Anyone else use 1000w halides?

[museumguy]

I have a 1700g reef tank which is currently lit by 4 x 1000w 14k CoralVue bulbs. Bulbs are about 10 months old and I'm looking to replace them, and was wondering for those of you that also use 1000w bulbs, what brand do you use? Also if you have any thumbs up or thumbs down stories about other brands?

I've had mixed results with Coralvue. The corals are growing ok and the color is decent, but of the 4 that I originally got for the tank one of them was a different temperature, maybe 18k despite it being labeled a 14k and had to be swapped out. Another bulb burnt out within the warranty period and was replaced free, a third bulb exploded over the tank after about 6 months, and the bulb we replaced that one with burned into what looks like a 20k temperature (very blue) even though labeled 14k. I look at it like it isn't the end of the world if I have to go with CoralVue again, but would be open to other brands if people have had good luck with them.

Any feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Jar*Head]

I have try a few different bulbs on M47 CWA standard magnetic ballast, Powerhouse Magnetic pulse start ballast and futurebrite electronic ballast by SLS

Hamilton 14K = crisp white
Ushio 20K CWA version = Too blue for my taste
Ushio 10K CWA and AD versio = bright but yellow tint
Radium 20K = a bit brighter then the ushio 20k but still pretty dim
Helios 20K = nice color, not too blue like the rest of the 20k work with both M47 and electronic

 

[malawiman]

i use 1 1000w 14k hamilton above my 150g sps stock tank. love the color and growth i highly recomend this bulb i also use their 400w and a 250w. the 250 lost color way sooner than the larger bulbs.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I use blueline 20k.

I like them in my 1000watts, but never cared for them in lower wattage.

 

[museumguy]

Thanks guys. Had another coralvue explode into a million pieces over the tank today so went ahead and ordered some Hamilton 14Ks. Hopefully they work a little better.

 

[dwdowney]

My tank is 5' deep. I was originally only going to run 400 watt bulbs because I did not really know how many or how effective 1000 watt bulbs were. Are you getting good colors and what about the heat?

 

[malawiman]

Thanks guys. Had another coralvue explode into a million pieces over the tank today so went ahead and ordered some Hamilton 14Ks. Hopefully they work a little better.

you wont be diapointed we really like ours.

 

[malawiman]

My tank is 5' deep. I was originally only going to run 400 watt bulbs because I did not really know how many or how effective 1000 watt bulbs were. Are you getting good colors and what about the heat?

the color of sps is amazing under the 14k hamilton 1000w. you do get alot of heat, working under the light in the tank can feel like your head is on fire. but ive just used fans for cooling never needed a chiller.

 

[Beaun]

Here is a quote from another thread on the Atlantis Marine World 20k gallon system. This is the bulb combos they use.

(12) 1000w Sunmaster Cool deluxe bulbs in Sportsliter parabolic reflectors
(8) 1000w Ushio blue bulbs in a variety of fixtures from Sunlight, Lumenarc
(6) 400w Ushio 10k
(1) 400w XM 20K bulb for a moon light

 

[jjk_reef00]

What kind of reflectors do you guys use with these bulbs and what kind of spread?
Just curious because my lumenbright large pendents can cover about 3' x 3' when I hang them 15" off the water.