Ebay bulbs

Chipie

Active member
I need to purchase 3 new MH bulbs but i am on a tight budget right now. (unexpected expenses lately)

I'm tempted to get the ebay bulbs but i would like to get some input from those who have used them for a little while now.

Are they good enough for sps? I'm sure that brand names would be best but for now i'm trying to save some $$
Thanks
 
I used the pulserights off of ebay and loved them. I kept monticaps and a condy nem under them and they did great, but I can't say if they'ed be good enough for high light requiring SPS. The light I used was a 175 watt 14K so if you're using more watts you might be fine.
 
Sorry about posting in the wrong forum. Mods please move this.


Thanks for the reply.
I will be using 3X 250W MH bulbs on a 24 inch deep tank. I have lots of SPS.
 
I have 2 of his 250w 14k SE bulbs. Have had them for 4 months now, and they are still going strong. My SPS like them, and I will buy more from him in the future. $24 each is hard to beat!
 
I've bought bulbs from trust_deals and the lighting dudes and I was happy with both. The lighting dudes are a little more expensive, around $30, but the 14k bulbs I got from them have some of the best color I've ever seen from anyone.
 
I've checked for the seller lightingdude and there's nothing for sale. When did you buy the bulbs from them?
 
I think so, They are the only ones I run now, but everyone has their own opinion. Check out their feedback and see what everyone is saying. Over a thousand feedback with 100% positive. They can't be ripping too many people off.

If you buy a Radium or a Phoenix, or a Ushio you get a good bulb, but what if one blows. who are you going to call? I had one of their bulbs quit firing after 6 months and emailed them. I got a reply the same day and a free replacement bulb in less than a week. No, I don't work for these people or anything like that, but when I get a good product and great service for LESS money, I'm going to recommend them.
 
I have purchased HQI DE 14k and 20k off of ebay for my nano both were under $20.00 (shipping was free) could not be happier with the results. I was skeptical at first and on a tight budget. My opinion its all about the advertising and hype. There are great and inexpensive bulbs on ebay.
 
I have to agree with you....the Ebay MH lamps are as good as the name brand one.
And I have a tank full of SPS corals that would also agree!
I'm sure all the reef supply houses wouldn't agree though....charging all of us over 400% more
a lamp....NOT ANY MORE!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15341408#post15341408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chipie
I've checked for the seller lightingdude and there's nothing for sale. When did you buy the bulbs from them?

Sorry we do not allow links to ebay~dc

Like I said above, I'll be buying more from him when I need replacements. I am very happy with the SE 250w 14k MH bulbs I got from him.
 
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I recently purchased the 250w, 20k SE bulbs from trust_deals. This is my first time using a 20k bulb and I'm very pleased with them. They've only been over my tank about a week, but I've had a couple of my Acros improve their polyp extension and my purple Monti Cap is now turning purple (it browned out when I originally put it in). The bulbs I replaced were Hamilton 14k and these are a bit bluer with a white hue. Couldn't beat the price and if I get 8-10 months out of them, I'll be a repeat customer.
 
I have the 250 watt 14K DE bulb from trustdeal, and I am very happy with it. The color is fortunately what I was looking for, and my SPS, LPS, zoas, softies, etc. have grown very well with good color under the light.

I agree with the earlier poster that the higher cost of brand name bulbs may be due to marketing, also country of manufacture (higher labor costs). This is old technology, and you see Sylvania MH bulbs for far less at Home Depot, just not the right spectrum.
 
I just got two 175w 14k chinese bulbs last night from a fellow reefer. Not sure where he got them as he has had them for a year (couldn't fire them on his ballast) but he said they were cheap chinese specials lol. I put one in and compaired it to my older 10k Ushio and it kicked the Ushios' butt. I will say though that the Ushio is about a year old so it is not really a fair comparison. I will say though that I will buy these bulbs in the future and that they are close to the 14k that they claim to be. I have heard people say the colors are sometimes yellow even on the 14's but these are def blueish.
 
I have the 14k bulbs from thelightingdudes and they have the best color of any bulb I've ever seen. They kill
ushio and phoenix. At around $32 shipped, they are a little more expensive than some other ebay bulbs, but a heck of alot cheaper than all the *premium* bulbs.
 
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