MH bulb color comparison

[Chipie]

Is there a place i could see pictures of tanks with different color 250 w mh DE bulbs and from different companies ? I looked at the lighting thread and the links in the frist few posts don't work.
Thanks

 

[DarG]

Re: MH bulb color comparison

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15477241#post15477241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chipie
Is there a place i could see pictures of tanks with different color 250 w mh DE bulbs and from different companies ? I looked at the lighting thread and the links in the frist few posts don't work.
Thanks

Coralreefecosystems.com has some.
I think Cnidarianreef.com is the link to another.

But cameras and monitors affect what the colors look like so the lamps are not going exactly like that in the pictures and sometimes not even close, depending on your monitor and tank. Plus, the ballast used has an impact as well.
I would view the pictures as very general references only.

 

[magikfly]

Different ballasts also influence the color of the bulbs.
Unfortunately you'll just have to try 'em out for yourself

 

[Chipie]

Yes i know that ballasts, monitor and cameras can change the colors a bit but i'm new to MH and would just like to have an idea about what to expect.

If i'm using a fixture with 3 250W de bulbs, should i be using 3 bulbs of the same color. If i was to use one blue(20 000k) and 2 14 000k, would this look weird?

 

[magikfly]

We're talking about personal preferences here, so "weird" is kind of subjective.
I personally hate the blue washed out look of 20K's, others love it.
Why would you want to use one 20K bulb? Use 3 14K's and supplement with actinics

 

[Chipie]

I have a fixture with only MH. so no possibility of supplementing with actinics. No canopy either.

 

[DT's_Reef]

If you like a crisp white look with no visually apparent blue, then Phoenix 14k on a magnetic ballast works well.

Or, a Geisemann 13k/14k bulb (one of my favorites for a natural non-Halloween look).

Personally I use the Radium 250w SE on a Galaxy ballast. Galaxy makes an awesome ballast (electronic), but the obvious blue of the Radium gets on my nerves a bit although my corals are doing well with it. I think I'd like the color better if I used a magnetic ballast (less blue, more white).

Nothing beats personal experience $$$$

 

[Chipie]

I like a whitish look with a hint of blue. Not too blue but no yellow. The fixture is a Aqua medic HQI 2X250w. I only intend to use 3 bulbs for the daytime and the other 2 for dusk and dawn when the other 3 will turn off.

 

[HighlandReef]

also check sanjas lighting thread and web page, he has compaired a lot of bulbs with diff ballast's

 

[Chipie]

Where is Sanjas Thread?

 

[DarG]

The Phoenix 14K 250 watt DE on M80 ballast still looks like windex. Just like slightly watered down generic windex instead of brand name windex. Obviously, I dont like the lamp. But it measures over 20K no matter what and I have never heard anyone describe it as white with no visually apparent blue.
It is bluer than many 20K rated lamps and far bluer than the Ushio 20K for example.

You may like the Iwasaki 15K for a white lamp with no yellow and very little or no blue, visually.

I think you will find the Giesemann 14.5K, Ushio 14K a bit on the warm side.

Sanjays lighting pages are on the manhattan reefs site.