MH Bulb Opinions

[morris2]

I currently have Reeflux 400w 12k bulbs. It's getting time to replace them and I am looking for opinions. I am not unhappy with these bulbs and would buy them again.

If I could change anything about them is perhaps a little more blue, but not much. I am not into the 20k look.

What are other people using?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

My current fav is the 400w Ushio 14k. I've never tried Reeflux 400w 12k's so I can't compare the two. My research seemed to indicate that the BLV and Ushio might be one and the same lamp. In any case, both are very reliable.
Note: Ushio is a "Euro type" lamp and will fire up best/reliably on electronic or pulse start ballasts.

 

[SkiFletch]

Ever considered a Hamilton 14k? I've never tried them in 400watt but they're a decent comprimise between 20k and 10k

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13632164#post13632164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SkiFletch
Ever considered a Hamilton 14k? I've never tried them in 400watt but they're a decent comprimise between 20k and 10k

FWIW I have. The Hamilton 14k is much more blue than the Ushio 14k.

 

[morris2]

Gary do you supplement your MH with actinic lighting?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

yep.

 

[morris2]

I don't now and can almost get away with it, but I'm not quite satisfied. I only use actinic for a dusk effect. I could run them all the time but have tried to avoid it to cut down on electricity usage. Maybe I will only run them on prime viewing times.

Do you know anything about par on the ushio vs reeflux?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13632708#post13632708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by morris2
Do you know anything about par on the ushio vs reeflux?

I'm pretty sure Ushio puts out more PAR

 

[morris2]

If I'm going with actinics I may as well go with more par.

 

[morris2]

In regards to vho bulbs. I am only running them for a dusk effect for an hour a day so really haven't paid much attention to their age. If I run them longer for color, does it matter if the bulbs are older? The actinic bulbs don't provide much par in the first place.

 

[suppressivefire]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13632787#post13632787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
I'm pretty sure Ushio puts out more PAR

i must disagree.

 

[tmz]

My vhos tend to get a lot less blue as time goes by. I use them with 250w hamilton SE 14ks on two of my tanks. On the lps tank, I use actinic and 175wSE hamilton 20ks. I like th look of these but really haven't observed many others too closely.

 

[Capt_Cully]

As far as color goes, I just switched back to hamilton 14K's from Ushio 10K's and WOW...I'd forgotten how blue they are. Personally I love it. Depending on the growth, I may up the ante next time around and try 20K's. Otherwise, my next change is sched to be Phoenix 14K's(I've heard good things about them), then perhaps Ushio 14's after that (that ought to get me thru to 2010 )

Not sure how this all translates to 400 watters, but it's my 2 cents.....

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13633297#post13633297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by suppressivefire
i must disagree.

it used to be easy to find PAR ratings but apparently they've moved Sanjay's Reef Lighting Info to another website.
I'll see if Sanjay can provide some kind of answer.
I believe Sanjay himself uses the BLV 400 watters....

 

[morris2]

I was just about to ask about Sanjay's study. Please let us know what you find out.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

example

example

using a coralvue electronic ballast the PDDF on Ushio is 179. The reeflux 12K is around 125.

 

[suppressivefire]

True Ballast type plays a huge roll in par.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm pretty sure the Ushio 14k blows away Reeflux 12k for PAR using any ballast.
Ushio 14k is visually much whiter and much brighter than Reeflux 12k.

FWIW I like the Hamilton 14k's and the Ushio 14k is whiter and brighter than a Hammy 14k.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

spectral plot comparison:
400w Coralvue/Reeflux 12k and 400w Ushio 14k on Icecap ballasts

morris2 ygpm

 

[morris2]

I went with the Ushio's and I must say my first impression is that the Ushio is a much brighter bulb. Very far from scientific. I will watch it as it burns in, but right now it seems very white. It's also not really fair to compare a 1+ year old Reeflux bulb to a new Ushio but I don't remember the Reeflux being this bright.

I will let you know if I see any color shifts in my sps.