Ebay MH bulbs
- Thread starter mat167
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tangtang clown
New member
I had 3 150w 20k plusrites and they are still working perfectly. I just installed 3x250w 20k plusrites into my new custom built canopy. The next day I came home and 2 of the 3 were not buring. I unplugged the ballasts, then I connected the ballast that was working the one of the non working fixtures and it wouldn't work. I'm not saying it is a bad bulb just yet, it could be the fixture. I have power going to all of the ballasts and only one is burning. These are brand new bulbs.
NorthCoralNewB
New member
I just purchase a OmegaStar 20,000K 150W HQI bulb and I have to say this bulb is one of the nicest bulbs I have used. 10xbetter then the ebay bulbs that are cheaply made.
The packaging on this bulb is hideous though.
The packaging on this bulb is hideous though.
Do you have an Odyssea ballast and fixture? If so did the plusrite bulbs work with the Odyssea ballast?
tangtang clown
New member
I recently installed 3x250w MHs in my new canopy. I used brand new Plusrite bulbs and now only one is working. I think I was a little too rough with them, I hope. Also 2 of my 150w MHs stopped working, I think it was user error in this case also. I just ordered 3 250w plusrites for $91 shippped. Hopefully it was a case of bad bulbs and not my fixtures.
NaClH2Opgh
New member
tangtang clown
New member
The bulbs worked in the odyssea ballast and in the hellolights ballast.
tangtang clown
New member
Please elaborate.
NaClH2Opgh
New member
If you go back through the thread there are many posts of the ends of DE bulbs breaking very easily and also just bulbs not firing after very little use on them or just shutting off after 20 minutes. I have had all three problems. I have not tried the SE bulbs.
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rangerD275
Member
Okay, so I have had my plusrites going for about 5 days now (250w SE 14k) and I have to say that other bulbs I've had have made my tank look better. Hopefully with a little more burn in time they will color up but they are very white compared to other 14 k bulbs I've used before. Maybe I should have gotten 20K's but I have used 14K's in the past that were much more blue. I'll give another update tomorrow.
rguyler
New member
It's not uncommon for there to be a wide variety of appearances between different bulb/ballast manufacturers and bulb/ballast combinations. There is definitely some trial and error with choosing the right lighting for your tank. Personally, I really like the Plusrite 14k bulb color but the intensity of my bulbs has dropped considerably over the months.
I finally got my lights. I will posting pictures,. In the meantime I found the link to the Plusrite bulbs with bulb specs. here you go:
http://www.pluslight.com/plusrite/case2/MH for Aquarium.htm
http://www.pluslight.com/plusrite/case2/MH for Aquarium.htm
Plusrite bulb pictures
Plusrite bulb pictures
As promissed. I will be installing the bulbs today. As a first impression build quality is ok. They have scratches on the glass and the ends are not as straight as quality bulbs. Will see how they look and the ease of installing.
Plusrite bulb pictures
As promissed. I will be installing the bulbs today. As a first impression build quality is ok. They have scratches on the glass and the ends are not as straight as quality bulbs. Will see how they look and the ease of installing.
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Cool, getting ready to replace my bulbs so am very curious how these turn out.
tangtang clown
New member
That's what happen to mine. I ordered 4 more on Tues and this will be the last chance for these to redeem themselves. I hope the problem I have is the bulbs and not my fixtures.
Installed the lights and they where easy no problem. The 150w that went on the coralife fixture with the M81 ballast started pretty quick and took 1 minute for the light color to stabilize. The 250w on the Odyssea 24 inch fixtures with the silver E ballast took much longer almost 3 minuts before they started. They kept on flickering and took another 3 to 4 minuts for the color to stabilize.
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Stuart60611
New member
Well, I installed 3 175w SE 14k artemis bulbs and am pretty happy with them. They are much bluer than any 14k bulb I have seen and even bluer than many 20k bulbs I have seen. I could not imagine using the 20k version of this bulb. No problems, and tank looks great. Not runing antics at this point and colors look nice. I have a fowlr so I cannot comment on how corals react. Also, I do not have a par meter. Perceived brightness of the tank is pretty good. Not real bright, nor real dim. So far so good. Today will be the 3rd day of using them.
falconut
New member
I'm curious, what types of bulbs are people having problems with, DE or SE? I've had a pair of 250W SE 14K PlusRites that I've switched in and out for the past year or so. I wasn't sure if they were what caused my algea problem, so I kept pulling them out. But, I never had a problem with them starting up. They always seam to fire. I run the magnetic ballasts sold at hellolights and made by Advanced. I've always liked the colors of these bulbs, they were just a hint whiter than my Hamilton 14K and XM 15K. I probably have about 3 months total on them.
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