Ebay MH bulbs

[bguile]

Well, it's been a little over a month now and I haven't seen any difference in the bulbs in terms of it's "blueness". You can see my original post back on page 15. Neither one of my bulbs, 14k and 10k has gotten any bluer. I still seem to be having problems with cyano after quite a few water changes and can't seem to not wonder if the spectrum of these bulbs could be contributing.:worried: In fact now, it's coming on like gangbusters and it seems I'm doing a large vacuuming almost every week. Since I'm in the middle of this cyano battle, I may just have to go back to the Phoenix 14k just to try and find out. It still remains though that these Plusrites just may not get blue enough for even for me. I like having actinics for the easy daytime progression of lights coming on but dont want to HAVE to use them just to get color in my tank.

 

[jiriki]

Have you tried their 20k bulbs? Thanks for the picture - The lights seem more blue than the other ebay seller's bulbs.

Also, how are growth rates and coral coloration? Thx again

I have not tried their 20k bulbs. The 14k are borderline too blue for me as it is. It is more blue than a Reeflux 20k by a little bit.

I've had pretty good growth rates and the colors are very good. This is a fairly new SPS dominated tank so it is now getting settled in and the colors are all popping like crazy.

The pic I uploaded is more blue than it really is. If I had to take a guess, this has color more like 16k or more.

 

[aoc230]

nothing compared to reeflux/giesemanns etc... think logically, you get what you pay for. they probably could be alright if they stay stable. ive tried a few sets they crunck out in a few months.. i hated them but that was jsut me... bulbs arrived broken(both times) or pieces of glass inside

 

[2reefs]

nothing compared to reeflux/giesemanns etc... think logically, you get what you pay for. they probably could be alright if they stay stable. ive tried a few sets they crunck out in a few months.. i hated them but that was jsut me... bulbs arrived broken(both times) or pieces of glass inside

Still waiting for my lights to arive. Will post pictures when I get them.

 

[jiriki]

I think the experience will vary from person to person. I talked to a few fellow reefers locally who hate Reeflux bulbs. They did not last more than 6 months before turning extremely yellow. They liked Hamiltons better. The Reeflux 250w SE shifted colors at 6 months for me too. I have a PAR meter and noticed the PAR output remained high so I kept using it. Corals did not seem to notice. It was just a visual color shift as far as I can tell. I just have Icecap ballasts so I am not overdriving them at all. For some many folks, 6 months is about when they replace bulbs no matter what.

I have had 2 bulbs burn put prematurely. They were sent back to Hobby Lighting and they sent me new bulbs. I had to pay around $6 shipping since it was going to Canada but in the long run, I was saving a lot of money. The bulbs have 90 day warranty on them. I can only speak for myself, but overall, I am happy.

 

[2reefs]

So the light from Trust deal are supposed to arrive yesterday on Tuesday. Nothing came. E-mailed the guy and no response. i said i will wait and maybe they will show up today. Mind you I am in NJ and he is in PA and mail take 1 day to get here. Wednesday and no bulbs. so I e-mail him and call him and still no response.

Anyone know if he use a carrier or just regular mail to send the bulbs?

 

[Keyvan S]

I placed my order in Dec 09, and after 100's of email and finally threatening him by exposing him as a scam artist my order arrived last week. I will never order from him again. the bulbs look used and they do not look nothing like a 20k at all (yellow). I throw them in the trash and replaced them with phoenix bulb.

Caveat emptor

 

[aoc230]

i agree for sure personal preference and also what ballast is pumping those bulbs... makes a big difference, not only wither its electric/magnetic but also make of ballast and if they are single or double ended. honestly though you get what you pay for, if your par value stayed high i dont understand the color change your talking about? cause that could be depentant upon other tank peremeters as well? but all in all if YOU dont like them thats all that really matters, not my opinion/experience.

good luck(they are good for back up[ bulbs lol)

I think the experience will vary from person to person. I talked to a few fellow reefers locally who hate Reeflux bulbs. They did not last more than 6 months before turning extremely yellow. They liked Hamiltons better. The Reeflux 250w SE shifted colors at 6 months for me too. I have a PAR meter and noticed the PAR output remained high so I kept using it. Corals did not seem to notice. It was just a visual color shift as far as I can tell. I just have Icecap ballasts so I am not overdriving them at all. For some many folks, 6 months is about when they replace bulbs no matter what.

I have had 2 bulbs burn put prematurely. They were sent back to Hobby Lighting and they sent me new bulbs. I had to pay around $6 shipping since it was going to Canada but in the long run, I was saving a lot of money. The bulbs have 90 day warranty on them. I can only speak for myself, but overall, I am happy.

 

[Stuart60611]

It seems that there are a bunch of people having trouble with this trust deals outfit. Aside from the Artemis bulbs being another option from hobbylighting, those who want the plusrite bulbs can also buy them from 1000bulbs and lightbulbland (.com). Maybe more reputable options.

 

[rangerD275]

It seems that there are a bunch of people having trouble with this trust deals outfit. Aside from the Artemis bulbs being another option from hobbylighting, those who want the plusrite bulbs can also buy them from 1000bulbs and lightbulbland (.com). Maybe more reputable options.

After reading the first 6 pages I decided to order from Trust deals and got my bulbs right away. I ordered 2- 250w 14k SE Plusrights and they were at my door in two days. I cannot vouch for the color/ par because I've only fired them up over an empty tank (filling it now) to test them, but they seem okay at first glance. I'll post pics once I finish the poly on the canopy I built (Monday probably)

 

[bevoboy]

After reading the first 6 pages I decided to order from Trust deals and got my bulbs right away. I ordered 2- 250w 14k SE Plusrights and they were at my door in two days. I cannot vouch for the color/ par because I've only fired them up over an empty tank (filling it now) to test them, but they seem okay at first glance. I'll post pics once I finish the poly on the canopy I built (Monday probably)

Hey Ranger! Post up pics when you get the tank filled. I'm curious to see the color (considering buying a pair of these bulbs).

C175

 

[MaLi]

Ordered and received in two days two Plusrite 250w, 20k, DE FC2. They look really nice and are not at all the Windex blue as discussed here. Big improvement over the 15k Odyssea that I had.

cheers,
Marian

 

[jiriki]

i agree for sure personal preference and also what ballast is pumping those bulbs... makes a big difference, not only wither its electric/magnetic but also make of ballast and if they are single or double ended. honestly though you get what you pay for, if your par value stayed high i dont understand the color change your talking about? cause that could be depentant upon other tank peremeters as well? but all in all if YOU dont like them thats all that really matters, not my opinion/experience.

good luck(they are good for back up[ bulbs lol)

The color change I am referring to is the crispy blue tint it outputs. After around 6 months, the color is no longer a crispy blue. For me, it changed to a more white color, borderline yellowish. As I said, my PAR meter showed very high par values still. Even at 6 months, the values are still higher than the Artemis bulbs I have running now (both new and 6 months old). I believe it's a viable bulb. My corals did not brown out or lose color.

The rule is very true, you do get what you pay for but plenty of exceptions. Even with these Artemis bulbs, I had two blow out after only 1 month. However, that is not an issue as the seller offered a 90 day warranty and were replaced free. I just had to pay the return shipping. Even with the cost of sending the bulb back, I basically paid roughly $21 a bulb. That's a third of the cost of a Reeflux 20k. For $65 Reeflux, kept its color for only 6 months. So one could also ask, for $65, why didn't it keep it's color? PAR is still there at least

Point is.. I agree with you. These bulbs do not have a long track record. That's what I paid for/gambled for.

 

[rangerD275]

Hey Ranger! Post up pics when you get the tank filled. I'm curious to see the color (considering buying a pair of these bulbs).

C175

Will do.

C 2/75
RLTW!

 

[lordofthereef]

These are off ebay by a seller called hobby lighting. Each bulb is $10 plus shipping.

Able to link the seller? I can't find them and at that price I really want to try a pair.

 

[jhutton]

i had been running ebay bulbs on my tank with good results
but i finaly gave in and ordered pheonix 14k and i noticed
my corals have colored up alot more

all in all i will by name brand bulbs from now on
but only because i am into sps and acros
otherwise these are probably fine

 

[lordofthereef]

Able to link the seller? I can't find them and at that price I really want to try a pair.

Nevermind I found it. Was searching "hobby lighting" not "hobbylighting". Here is a link for those who want it:

http://shop.ebay.com/hobbylighting/m.html?_dmd=1&_in_kw=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

 

[tangtang clown]

I just fired up my new 250w MHs with 20k plusrite bulbs. I think they look great. I will update with pics.

 

[2reefs]

I just fired up my new 250w MHs with 20k plusrite bulbs. I think they look great. I will update with pics.

Still waiting for mine. I have been having issues getting a straight answer from Art. He 1st stated that he sent them then on Friday he told me that his shipper did not send them and he will ship them Friday. This is the 2nd week and still do not have the bulbs. How long did it take you to get yours. This is not a smart way to do business specially that we could be long term customers for him.

 

[MaLi]

Ordered 2 x 250w/20k DE FC2 and received them in 3 business days. True Pluserite marked on bulbs and box. They look excellent (coming from a 15k Odyssea). Not too much blue at all and my corals adjusted nicely.

cheers,
Marian