Question for the " LIGHT GURU's "

[650-IS350]

Question for the light " GURU's "
I'm currently have a Current 250MH DE with electronic ballast with 4 T5s. I need to replace the bulb soon and would like to inquire on what people thought of the following bulbs and to know whether they are worth it.

250 Watt 13000K Metal Halide Bulb - Aqualine AB, Double Ended $109.00
250 Watt 14500K Metal Halide Bulb - Megachrome Coral, Double Ended $109
250 Watt 20000K Metal Halide Bulb - Aqualine AB, Double Ended $119.99

I've also heard of Ushio's, Iwasaki's, Reflux and Hamiltons.

I want to try something better than my 14K phoenix's, if I didn't list a better bulb please let me know. I like a little blue but not tooo much blue that all I'm seeing is attinic.

thanks in advance
Charles- :smile:

 

[Ike]

Hey Charles, nice to see you around! Peter Eichler Here...

I've never used the AB bulbs, they're solid but not worth the extra money from what I've seen. The gman coral bulb is very nice and one of my favorite bulbs. However, it will be startlingly white compared to the washed out blue of the Phoenix. Keep in mind that the Phoenix is really more along the lines of a 20k bulb as far as color, even with an M80 ballast. The good news is the Ushio 14k seems to be identical to the Gman coral and is much cheaper. If you want loads of intensity and a crisp white with a smidge of blue the Gman/Ushio bulb is as good as it gets IMO.

I've got a new Ushio 14k bulb for sale since I've gone to SE Aquaconnect bulbs if you decide to go that direction.

 

[650-IS350]

Peter,

Good to see you here my friend. Do you have pics by chance for reference? that would help me out a lot.

Charles-

 

[Ike]

I'll see what I can find, keep in mind it really won't do much good. Between monitor settings and white balance on one camera vs. another the portayal may not be accurate.

 

[Ike]

Old photos but might help and kinda portray what my eyes see...

Gman coral/Ushio

Phoenix

 

[Sikryd]

I hate the AB's personally.

If you are looking to go bluer than the 14k's on M80's, then I would look at the 20k bulbs since there really isn't a good 14k bulb that is bluer, than I know of.

You might want to check out sanjay's lighting page. I think you have to become a member (free) of the manhattan reef club.
That will give you a lot of information and ideas as to what is out there.

The best thing I did was check out 10-20 (100's now :) ) of tanks and different lighting setups to see what one I liked the best, then emulated that.

 

[Sikryd]

I just noticed you are running electronic ballasts. So even with them the Phoenix's aren't blue enough for you?

 

[Ike]

Another with gman/ushio over my frag tank

 

[Ike]

I just noticed you are running electronic ballasts. So even with them the Phoenix's aren't blue enough for you?

I think they're too blue...

 

[Ike]

I've always wanted to run a tank with a combo of ATI Blue+ and Ushio 14k bulbs, I think it would be a perfect balance.

 

[650-IS350]

old pics, didn't play with white balance or anthing just a crappy point and shoot... oh, btw, the tank also uses 4 T5s, 2x 420nm and 2x 460nm.

this is really my first time with MH's, I'm really a T5 guy.

 

[Sikryd]

I think they're too blue...

Oh okay. That is what I was thinking. The PHX on electronic will run that way. They underdrive the bulb, which also cuts down on the spectoral life expectancy.
Running M80's gives a nice crisp white that needs supplementation, in my opinion. That is the setup I currently run and love it.

Like Peter suggested, the Ushio is probably your best bet for that setup.

Seeing them in person on the same ballast is the best way to go if it is possible though. Since we all pretty much see things differently, especially with light.
It also might be too big of a change, but I doubt it since you are able to supplement pretty good with 4x39w T-5's. You can also adjust the bulbs in that to different spectrums to accent the lighting that you like the best.

 

[650-IS350]

Yeah, I've been debating on changing some bulbs. I've changed out 1 bulb to fiji purples and like it. But was debating on putting a white bulb there as well. We'll see, as for the MH bulb, I might try the Ushio's 14Ks.

 

[scrapz]

Ushio 14k is a very nice whitish bulb. I have seen it supplemented with 2 ATI B+, one of the best lighting combos I've seen. With 4 T5, I would do:
ATI B+
Pure Actinic
ATI B+
Actinic +

 

[Mallard]

Here is a nifty interactive site that lets you compare many different bulbs. Just to give you an idea.

250Watt Bulb Comparison

 

[650-IS350]

Mallard,
thanks, nice link there... but do they state whether they used a Electronic/magnetic/HQIadjustable ballast???

 

[Mallard]

I believe it was done with a PFO standard ballast. Here are a few others that'll help you and others out.

Manhattan Reefs - Sanjay's Lighting Guide

Bulb Color Comparisons

CnidarianReef: Lamp Tests

 

[650-IS350]

PFO is that electronic or mag. Sorry, I'm pretty new to MH.

 

[Mallard]

No worries, I believe they are electronic. Unless someone else has more information to chime in with. But those sites should help you in your quest.

Also, when you say you want something better. What do you mean exactly? Are you looking for your colors to pop? I think must would suggest a Radium for that. If you're looking for growth or something else just let us know. Ultimately, there is no "perfect" bulb. Its a matter of finding what looks good to you and gives you the results that you are looking for.

 

[650-IS350]

Crisper look, more real color if you would say. Growth eh? it is what it is in the tank, my calcium reactor is not hooked up yet so growth is in the back of the line of my concerns. I guess I'm looking for better pop in the corals, more real look to tank as much as possible color wise to nature, not full attinic look to tanks. LOL I hope I make sense.