MH Bulb Question

[anthony27]

I am new to the whole MH area of lighting.

I have a lumtek 250 watt mh ballest and I would like the best blue spectrum bulb out there.


What are some areas of mh bulbs that I should know, along with color spectrum.

 

[MIKE NY]

Ant ..get either a 12k Reeflux or a Radium..you won't be disppointed with either...good PAR for SPS with a nice blue to make everything pop. The radium is a little trickier in that depending on the ballast it will be a different color/brightness. I also find them to be very fragile and break easy...

 

[anthony27]

so is a 20k bulb more on the white side then the blue

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

NO - 20K is bluer

 

[cthedaytrader]

I use a 250W radium on my select watt lumatek, my favorite MH bulb of all time. I have ran Phoenix bulbs and XMs, and I think Radiums are worth the extra money. Personally, I like a nice blue tank so I still supplement my Radium with blue plus t5s and royal blue leds, but the radium is my primary light for growth and color.

 

[MIKE NY]

I ran the Reeflux for years and still like them, but I tried the Radiums and even did a side by side on my tank. Even thought they are a 20k bulb they are brighter than the 12k Reeflux on my PFO ballasts. I run supplimental T5 actinics for even more blue.

 

[Turbovr3six]

I run radium on a lumatek. Had other brand bulbs, but keep going back to radiums.

 

[chuckbuc]

Radiums hands down I've tryied every bulb out

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[chuckbuc]

Y u going with halides ant ..? I thought u were an led guy

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[anthony27]

I still have leds and t-5s over the main tank, the 30 I have I wanted to have a mh over it so I have a lumtek* ballest with a Lumen Bright Large Pendant. Then I will do a change over probly to the whole system

So many ppl have MH, worth the shot

 

[chuckbuc]

U seen my tank in person .... I may have a few older spare 250 watt is u wanna try out def have an xm 20k and I think reeflux , or hamilton 14k

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[anthony27]

I am still trying to get this down if the bulb is 20k its really blue and if its 12k its really white. lol

Leds are eaiser but no where near the color.

 

[xxxduke62xxx]

Thats because you have those homemade LEDs. Get rid of them and try the AI,ecotech or kessils. Best decision with my tank i ever made.

 

[MIKE NY]

if and when we can arrange a meet for a trade..I have some old 12ks and 10ks you can try to see the difference....20ks are normally alot bluer, but the radiums aren't depending on the ballast.

 

[anthony27]

Thats because you have those homemade LEDs. Get rid of them and try the AI,ecotech or kessils. Best decision with my tank i ever made.

I agree you get a bad spread and have to add more leds, then the color is off cause you need to have certain bulb colors to mix the spectrum of light in the tank.

I know AI and EcoTek do provide the right ammount and correct spectrum.




Mike I will shoot you over a text tonight and maby we can meet up when you have a chance.


Charlie thank you for the offer, I know you had really blue bulbs in the tank and made the colors pop.

 

[anthony27]

Now the problem


The light will not fire up. I checked the ballest with a ampage meter and it's working any ideas

 

[DrHarryLopez]

must be the bulb..

 

[anthony27]

Im guessing

 

[MIKE NY]

Whenever I put in new radiums it takes about 3-5 minutes before they ignite, but as they burn in the time decreases..how long did you leave them on before turning the ballast off?

 

[anthony27]

10 min.