best metal halide bulb ?

[kga943]

best for looks and coral growth 150 watt

 

[33mm33]

Not sure what the best would be but I buy always go for the 14000k Phoenix

 

[heathlindner25]

Never used them, but some friends use the 20k radiums.

 

[ca1ore]

Pretty limited selection at 150 (double ended at least, since you didn't specify). Seems to be the phoenix and that's about it.

 

[thegrun]

20K Radium if they still make them. It looks closer to 14K and has great pop.

 

[AaaRr]

Agree 20k radium if you can find them. I tend to not see them and go with Phoenix. If you have a few T5s could do a ushio 10k which can help grow coral but I do not like the look.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[ca1ore]

If we're talking double ended, the 150 radium appears to be unobtanium. Somebody said there were a couple on eBay (but I don't do eBay anymore). Just one more data point that MH is going the way of the dodo.

 

[ReefCowboy]

Phenix 14k is a beautiful bub, with awesome coral results.

 

[lousybreed]

If we're talking double ended, the 150 radium appears to be unobtanium. Somebody said there were a couple on eBay (but I don't do eBay anymore). Just one more data point that MH is going the way of the dodo.

Metal halide isn't going the way of the dodo. Since the invention of the e-ballast with selectable wattages there is no reason to go 150w anymore. Might as well go 250w SE and get a radium bulb. For no additional cost. In fact there has been a resurgence of T5 and MH as people find out LED isn't the complete answer. I would put my metal halide tank up against any led only tank any day.

 

[lousybreed]

And Phoenix owns the 150w DE market as it is a great bulb for a reasonable price.

 

[ca1ore]

Metal halide isn't going the way of the dodo. Since the invention of the e-ballast with selectable wattages there is no reason to go 150w anymore. Might as well go 250w SE and get a radium bulb. For no additional cost. In fact there has been a resurgence of T5 and MH as people find out LED isn't the complete answer. I would put my metal halide tank up against any led only tank any day.

It's an old and tired debate, and one I care not to engage in anymore (largely because the parties are increasingly entrenched). The argument about 'resurgence' is a bit like the LP. Sure, some people have gone back - but not enough to be significant in the long run (though ironically the CD then experienced the same thing). In regard to MH, time will tell, and we shall see.

 

[lousybreed]

It's an old and tired debate, and one I care not to engage in anymore (largely because the parties are increasingly entrenched). The argument about 'resurgence' is a bit like the LP. Sure, some people have gone back - but not enough to be significant in the long run (though ironically the CD then experienced the same thing). In regard to MH, time will tell, and we shall see.

Agree that there is no right answer. And most likely hybrids that combine several of the technologies are absolutely the best. I do know that BRS is having trouble keeping their 250/400w metal halide ballasts in stock because they are selling.

My end goal is either MH/LED or MH/T5. I have a friend that is going to do all three!

 

[ca1ore]

FWIW, a buddy of mine runs SE 250 watt radiums off an HQI ballast. Not sure there's anything in 150 that is as good.

 

[lousybreed]

FWIW, a buddy of mine runs SE 250 watt radiums off an HQI ballast. Not sure there's anything in 150 that is as good.

I am switching to that exact set up this week!!

 

[biecacka]

i run a SE 250 radium on my setup. I want to try the 400 though.

corey

 

[jda]

150W HQI gold standard is 14K Phoenix - great bulb for color and growth and the bulbs can last two years. They must be driven with a ANSI M81 ballast or they can really suck on a e-ballast (even select a watt). Radium makes a 20K that is quite good, but they are harder to find and you usually have to get them on eBay from overseas - I have one and I like it. Hamilton makes some bulbs that are pretty good on M81 - 14 and 20K - that are about 80-90% of the Phoenix IMO.

150W HQI is a great lighting choice that can put out as much PAR as a 250W MH setup on a M58 MH ballast - this is nt the same as 250W radium on M80 ballasts which put out quite a bit more output. They mostly get a bad name since Odyssea and Coralife (to a lesser extent) make really cheap and bad fixtures with cheap e-ballasts and people did not have good results - basically Odyssea lied about what they were selling and even said "phoenix replacement bulbs" which was basically a Kellyanne Conway alternative fact for a cheap, bad knockoff and even put M81 stickers on Chinese e-ballasts. With just barely more wattage than a high end LED panel and with significantly higher quality light with more spread and penetration (with a good reflector), a lot of people would have more success with them than they would other light sources. They are a great choice for people who want less IR/heat and easy, good light.

If anybody is interested, call Hamilton and get a good reflector and a guaranted-real M81 and enjoy the setup that I think is better than any panel on the market. That being said, a bad 150W HQI setup is not worth owning.

 

[MrSkumFrog]

I loved my Amazon.com 10k Plusrite bulbs for $20. It was a very crisp white and my corals grew like mad. The Radium 250w were very nice too.