrooms are getting a brighter reddish orange and everything seems to be liking them.

Its only been on for a few hours so the true color of the bulb hasnt been established yet.... its a ton brighter than my stock JBJ thats for sure.

Cant get a good shot of the zoos but ths demonstrates the color

Overall it reminds me a lot of my first VHO set of 2x10k and 2x actinic staggered only much brighter. I'm a lot happier, and expect to be even more so once its fully broken in.

 

[alien_frag_farm]

looks awesome. thanks for the help.