MH Bulb Advise ?

[newkie]

Its that time again, time to replace my 175W MH bulbs. I've heard lots of talk that the best bulbs are the German 10K. Are these the same as Aqualine Buschke? Does $99 sound right? Is this the best choice [for a 110g main soft coral reef]? I am replacing 10K Coralife bulbs.

 

[dendronepthya]

From what I understand, the german 10K is an aqualine busche bulb. Hamilton sells a german bulb as well that supposedly has a different color than the other german brand. The german 10K's are much more white than the coralife bulb you were using. They can be had for about $80 depending on where you look.

 

[dendronepthya]

Oh, and the german bulbs may not be the best bulb out there. Many people like the japanese Iwasaki bulb. They don't make a 175W though, only 250 and 400.

 

[ignatz]

Iwasaki makes a MH bulb in the following wattages:

70, 100, 150, 250, 400.

Don't take my word for it. Check the website.

Iwasaki North America

greenbud, to answer your question I like my 20K bulbs. I don't know if they make 175's or not. I have heard that there is a 12K Belgium bulb that is very good. I think that they are $79.00. Check it out:

Aquatic Light

HTH
~ignatz

 

[newkie]

ignatz, don't you find 20k to be very blue? I wonder how much bluer they are than my Coralife 10k? Maybe the 12k belgium bulbs are closer to the Coralife 10k?

I saw the belgium bulb somewhere when I was looking this morning. I use 4 NO bulbs to supplement my MH, currently 2 actinic and 2 daylight which gives a nice dawn/dusk effect.

 

[Larry M]

I'm in the same boat as Greenbud. Time to replace my pair of bulbs too, and I am undecided as to whether it will be 12,000k (they can be had for about $50) or try something in the 6400K range. I don't think I'll be using the 10,000K again, they changed color pretty fast.

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Larry M

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[newkie]

Check out this page, does anyone think one of these bulbs would work?
www.lightbulbs4sale.com/Lightbulbs/Metal_Halide_Bulbs/metalhalidebulbs.htm