Opinions on MH bulbs

[Dave3112]

I am looking for pros and cons on different bulbs. Specificly 250W SE Halides. I have 2 20K Radiums right now and I HATE them! I think I had better color with the Ushio 20K's. But I want to get out of the 20K spectrum. I want something in the 14-15K as I think 10K is too "yellow" looking for my taste.

What are some of your favorites and why? I'm not really "looking" for major growth but I wouldn't mind it too much either:xd:

Thanks in Advance!!!

Dave

 

[Paul_N]

I use Reeflux 250w 20k and run them on a lumatek ballast. They look more 14k than 20k, but lumatek overdrives the bulbs some. I know when I put a killawat on it it was reading 275 on the 250 setting. I get great growth and color from them. You don't get that blue hue in your tank, more of an icy blue.

 

[Dave3112]

Thanks Paul! I have ARO electronic ballasts from Hellolights. So I don't think I could overdrive a bulb, until I upgrade to better ballasts that is! I also run 4 ATI blue + t5 bulbs and 3 powerbrite blue modules. I like a bluer tank but the Radiums just seem to have a really weak output and too much blue with my Radiums.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Personally, I really liked the color spectrum of the Phoenix 14K, but I have seen many people complain that it is as blue if nor more so than the 20K. However, I would guess that also has something to do with the ballest. I was running them using a standard coralife ballest, and while I got good color from the corals, my tank was not blue-blue either. I also got decent (but not great) growth.

 

[Dave3112]

Thanks for the input! I had just the opposite experience with phoenix on my 75g, but they were 175w 14K and they "looked" like 6500k way too yellow. They were on Icecap ballasts. I may give them a shot on the 250w, I'm just leary of my last experience with them.

What about the ESV bulbs? Is anyone using them?

 

[Paul_N]

I ran 250w DE Phoenix on my 75 in the past and they had the icy blue look also and that was running on a generic dual MH ballast from China. The output was pretty much spot on it measured at 503w for the draw on the dual ballast with the killawat. I am looking for slightly more blue also but not too much. When I setup the 220 shortly I will add led to the MH to do this.

 

[Dave3112]

LED's do give the blues a good boost. I need to find a better way to mount my powerbrites to get better coverage. My Aquarium is a 220 also but I'm not sure it's big enough. LOL

 

[gilmour01]

if you mean the evc 20k bulbs, they have a little more of a violet tint than the radiums.

 

[Dave3112]

if you mean the evc 20k bulbs, they have a little more of a violet tint than the radiums.

I was on a site the other day and found them. I thought they had 14k also but now I can't even find the site anymore. And Google isn't helping either! I hate getting old and forgetting stuff......

 

[nater]

i am running 250se radiums on lumatek dimmables, 2 vho super acentics on my 90 gallon. bulbs are 4 months in and burning a crisp white/blue. no real info on growth as i just got these running not too long ago. i know a guy who has the same tank as you , and he runs 3 250w usio 10k with 3 t5 super acentic supplementing and his tank looks ridiculous. the t5's give the tank look a real nice blue tone. not to mention the massive healthy sps colonies he grows. from seeing his tank, makes me really consider going with 10k just for the growth they provide. also , throwing this out there, anyone ever use the reef brite twin arc bulbs? i am looking into these as they can provide 10k and 20k in one bulb.

 

[gilmour01]

I've only run the 20k EVC bulbs, but they do make a 14k version as well. I couldnt tell you what the 14k is like, but here is a link to them...

EVC 250W Metal Halde Mogul Base Bulb - $54.95 : TB Aquatics - Top Quality Aquarium Products, Aquarium & Drinking Water Filtration, Amazing Service!

 

[Dave3112]

I've only run the 20k EVC bulbs, but they do make a 14k version as well. I couldnt tell you what the 14k is like, but here is a link to them...

EVC 250W Metal Halde Mogul Base Bulb - $54.95 : TB Aquatics - Top Quality Aquarium Products, Aquarium & Drinking Water Filtration, Amazing Service!

Thats the Site!! Thanks!

 

[Dave3112]

i am running 250se radiums on lumatek dimmables, 2 vho super acentics on my 90 gallon. bulbs are 4 months in and burning a crisp white/blue. no real info on growth as i just got these running not too long ago. i know a guy who has the same tank as you , and he runs 3 250w usio 10k with 3 t5 super acentic supplementing and his tank looks ridiculous. the t5's give the tank look a real nice blue tone. not to mention the massive healthy sps colonies he grows. from seeing his tank, makes me really consider going with 10k just for the growth they provide. also , throwing this out there, anyone ever use the reef brite twin arc bulbs? i am looking into these as they can provide 10k and 20k in one bulb.

My light set up is 2 20 Radiums on the ends and a Hamilton 14k DE in the middle (where I keep most of my sps). I also have 4 T5 ATI blue+ bulbs AND Powerbrite LED's for the blues. My growth is great under the 14k and the color is just about perfect for me with the supplimental blue. I just don't have DE ballasts or fixtures for the ends. I re-used my old equiptment to save money!