MH lighting

[SVXH6]

looking to get a new 250 SE MH bulb.. 10K is too bright and yellow, looking for 12K or 14K.. in your opinion what is the best bulb?? i have a 10K but many of my corals really dont like i tried the whole acclimating them slowly to it for a month wasnt working.. i swithched to a 14K hamilton, they are happy with that and surprisingly so was the H. Mag..but IMO the bulb is kinda dim.. anyone in the area use XM's, reeflux,venture, or blueline.. this is going to be run on a magnetic ballast.. also if anyone has any used bulbs that i could try out or buy that would be cool too, any K rating would be fine.. im really just trying to find a good bulb..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Tony- in case you didn't see it, here's JBNY's 250w MH lamp comparison:

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

You stated that you're running a 10k right now... but you didn't post what brand. (It makes a difference.)

 

[SVXH6]

i was running a 10K it was Plus brand.. it was new it was free.. with that being said i believe a different brand 10K would be a lot brighter.. i am currently running a 14K Hamilton..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7262109#post7262109 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SVXH6
i was running a 10K it was Plus brand.. it was new it was free..

Based on your experience with the "Plus" brand 10k 250w halide, I would not assume that all 10k's are "too yellow".
You get what you pay for- or (in this case), what you didn't pay for!

 

[SVXH6]

not saying that they will all be yellow, but if this 10K put out a sub-par PAR, what would a good brand 10K do to the corals, which would probably have a lot higher PAR?? it really wasnt the yellow that bothered me, it was affecting the corals and it just seemed they couldnt adjust.. but they look great under the 14K..

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

JBNY's 250w halide lamp comparison (in the link I gave you above) does an excellent job of showing the color comparisons and PARs of different 250w halide lamps.
It's important to note that one brand of halide most likely does not have the same PAR or kelvin (color) as another brand- even if they are rated the same kelvin (k). There is no industry standard.
I'm willing to bet an XM or Ushio will blow away a "Plus" brand 10k. Just make sure that whatever you get is compatible with your ballast.

 

[SVXH6]

i know it will blow away the plus brand, im positive of it..Im just saying that it may be too much for them.. too bright and too intense..i have looked at that site a few times before, i am thinking of getting a 15K xm, or possibly the sunburst 12K if i could find it.. havent seen them online much..

 

[SVXH6]

so knowone has any SE 250's they are not using??if you do pm me please.. thanks