Off Market Metal Halide Bulbs???

[FSTOCKMAL]

<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.

For those interested in buying the Plusrite MH lamps...F.Y.I.
I purchased a couple of the 175w 10K Plusrite MH lamps and they are more like 55-65K so
I exchanged them for the 14K lamps and these struggle to look 10K after 50 hours burn time.
I can't see them getting any bluer in time. If these lamps are that far off the color scale, I have to question the over-all quality of these lamps. For the price of $21. each, I'll try them for six months and see if the quality is there, I'm hoping it is.

 

[sprite]

my 250 de 14k was yellow also..i took it out after 2 weeks and put my phoenix back in

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13144799#post13144799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sprite
my 250 de 14k was yellow also..i took it out after 2 weeks and put my phoenix back in

My Plusrite DE 250W 14,000Ks are perfect. They are a very bright white, with just a tiny hint of blue (not much). If you are used to/like Phoenix bulbs, you're not comparing apples to apples and are not going to like any true 14,000K bulb--the Phoenix bulbs are not true 14,000K (I think I read somewhere that they are actually 23,000K).

I've never tried them, but you might want to try the Plusrite 20,000Ks, if you think these bulbs run warmer than indicated.

 

[Paul_PSU]

My friend has XM 10k 250 DE and my Plusrite 14k 250 DE looked identical to his. I saw no hint of blue. They also were not yellow, just bright white. abulgin, what kind of ballast are you using to run yours?

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13146509#post13146509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul_PSU
My friend has XM 10k 250 DE and my Plusrite 14k 250 DE looked identical to his. I saw no hint of blue. They also were not yellow, just bright white. abulgin, what kind of ballast are you using to run yours?

IceCaps

 

[abulgin]

Interestly, Sanjay's site shows that the 250W XM 10,000K has a CCT of around 7,000.

 

[sprite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13146650#post13146650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
IceCaps

electronic? that might be the reason as mine are hqi magnetic

 

[abulgin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13147155#post13147155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sprite
electronic? that might be the reason as mine are hqi magnetic

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?idproduct=IC3161

 

[siropa]

Well I just ordered a 10k Plusrite and i've got a PAR meter. I'll measure it both on my icecap ballast and on my magnetic ballast when I get it.

 

[sprite]

look forward to your findings

 

[8BALL_99]

I already tested my 150 watt 14k with a par meter. It read about the same par as my 6 month old coralife 10K bulb. I'm at work so I dont have the readings but I'll look when I get home..

I haven't tested the 250 SE bulb yet.

 

[8BALL_99]

Ok here is what I got. This is with a Apogee par meter.
150 DE 10k Coralife Bulb 150 DE 14k Plusrite Bulb
At Water Line 1230________At Water Line 1050
6"Below Line 430________6"Below Line 410
11"Below Line 160________11"Below Line 135
22"Below Line 71________22"Below Line 70

Now keep in mind my heights are just a guess. I placed the sensor in the same spot for both bulbs. But I'm just guessing at the exact inches. The 10k Bulb was about 5-6 months old the plusrite was a few days old. I've had the bulb on the tank for probably about a week. So far I'm happy with it. Looks good to me and decent par and was 20 bucks..Just have to see how its par is in a few months.

 

[abulgin]

Very interesting. The 14kK Plusrite is comparable to the Coralife 10kK. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over a few months. But honestly, even if you have to swap these bulbs out at 6 months, your still saving a bundle.

 

[Paul_PSU]

Thanks for posting the #'s 8BALL_99. I thought they were good bulbs. The only reason I switched to the Phoenix was the specific color and look I was going for. I am going to get a couple 20k 250w DE to try them out and see how "blue" they are. Since the 14k's I have look more like bright white 10k's to me, maybe the 20k's will look like 14k's. Worth a shot for the $.

 

[8BALL_99]

Thats my thinking on them. For the price they are worth a try! It seems like MH bulbs have went up a few dollars over the past couple of years. That 60-70 bucks a bulb hurts a little when have to buy 7 lol

 

[mfin77]

could I see a pic when of this 21 dollar bulb,maybe I will switch to.

 

[siropa]

8BALL_99, how high is your bulb above the surface of the water?

 

[Paul_PSU]

I complain about buying 2, I couldn't imagine 7!
I have my generic Chinese dual 250w electronic HQI ballast from eBay that I paid $70 for and its is coming up on 10 months and working like a champ.