Favorite 250W bulb? I need to change!

[Mrs Smith]

Hi guys,

So the tank is settling in well, and I was trying to be patient, but the bulbs I got really aren't what I was hoping for.

The tank came with 20K radiums, which are too blue for my tastes and the tank isn't very bright. There are 3 400W ballasts, but I generally only run two of them due to energy concerns. I think I'm finally ready to go ahead with the initial plan to swap them out for 3 x 250W, but can't decide on a bulb.

I am running 400W XM 10Ks, and they're really yellow, even with my actinics. I was hoping that once they burned in, they wouldn't be so yellow, but alas, they are. I thought I was looking for a true white (like Tricky's lovely 10K XMs), but maybe I need more blue. The growth is great, but the colors are suffering.

12Ks? And which brand? 14Ks?

Also, it's been awhile since I bought MH ballasts... I know I should probably get the E-ballasts, but is it really worth it? Anyone got some 250W ballasts lying around they want to trade for 400s or sell? Otherwise I'll order from Premium...

Thanks!
Danielle

 

[cham]

You're discussing one of the most difficult to answer questions in reefing. Not only does everyone have different preference but to further complicate things you'll find that different ballasts can burn bulbs very differently.

For instance, the phoenix HQI looks horribly blue on electronic ballasts but is very nice and crisp white with a hint of blue on an M80 ballast.

If you've already bought your ballasts then tell us what you've got.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

I am in the market for new bulbs as well. I might go with the EVC 10K or 14K.

 

[Mrs Smith]

Yeah, I know. And I've been doing this long enough to know that. But still...

I have always had PFO ballasts when I've been the one buying them, but I've owned a variety over the years. Premium has a few duals on clearance, and that's what I'm leaning towards.

Since I'm doing it, I might as well replace the crappy reflectors as well.

I am keeping the mogul sockets. I like them, am familiar with them, and have to narrow it down somewhat.

I just can't believe how icky these XMs look on my PFO 400W ballasts.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14667683#post14667683 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mrs Smith
Yeah, I know. And I've been doing this long enough to know that. But still...

I have always had PFO ballasts when I've been the one buying them, but I've owned a variety over the years. Premium has a few duals on clearance, and that's what I'm leaning towards.

Since I'm doing it, I might as well replace the crappy reflectors as well.

I am keeping the mogul sockets. I like them, am familiar with them, and have to narrow it down somewhat.

I just can't believe how icky these XMs look on my PFO 400W ballasts.

I know what you mean about the XM's. Looks like someone pee'd in my tank. I didn't like the color at all.

My favorite has always been IceCap. Those guys make a great product and if you ever have to deal with them their service is top notch, like Tunze is.

Save a few bucks on the electric bill with electronic ballasts too.

 

[dugg]

I have tried many different bulbs over the years. I also use magnetic ballast, and i like Hamilton 14k bulbs. They are just evough blue that you don't need suppliment actinics, but not too blue. I have yet to have a Hamilton bulb ever go out early on me, and the color is always consitstant. They are also about the most reasonably priced bulbs out there. I tried a reeflux 14k bulb on my last purchase, and i hate it.

 

[Mrs Smith]

The Hamilton 14Ks are definitely on the list. I just don't want to go too blue... I did get used to the color of the radiums, but the tank was very dark and I missed the brightness of the reef.

Will keep looking... thanks for the input!

 

[dugg]

This a hamilton 14k with no actinics added.

 

[dugg]

Here is a more recent pic with a hamilton 250w 14k with no actinics a little closer shot.

 

[Mrs Smith]

Very pretty. You don't want to see how yellow my tank is.

I am now leaning towards the IceCap 250Es. Do they make those in dual, or am I just going to buy 3 of them?

 

[dugg]

That is with a cheap magnetic ballast from ebay.

 

[want2reef]

Maybe try these.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI...twater_Aquarium_Supplies&vendor=&child=MB6667

 

[dugg]

you can get 2 Hamiltons for that price.

 

[smariner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14667624#post14667624 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pacific Reefs
I am in the market for new bulbs as well. I might go with the EVC 10K or 14K.

Thanks, I think you'll be really happy with the EVC's... I've used them for years now and all the customers that try them are having GREAT results...

Hope this helps,
Chad D. Bryant

 

[markandkristen]

my favorite is the reeflux 12k at the moment.. i love the color of my corals under them.. i get the pop from actinics that i want and my other colors dont look washed out.
i had xm 10ks as well. and i dont like the look of the water or my corals under that lighting..
why pay 220 watts more of light in vhos to bring my tank back to the color that reefluxes already give me..
xm 20ks are nice as well. dimmer than the reefluxes in my opinion.

 

[The_Browns]

REFLUX 12K are my favorites so far.

 

[dugg]

I must have just gotten a bad Reeflux bulb i guess. Everyone seems to like them, but my corals are all reaching and climbing to the top like i put in a NO flourestent bulb instead of a MH. I like the color for the most part. It's a little more blue then my Hamilton was, but it looks good, just that my corals act like there is no par at all.

 

[Mrs Smith]

Anyone running Ushios? The 10K specifically? I really like the growth aspect of the lower K value, but it's hard to draw the line on how much yellow I will accept.

 

[Pacific Reefs]

I think it's your ballast that is pushing those bulbs in the yellow range. Have you seen Sanjay Joshi's lighting tests for PAR? He tests many of the bulbs out there. Ushio's are nice too. I am running some Ushio 14K and for the price I will be switching back to EVCs.

www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com

 

[smariner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14674075#post14674075 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pacific Reefs
I think it's your ballast that is pushing those bulbs in the yellow range. Have you seen Sanjay Joshi's lighting tests for PAR? He tests many of the bulbs out there. Ushio's are nice too. I am running some Ushio 14K and for the price I will be switching back to EVCs.

www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com

Glad you pointed this out, under those test, Sanjay has found that EVC's perform really well under most of those tests.

Hope this helps,
Chad D. Bryant