Off Market Metal Halide Bulbs???

F

FSTOCKMAL

New member
Has anybody tried any of the off market metal halide bulbs?
I see a number of these being sold on Ebay for $20. each (175w/10K) Not sure where they are made, could be China.
I am a little skeptical even though they come with a 100% money back guarantee.
Any thoughts?
 
Be careful with some ebay bulbs. Just from experience, I bought a couple of bulbs off ebay that went out quickly and when I told the seller about it, he would not replace them.
 
Hey!...that's good news, and it's the same seller that you purchased your bulbs from.
Would you buy the same bulbs again from this seller?
 
Absolutely. Until someone convinces me that my eyes lie and my SPS are not actually growing, I will continue to spend $21 on bulbs rather than $70 plus. The 14,000K are very white with a blue tint.

This seller is truly a good seller--very responsive to questions and quick to ship.
 
I agree 100%...why spend the extra cash if your happy with how your corals are growing.
I'll be apt to change my bulbs yearly at those prices!
I'm going to order mine today, thanks for the solid info.
 
Here is an Acro that I got when I first installed my new bulbs in March. It used to be a single branch.

DSC_1127-1.jpg


Here's another acro that's sitting on the bottom of my tank (30" deep). The blue/white at the top is all new growth in the last 3 months.

DSC_1132.jpg
 
Very nice!!!
What made you go with the 14K bulbs rather than the 10K ?
I've always had better luck with the warmer bulbs in my SPS tank and have settled on using nothing but 10K bulbs now. How do the bulbs compare to other bulbs on the market like the German bulbs?
 
I bought the same 175 watt 14K pulseright bulb from the same seller. I really loved the bulb! Not saying I didn't get good growth because I did but My XM 10K seemed to get a bit better growth, but at 50 more I think I'll stick with the pulserights. I'll deffently buy from him again. Only complaint is it took alittle while for the shipping. Two weeks if I remember right.
 
Wow at 21 bucks even if they go out at 8-9 months. Compard to 70$ a bulb its a huge savings. I've got a par meter on its way.. I might have to give these a try.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13049890#post13049890 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FSTOC***L
Very nice!!!
What made you go with the 14K bulbs rather than the 10K ?
I've always had better luck with the warmer bulbs in my SPS tank and have settled on using nothing but 10K bulbs now. How do the bulbs compare to other bulbs on the market like the German bulbs?
Click to expand...

I find 10,000K bulbs to be too yelllow for my taste. I figured 14000K was a good compromise between color and growth.

I have no idea how they compare against the German/Japanese bulbs. I once tried a $70 Helios 12,500K and hated it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13047535#post13047535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
I am currently using two 14,000K Plusrite bulbs I bought on eBay for $21 each. They are wonderful, and my corals grow very well under them. I have had them since March.

http://cgi.ebay.com/250W-250-watt-H...ryZ46314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller is very responsive and a quick shipper.

Most bulbs are made in China these days . . .
Click to expand...

I had those same exact bulbs. They are good bulbs. The only thing I did not like about them was that they look more like 10k bulbs and not 14k. When I bought a pair of 14k phoenix, there was a world of difference.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13050005#post13050005 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 8BALL_99
Wow at 21 bucks even if they go out at 8-9 months. Compard to 70$ a bulb its a huge savings. I've got a par meter on its way.. I might have to give these a try.
Click to expand...

If you do try them, please send me your results so I can share them with all the nay-sayers, the "you get what you pay for . . ." types .
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051344#post13051344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
I had those same exact bulbs. They are good bulbs. The only thing I did not like about them was that they look more like 10k bulbs and not 14k. When I bought a pair of 14k phoenix, there was a world of difference.
Click to expand...

Well, a Phoenix 14,000K isn't 14,000K. I can't remember where I read it, but the Phoenix is actually like 25,000K. Phoenix is a special breed of bulb, that produces a very purple light--if you like that look, great. Personally, I don't like my tank to look like it's out of the Disco era but that's just me.
 
Here is some performance data on the Phoenix. You'll notice that the CCT, or correlated color temperature, is 0 for this bulb.



http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-lamp-data.php?Watts=250&LampManuf=Phoenix+Electric+Co.&Lamptype=Double+Ended&LampName=Select+Lamp+Name&BallastName=Select+Ballast+Name&Shielded=Select+Shielded&tfm_order=ASC&tfm_orderby=ballast_name

Compare that to a BLV Nepturion 14,000K:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-lamp-data.php?Watts=250&LampManuf=HIT+%28BLV%29&Lamptype=Double+Ended&LampName=138&BallastName=Select+Ballast+Name&Shielded=Select+Shielded&tfm_order=ASC&tfm_orderby=ballast_name

Compared to Happy Reefing 14,000K:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-lamp-data.php?Watts=250&LampManuf=Happy+Reefing&Lamptype=Double+Ended&LampName=89&LampNameText=Happy+Reefing+250W+14000K+DE+1&BallastName=Select+Ballast+Name&BallastNameText=Select+Ballast+Name&Shielded=Select+Shielded&Submit=Search

Compared to Arcadia 14,000K:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-lamp-data.php?Watts=250&LampManuf=Arcadia&Lamptype=Double+Ended&LampName=60&LampNameText=Arcadia+250W+14000K+DE+1&BallastName=Select+Ballast+Name&BallastNameText=Select+Ballast+Name&Shielded=Select+Shielded&Submit=Search
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051405#post13051405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
Well, a Phoenix 14,000K isn't 14,000K. I can't remember where I read it, but the Phoenix is actually like 25,000K. Phoenix is a special breed of bulb, that produces a very purple light--if you like that look, great. Personally, I don't like my tank to look like it's out of the Disco era but that's just me.
Click to expand...

I don't get a purple, more like an ice blue. I guess it depends on your ballast. I have seen 20k bulbs and this is not even near that color.
 
Given your allegiance to PSU, I would expect you'd like a bluer bulb.:lol:
 
Last edited:
:lol: Now that was a good one. I was thinking about just buying blue and white coral...:D

I actually got my entire MH setup off of ebay. My dual 250 MH ballast came straight from China (generic), reflectors (generic) and my Plusrite bulbs. I paid just under $200 for everything. It came out to like 198 and change. The ballast hasn't disappointed me yet either. I tested it with a Kill-a-watt and it's pulling like 540w.
 
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