Hamilton MH Bulb are they good?

[Tony Romano]

*Bright Ice White Blue color
*Bulb has self starter
*Great for reeftanks
*Gives water a shimmery clear blue effect
*No need for additional actinic fluorescent


Hamiltons best - The 250 watt 14K metal halide is bright ice white blue appearance, full spectrum - Outstanding color! This bulb will bring out the vibrant fluorescent colors in your fish and corals. Brighter than 250 watt 20K but with a similar actinic blue appearance. Very good for coral growth. Greater light output and brighter with better color stability consisting primarily of high spikes in 440-460nm (nanometer) range and additional smaller spikes in 550, 590 and 600nm.

 

[mg426]

I use them, I like the look very much.

 

[Drake1]

look is great, my clams love them, i would only use them for 1 year before getting new ones. the shimmering is great then the room is dark and only the tank lights are on

 

[Tony Romano]

thanks

 

[Drake1]

also you can run them without actinic, i have been using them 6 years solo and no ill effect without the actinic, actually my superman digi actually grew faster when i took them away and the maxima clams never noticed

 

[Tony Romano]

that rocks, thanks

 

[RobsReefs]

its what i use!:thumbsup:

 

[Blazer88]

I've been using a 250W 14K Hamilton on my tank for years (not the same one, of course). I couldn't be happier with them and I have no desire to switch. Here's what it looks like when supplemented with VHO actinics:

 

[aninjaatemyshoe]

Actinic is not necessary to keep corals or clams healthy, it just gives them a nice fluorescence. Other than that, actinic is mostly a waste.

I've read that the 14000K hamiltons have a fairly low PAR. I got my Hamilton 150W fixture with one, but only because the whole thing was on sale for $200. I'm planning on switching to something in 10000K or possibly even 6500K for better growth.

 

[Tony Romano]

I like the blue, but acknowledge slower growth.

 

[JohnstonAtoll]

My opinion, brand name doesn't matter. I replaced my coralife 10K DE halides with PlusRite (a generic brand) 20K 6 months ago for $15 a bulb. I'm in the sign business and handle all types and brands of lighting. Matter of fact, Icecap ballasts for example are just an aquarium brand. You can buy a higher quality, same model ballast through a lighting distributer for less than the aquarium industry brands.

 

[Rhodesholar]

Well set us up John!

What do you recommend?

In your experience is there a difference between German, Japenes and Chinese made MH bulbs?

Nice tank by the way.

Thanks.

 

[cyberdude47]

I think the Aquaconnect 14K is a MUCH superior lamp brighter, better color renditioning we place three lamps on one tank XM, Hamilton,& Aquaconnect and the aquaconnect was superior in every way the only thing is they are hard to get because of hogh demand