Best Halide Bulb? HELP PLEASE!!

[kcochran0010]

Alright the fixture I have is a current usa outer orbit 2x 150 watt halide and has 2x 130 watt 48" dual actinic compacts! I was wondering what would be the best brand bulbs to replace with? I dont know much about halide bulbs so any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[shifty51008]

I like the XM bulbs I use the 400 watt 20k's but it depends on what kind of look you want. i would stay away from the XM 15k bulbs though because of par issues but the 10k and 20k's are great

 

[Prince916]

Reflux

 

[thegrun]

I like the Radium 20K, nice blue hue but still good coral growth.

 

[MCCOOL]

XM 10K for growth, Radium 20K for color.

 

[varyhare]

Giesemann 14.5K for nice blue + Great Growth but expensive at $109 each

 

[DLANDINO]

+2 on radiums. As soon as my stock XM bulbs time is up, that is the way I am going again.

 

[Zebodog]

If the current fixture uses electronic ballasts (and I believe it does) you'll find the 150w Phoenix provides a good balance between growth and colour. The Radium 150w will be pretty darn close on an electronic but is a little more expensive. The Radium 150w really starts to shine (pun intended) on a magnetic ballast.

I've heard good things about the Giessemann bulbs but haven't tried them personally. I'm really tempted to try the 14.5k or 22k 150w versions but see no reason to move away from my Radiums.

 

[kcochran0010]

What would be the best for color and growth. I really want my tank to be bring and shine!! What would be the best for a mix with my 2x 130 watt dual actinics . It is a 75 gallon tank!

 

[DaddyJax]

What is your tank size? What are you growing? What did you have?

 

[kcochran0010]

I have a 75 gallon tank and the only corals i have right now are frogspawn, bulb anemone, kenya tree, glove coral, starburst, and 2 types of mushrooms..

 

[DaddyJax]

What kind of lighting did you have before? Brand and kelvin.

 

[sslak]

Hamilton 14k is always a solid choice...

10k for growth, 20k for color....14k falls right in between for a good mix of both.

 

[kcochran0010]

Daddy jax the light I have now I'm sure its still a stock bulb. its a current usa.. 150 watt.. not sure if its 10k 20k or 14k...

 

[kcochran0010]

Alright I just looked it up. It is 10,000k HQI bulbs in there by current-usa. I love how bright the tank is but I want growth as well. So I believe I wanna go with the 14-15k.. I love the bright look and not the blue book. What is the best brand for the price?

 

[sslak]

10k is white.
20k is more blue.

The higher the K the more blue you get. So 14-15k will be more blue than what you have right now.

 

[Zebodog]

Since you prefer the brighter look as opposed to the deep blue, I'd recommend you stick to a bulb in the 10k spectrum. Take a look at the XM 10k.


Here's a few articles on 150w bulbs.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/8/aafeature2/view?searchterm=None

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/feature2.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/may2004/review.htm

Fore
even more info: http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting.

 

[DaddyJax]

For the corals you have in the tank your lighting is for you. LPS and softies are not really as light drivin as SPS. Try to stay with what you want to see. If your PC's are actinics then I would stay with 10k imo.

 

[joeychitwood]

I've been very happy with 14K Phoenix bulbs.

 

[thecoralking]

+1 phoenix 14k for double ended