150 watt DE MH lamps compared

I'm offering a little advise only because I've run both for extended periods over my tank. IMO 250w DE will allow you more alternatives, improve overall appearance of your setup, and best of all not add a great deal to initial cost. Ok downsides ... there are a couple... increased electric bill, and increased heat input into your tank. If you can handle both of those go for it.
 
Thanks Bowfront for your opion.

Just to get me more confused..... If I was to go with the 2 X 250W Icecap Balasts - what fittings do I need to get to be able to run the CV 10k bulbs? Also what would be the best to run with these on my Icecap 660? PC opr VHO or T5 ... This quest I have gone on for lighting is driving me crazy with options.
 
I just wanted to correct myself on that EYE MTD150AQUA-7S bulb. It's a 15K bulb, I just ordered two more set ups from my LFS who gets them from Sunlight Supply.

I think there's some reflector efficiency factor in my findings, simular to SE vs DE. I believe the 150w DE reflectors are more efficient at delivering the light to the corals where it counts.
 
im setting up a 40 breeder, you think 2 150w DE pfo pendants would be enough? dont really want to go to 250's
 
scot said:
I just wanted to correct myself on that EYE MTD150AQUA-7S bulb. It's a 15K bulb, I just ordered two more set ups from my LFS who gets them from Sunlight Supply.

I think there's some reflector efficiency factor in my findings, simular to SE vs DE. I believe the 150w DE reflectors are more efficient at delivering the light to the corals where it counts.
Click to expand...
To date, my numbers support that opinion.
 
wow this has been some great reading!! I plan on upgrading to some ROIII's sometime this summer. the setup i have has the dual PFO 150 ballast, along with some generic, lighting bays. they are sheilded, but look like they were bought at HD. im kinda worried. but everything seems to be doing fine with the ushio 10k bulbs. however i need to replace soon, and as many others i am very eager for the results. i even saw some super cheap 150 de's on ebay. like 39.00 for 10k, 43.00 for 14k, and 49.00 for 20k. as much as i like a deal. i want quality. argh.. i was thinking of getting a couple of the 14k just to see the color. but only run aqualines in the tank.. but i will wait for results. just hope its not to long .

thanks for everythign your doing traveler....
 
aquariumclown said:
This is a 14k bulb...

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104284.html
Click to expand...

its certainly not a 50k bulb, but i dont know that i would call it a 14k bulb.

most 14k bulbs have alot of blue in them. i own a iwasaki 150w de 50k, and its more like a pink tinge. it also does very wierd things to zoo colors hehe.

compare.sized.jpg
 
RECOMMENED 150 BULB

RECOMMENED 150 BULB

I am getting new bulbs on my Aquaspacelight it has 3 150 de bulbs and actinics in center. Not sure which ones are on there now but they are more on the white side. I plan on keeping lots of clams with mostly zoos and soft corals. What bulbs are recommend for this setup. I like it to have a blue tint, but I also want my clams and reef to be thriving. I was looking toward the iwaskis 50K, any users of this particular bulb notice growth good or bad? Any opinions are welcome as I am looking to order some next week.
 
Re: RECOMMENED 150 BULB

Re: RECOMMENED 150 BULB

triggerman71 said:
I am getting new bulbs on my Aquaspacelight it has 3 150 de bulbs and actinics in center. Not sure which ones are on there now but they are more on the white side. I plan on keeping lots of clams with mostly zoos and soft corals. What bulbs are recommend for this setup. I like it to have a blue tint, but I also want my clams and reef to be thriving. I was looking toward the iwaskis 50K, any users of this particular bulb notice growth good or bad? Any opinions are welcome as I am looking to order some next week.
Click to expand...
The bulbs that came with a few of my AB's were AB10K's, which are bright white when compared to most 10Ks I have tried.

I am currently running a 3x150 with 20K's on the ends and a 10K in the center. My clams prefer the 10K and show their discomfort pretty quickly when moved too far from the 10K's coverage. I ran the 20K's for 2 months over clams with a acclimation cycle and they did not look good until I popped a 10K over them again.

The pic that unsped posted above is fairly representative of a Ushio 20K, CV20K or XM20K compared to a Iwasaki 50K.

Color has been changing slightly with ballast changes.

I don't have an AB ballast in the testing.

Hope that helps.
 
my recommendations,

ab10k, ushio10k brightest but yellow

blv10k nice bright white

aquaconnect intense icy blue color


personally the blv10k and aq1400 are my current favourites a mix of them would be superb.

updated pic comparing my new ac1400's, ive got tons of other bulbs maybe i should put pics of them to. i also have ab10k, xm10k, xm20k, blv20k, coralvue20k, ushio 10k

ac.sized.jpg
 
Could you compare the intensity of the AC 14K to other lamps, unsped? I assume it is brighter than a 20K but not as bright as a 10K, but which is it closer to?

TIA
 
saltyseaman said:
Could you compare the intensity of the AC 14K to other lamps, unsped? I assume it is brighter than a 20K but not as bright as a 10K, but which is it closer to?

TIA
Click to expand...

i would say its the most intense bulb over 10k i have tested. that being said i really want to get a blv10k (my friend has 250's and i am really impressed). I would say the ac1400 is closer to 10k in brightness than it is to 20k. granted this is what the eye sees and not technical.

the best thing about the ac1400 is the result is very clear unlike 20k bulbs that can look very murky almost like the water is blue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wishntoboutside
Giesemann lights fixtures for sale. All hybrid Led or MH with T5s
Replies
9
Views
2K
classictint
C
P
Classroom Aquarium/Pets Have to Go :( 70Gallon Reef/50 gallon sump CompleteSetup, Max
Replies
1
Views
890
phatsonate
P
golfish
250 watt HQI DE ballst
Replies
10
Views
1K
golfish
golfish
A
Does anyone still run XM 10k 250 watts bulbs ?
Replies
2
Views
963
abhishek@1985
A
psykokid
FS: 250W DE MH Ballast and bulbs
Replies
1
Views
533
five.five-six
five.five-six
Back
Top