Hamilton 20000k Bulbs Too White for Me

[Buzz1329]

So I have a Hamilton CEBU light fixture on my new 180. It runs 3 x 20000k 400 watt Hamilton MH SE bulbs with magnetic (M59) ballasts.

The light is a lot whiter than I thought it would be -- even supplemented with 4 x 80 watt T5 blue bulbs, it is whiter than the 250 watt 14000k DE Phoenix bulbs on my other tank

Is there another SE 400 watt MH bulbs that would give me a bluer look with the ballasts I have? Or will the Hamiltons burn bluer as they mature?

Thanks,

 

[HumbleFish]

I'm running 250w 14k Hamiltons on an electronic ballast and I have the same issue with them; too white.

 

[hedgedrew]

Xm 20 ushio 20 k

 

[s_kelley]

20k radiums are the only bulbs I use

 

[hedgedrew]

Radiums not good on m59 mags

 

[hedgedrew]

Champion sells blueline that is very blue also Also the old corlvue not reeflux 20k was very blue

 

[Buzz1329]

Thanks.

So it looks like Radiums are out, and BRS says the Ushio 20K bulbs require electronic or pulse start ballasts to function properly. Since M59 ballast is apparently a probe start ballast (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/), I guess that leaves me with the XM bulbs. I'll likely wait a few months to get some use out of the current bulbs, and then make the switch.

 

[Michigan Mike]

I would try the XM bulbs out myself..although many 400w bulbs are whiter than I like personally, but supplement bulbs should help.