I just got a 13K bulb from him, and it is pretty much like the 14K bulb I previously got from him. It's working fine, though it was hard to pop in. The only difference I noted is that the outer glass has a blue tinge to it. I'm wondering if they're using lower K bulbs and tinting the outer glass to adjust the color. Would that even work?
Ebay MH bulbs
- Thread starter mat167
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bhazard451
New member
The 20k and most likely the 22k will look like the Phoenix in my experience. The 14k looks more like a 10k. Not sure if the PAR value is the same though.
rguyler
New member
Update on Plusrites
Update on Plusrites
It's been about 4 months now that I've had my Plusrite SE 175w 15K bulbs running. I really like the color but these bulbs have lost a significant amount of light intensity in that time. When I first put these in they were way too bright to look at and they would light up my entire living room. Now I can stare right at the bulbs and the brightness of the tank is much less. My wife also agrees with my assessment. I don't have any equipment to provide PAR numbers so sorry. The color is still good but considering these are only 4 months old (I only run them 2-3 hours per night average) they should still be nice and bright.
I'll be shopping for some of the well-known quality brand bulbs for my next bulbs.
Update on Plusrites
It's been about 4 months now that I've had my Plusrite SE 175w 15K bulbs running. I really like the color but these bulbs have lost a significant amount of light intensity in that time. When I first put these in they were way too bright to look at and they would light up my entire living room. Now I can stare right at the bulbs and the brightness of the tank is much less. My wife also agrees with my assessment. I don't have any equipment to provide PAR numbers so sorry. The color is still good but considering these are only 4 months old (I only run them 2-3 hours per night average) they should still be nice and bright.
I'll be shopping for some of the well-known quality brand bulbs for my next bulbs.
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
The break-in period for MH bulbs is a a hundred-ish hours as far as I know. If you truly only run them 2-3 hours a night, I wonder if you are just now hitting that break-in period? Just a thought
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
Did this ever happen?
rguyler
New member
I don't know if anybody contributed bulbs or not. I've been swamped at work the last couple of months so haven't been doing much with my tanks recently. Just now getting caught back up. Besides, I don't have a reef so don't care too much about PAR and the such but was hoping somebody who had a vested interest in what the bulbs could do would send one in.
I'm sure I have more than 100 hours. 4 months X 30 days = 120 days X 2-3 hours per day = 240-360 hours. I can't say for sure when the intensity went down though so it might have been a while ago. Like I said, I wasn't paying too much attention to my "kids" over the last couple of months due to workload.
I have a pair of XM 175W 15k bulbs on the way so we'll see how bright they stay over the same period.
I'm sure I have more than 100 hours. 4 months X 30 days = 120 days X 2-3 hours per day = 240-360 hours. I can't say for sure when the intensity went down though so it might have been a while ago. Like I said, I wasn't paying too much attention to my "kids" over the last couple of months due to workload.
I have a pair of XM 175W 15k bulbs on the way so we'll see how bright they stay over the same period.
lordofthereef
One reef to rule them all
I am fairly new to halides myself, so I am only going on what I have read. I am not sure that the number is actually 100, just that I read something like that. It may very well have been 100-200, I don't know. My understanding is also that PAR is not so much a measure of brightness, although I can't say that I TRULY have a wonderful grasp of what PAR really is a measurement of other than what numbers are good for corals.
It would be unfortunate if this was the case with these bulbs. I am just shocked to hear it as nobody else has reported anything of this nature. I suppose it is possible that they simply didn't have the interest to do so.
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EMUReef
New member
i just bought a brand new SE 175watt hamilton 20k from my LFS for one of my tanks as the other has a still pretty bright bulb in it. I plan on purchasing a 20k off ebay to compare the two probably next week or the week after. it seems trust deals is the only one selling a 175watt that is atleast in the US.
jefathome
New member
Sounds like most people are having troubles with the SELLER. I bought mine from 1000bulbs dot com and they were only $12.50. Not only are they cheaper there, but this seems like a much more reputable company as well. I ordered mine on a Wed, they got to me here in Cali by the following Wed.
As for the color of the bulbs, I ordered a 14k 250w and a 20k 400w. I have not tried the 250 yet, but the 400 (on a magnetic ballast) seems much more blue than the Hamilton 14K that I had in there previously. It is a little less blue than the 20k Radium 250w (Electronic ballast) that I use in my frag tank, but still quite blue overall.
As for the color of the bulbs, I ordered a 14k 250w and a 20k 400w. I have not tried the 250 yet, but the 400 (on a magnetic ballast) seems much more blue than the Hamilton 14K that I had in there previously. It is a little less blue than the 20k Radium 250w (Electronic ballast) that I use in my frag tank, but still quite blue overall.
NaClH2Opgh
New member
Please post some pics. I see they do not have 250w DE bulbs on that site. As for problems, mine were with the bulbs also for the DE ones. Either the ends cracked or would shut off after 20 minutes. Oh and the color sucked.
Amoore311
New member
I will soon have a nice present for all of you guys/gals in this thread.
I posted par measurements from my 250 watt hqi's (over my 180) a while ago on here. The general consensus was that the numbers were mediocre at best. That could be the ballast, reflectors, or bulbs...
So, because of my own complex for refusing to have anything "mediocre".... I'm totally redoing my lighting lol.
I've got (3) x 250 Watt Finished Lumen brite Minis, powered by (3) 250 watt ice cap HQI ballasts. I also got (3) 250 Watt Phoenix 14K bulbs.
I'm picking everything up next weekend. So I'll have par readings for both bulbs in the new lumenbrites in about 2 weeks.
I posted par measurements from my 250 watt hqi's (over my 180) a while ago on here. The general consensus was that the numbers were mediocre at best. That could be the ballast, reflectors, or bulbs...
So, because of my own complex for refusing to have anything "mediocre".... I'm totally redoing my lighting lol.
I've got (3) x 250 Watt Finished Lumen brite Minis, powered by (3) 250 watt ice cap HQI ballasts. I also got (3) 250 Watt Phoenix 14K bulbs.
I'm picking everything up next weekend. So I'll have par readings for both bulbs in the new lumenbrites in about 2 weeks.
bhazard451
New member
Yeah 14k and below are a bit yellow/white. I do recommend the 20k and up though as a nice back up light or a low on funds and need a bulb light.
LoneRanger
Member
If you go back a bit you can see the pics of one of the 14K's as being very white in color just like my Current 10K's. I sent them all (4 back and he sent me out 4 20K's per my request. the following pics are with the PlusRite 20K's and my wife and I are very happy with the color!
no actinic
with actinic- keep in mind I have 4 250W MH's and they are all on light movers- the initial shot the light movers were off and the lights were at the front of the tank- this shot the lights are all over the place which makes some areas look dark.
hope this helps-
tanks is 96" long 32" wide and 24" deep.
L.R.
no actinic
with actinic- keep in mind I have 4 250W MH's and they are all on light movers- the initial shot the light movers were off and the lights were at the front of the tank- this shot the lights are all over the place which makes some areas look dark.
hope this helps-
tanks is 96" long 32" wide and 24" deep.
L.R.
imisky
New member
anyone used the 12,000K bulbs from trust_deals before? ive been thinking about getting a few for testing to see how well the SPS react to them. Im thinking between the 12K and the 14K bulbs any ideas? thanks i will have T5HO suppliments along with these bulbs looking for something on the white side without any blue
tangtang clown
New member
Just received my new 250w MH retro kit from hellolights and I also received my Plusrite 20k bulbs. I wired one up and they look great!
Here are some pics of everything:
with plastic on reflector
T5s on old 150w fixtures
Here are some pics of everything:
with plastic on reflector
T5s on old 150w fixtures
tangtang clown
New member
250w Ballast
Plastic removed from reflector
One lights up my living room
Plastic removed from reflector
One lights up my living room
tangtang clown
New member
Never sit MH fixture on top of glass tank tops, I put the fixture directly on top of the glass to take pics and in less than one minute I heard a crack and immediately removed the fixture. It crack the All Glass Aquarium lids and luckily the fixture didn't fall into the tank!
This is what the 250w 20k Plusrite looks like next to Odyssea T5s. Very BRIGHT.
This is what the 250w 20k Plusrite looks like next to Odyssea T5s. Very BRIGHT.
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