Anyone tried the Coralvue Reeflux 10k bulbs?
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skippy2
New member
Only the 1 of my 12ks fired for an entire weekend. 9 hrs on for the 1 and nothing for the other. I waited till Monday then called the electrician back. Didn't want to pay for a weekend call. I had already moved my corals under the light so wasn't worried about anything not receiving light. Anyway, the elec. came on Monday, turned the ballast on and they have been working ever since.
Well, I tried leaving my virgin bulbs on for a while, and with a bit of tweaking, it worked! :dance:
Here's what I did:
first bulb: I ran for 4 hours continuous; it never started up. I then cycled the power, still no start-up. I removed the bulb, inspected it, reseated it, and it immediately started up.
Second bulb: I ran for 1 hour without it starting up. I removed the bulb, then reseated it. Still no startup. I turned it on expected to let it run for another 3 hours to duplicate the first bulb's process.
When I came back a half-hour later, the bulb was on and running in full glory.
Something about virgin bulbs, it seems; they occasionally need to burn in a bit, then recycle before they are ready to fire.
Every time after that, the bulbs have fired right up.
When I got the first bulb going, I took a picture of the tank with the 10000K on one side and the 12000K on the other.
I'll post this as soon as I get the photo off of the camara and figure out how to post the photos (any advice here?).
This whole change-over came about due to a suspicious bulb I bought on Ebay. I contacted CoralVue. They have been wonderful.
I am a CoralVue believer more now than ever. Customer service counts for a lot in my book.
Here's what I did:
first bulb: I ran for 4 hours continuous; it never started up. I then cycled the power, still no start-up. I removed the bulb, inspected it, reseated it, and it immediately started up.
Second bulb: I ran for 1 hour without it starting up. I removed the bulb, then reseated it. Still no startup. I turned it on expected to let it run for another 3 hours to duplicate the first bulb's process.
When I came back a half-hour later, the bulb was on and running in full glory.
Something about virgin bulbs, it seems; they occasionally need to burn in a bit, then recycle before they are ready to fire.
Every time after that, the bulbs have fired right up.
When I got the first bulb going, I took a picture of the tank with the 10000K on one side and the 12000K on the other.
I'll post this as soon as I get the photo off of the camara and figure out how to post the photos (any advice here?).
This whole change-over came about due to a suspicious bulb I bought on Ebay. I contacted CoralVue. They have been wonderful.
I am a CoralVue believer more now than ever. Customer service counts for a lot in my book.
Chicago
New member
sorry but i have been sifting through the 20 plus pages.. seems at the beging in 05 reefers were liking the 10k 400 watt reeflux.. but now they are going back to the radium 10k.?
i am about to replace my bulbs and was looking to go back to the radium after trying the xm.
i supplement with vho 50/50 and super attinics.
thanks
i am about to replace my bulbs and was looking to go back to the radium after trying the xm.
i supplement with vho 50/50 and super attinics.
thanks
elephen
In Memoriam
Radium is a 20k.
I ran the RF Electronic ballast with the Reeflux 10k's and it was just a little pink. I would have to have 4 or 6 VHO atinics in order to get anything 'glow'. I have 2 VHO atinics and you couldn't notice a difference at all.
I finally decided to get rid of the setup and go back to an HQI ballast with Radiums.
I ran the RF Electronic ballast with the Reeflux 10k's and it was just a little pink. I would have to have 4 or 6 VHO atinics in order to get anything 'glow'. I have 2 VHO atinics and you couldn't notice a difference at all.
I finally decided to get rid of the setup and go back to an HQI ballast with Radiums.
I have been running the 400W 10K reeflux with HQI ballast. The par is good. I don't like the pink hue too much. Ran 2 of them with a xm 20k to flash out the pink a little. Seems better with that combo. One of the 2 bulbs failed to fire after less than a month of use. Told by the seller that b/c the bulb is overdriven by the HQI ballast, it is not covered by the warranty even though I had it for less than a month. I was also told that if you are running the HQI ballast, non of the SE bulb will be covered under the warranty. Don't know if that's true or not. But I will definitely not buy them again for sure. Now using the coralvue 20K which seem to look pretty good so far with betetr color.
trmiv
Active member
I ordered two of these bulbs a few weeks ago. I stuck one in my PFO pendant to test it on my new tank. I didn't run the bulb long that long, maybe and hour. I opened the pendant up to take the bulb out, and there was a small crack in the ceramic on the end of the bulb! I tried to take the bulb out, and the entire end of the bulb broke off. Great. I was very easy with the bulb, like I always am with DE halides. I've NEVER in any of my pendants had a bulb crack like this, either putting them in or taking them out. The bulb did NOT looked cracked after I put it in the pendant.
trmiv
Active member
I contacted Coralvue about it. They, in not so many words, basically said I handled the bulb roughly. They did offer for me to send the bulb back and they would microscope it to see if the glass had bubbles in it. Also they are willing to sell me another at wholesale price, but they won't replace this one for free.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7039599#post7039599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by want2reef
Just got my 10K bulb. Bad part is, it came with broken glass on the inside of it.
I'm contacting the seller now.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048352#post7048352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TA
Exact same bulb...exact same pieces of broken glass...exact location (about 1/4" from the end of the glass rod).
Positioned all broken pieces at the end of the bulb. Been running a couple months now with no trouble.
If you fire it up and something bad happens though, don't blame me.
Earlier posts from this thread.
In my case, this was not due to mishandling....seems to be more likely a manufacturing defect. So it doesn't surprise me to read that you had some trouble with your bulb. Mines been running fine up till now, but I am a little reluctant to order another after following this thread.
Good luck
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
Wow, this thread has really turned around. I wish I had waited 2 more months before ordering my bulbs.
My tank has been running on 13 month old XMs for a month now, because neither of my 1 month old reefluxes will fire. Sweet.
My tank has been running on 13 month old XMs for a month now, because neither of my 1 month old reefluxes will fire. Sweet.
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