are coralvue MH bulbs good

[drew55]

I was looking at 25o watt coralvue metal halide bulbs the other day and saw they were only $50 are they a good quality light bulb or will they burn out quick or not put out as much light. Please let me know if you have had experience with these in the past or have heard things about them.
Thanks, Drew

 

[Don Berry]

The new Reeflux line of bulbs are much better than the regular Coralvue bulbs. There has been a bunch of people raving about their new SE Reeflux 10K bulb. They are decent bulbs for the money.

 

[Bryan89]

I just changed one of my 400W XM 10k to a Reeflux 10K, both were on a Blueline eBallast. The color of the Reeflux is much better. I have had the Reeflux for 2 weeks. Its color is white to slightly pink, but overall is a much truer 10k IMO than the XM.
It really makes the XM look yellow. The coral I bought from Don looks much better under the Reeflux 10k. I Also, if you look at the Reeflux bulb, it 'appears' brighter (vs. looking at the XM), but in the actual tank the XM appears brighter.

You are welcome to come over and look at the bulbs if you are in the area.

HTH

Bryan

 

[kerusso316]

Reeflux 10k looks very pink on electronic ballast.The best place to see different k value on different ballist is rods reef.He sells them also.Its good to look alot before buyng bulbs.Its noy good being stuck with a bulb that you are not happy with.I am running 3 Reeflux 10k on magnitc ballast and LOVE them.My corals love them as well.This bulb/ballast combo really will pop the blues.Rod runs the 14k on electronic.This produces the same color as the other setup.

 

[superlazy]

I've been running a 250W 20K coralvue bulb for about a year and have been quite happy with the look

 

[adamjr]

I've been using 2 SE 10,000 K 250W CoralVue on Icecap ballasts for about 2 years and am very happy. I am going to probably switch over to 20,000 K but I am satisfied with the quality and value.

Adam

 

[Rod Buehler]

I was happy with the coralvue lamps, but the Reeflux get my vote these days. If I am using HQI ballasts, I like the 12KK. If its a standard ballast, I like the 10KK. If its on an electronic, I would switch ballasts (in some cases) . Now some corals (humulis, gemefera, digitata etc, will color up better under less K lighting with more intensity such as an XM 10KK or an Iwasaki. Some corals will color better under 20KK lighting. The reeflux lamps seem to be the middle ground IMO/IME.

 

[adamjr]

Rod,

So where do I get these reef lux bulbs and what do they cost? Now I'm curious.

We are going to be upgrading the 150 to a 210 and will be going to 3 halides instead of 2. I want to be able to keep a variety of SPS as well as clams. Opinions vary as to whether or not I should also switch to 400 watts instead of 250. Then the age old question or combo of questions should I go 250 DE, 400 SE, 400 DE? is 400 DE overkill. Some say 250 DE is equivalent par to 400 SE. Others say no.

Maybe this should be its' own thread. I have some errands to run but I'll make a new thread with these questions when I come back.

Adam

 

[superlazy]

Sharkys

 

[jsbzmcdaniel]

You can get them through Rod or at PA.

 

[kerusso316]

Yea thats what Rod said....Sorry for misquoting you Rod....12k/vs 14k....Rods prices are in line with internet supply houses so it's nice to go SEE what you want insted of just hoping you get the right color.Then you can buy them right there....And no I am not on Rods payrole....Its just nice to go SEE.