MH question

[Jsn]

What is the difference between a rounded bulb and a slim bulb? both are 250watts mogule ended.

 

[abulgin]

Never heard of a slim bulb. Pictures/links?

 

[Fish_wiz2]

I think he is talking about SE and DE/HQI

 

[Jsn]

yah the SE bulbs. Oops.. My Bad!

 

[abulgin]

I'm confused. Mogul base is single ended. Double ended is HQI. Which are you asking about?

 

[Jandree22]

perhaps your confused between...

Bulb A:

and

Bulb B:

???

If that's what you're getting at, nowadays most if not all MH bulbs for reef usage are 'slim' like Bulb A... but a do remember seeing Bulb B style years ago. Ultimately, nothing significant is different, other than Bulb A giving your more usage of your reflector for maximizing efficiency.

 

[Jsn]

Thanks Joel. I'm asking because at my work they have Bulb B and they are getting rid of them. There's about 10 bulbs. Some are new and some are old. Bulbs aare made by Phillips. Should i get them? and use them for my tank?

 

[abulgin]

what's the temp on the bulbs? Probaby won't fit in your fixtures.

 

[Jsn]

Where does it say they temp?

 

[Jandree22]

No, don’t get them. They may not fire depending on your ballast type, but more importantly like abulgin was getting at, being “from work”, I highly doubt they’re appropriate for a reef tank. To the naked eye they may appear white, but over your tank, my bet is they’ll be a terrible yellow color (ie, <= 6,500k).

Furthermore, what wattage are they? Industrial MH bulbs are routinely like 1,000W or maybe even more. Another thing that wouldn’t make your MH ballast very happy probably

If you could get more info on them like a 6,500+ Kelvin temp and proper wattage, I suppose it won’t hurt to give them a try if they’re dirt cheap, but reef MH bulb prices have dropped big time over the past few years IMO, and this is one area you shouldn’t be skimping on for sure.

 

[abulgin]

can you tell us what the markings on the bulb say?

 

[inachu]

the round bulbs are very big. seen a few at my LFS.