? RE 250 Watt Double Ended Bulbs

[shanealanbeaty]

I was going to purchase some new 250 watt hqi de bulbs and noticed that it looked like there are 2 different types of bulbs. Ones that I have presently have longer metalic ends that are more the shape of a paper clip. I noticed there are some others out there that the ends are circular and look ceramic. Is there a difference between the two, and can I change to the circular ended bulbs?

 

[waynesworld]

I could be wrong but I think you are looking at a 150 and 250 bulb all the 250's that I have seen have a metal end and the 150 is the ceramic circle end.

By the way what type of bulb are you looking to get? I need a couple and may be able to get a bulk discount if we wanted the same bulb.

 

[shanealanbeaty]

I was looking st the Phoenix 250W 14,000K Metal
Halide Lamps. I found them at Aqua Cave for like $60 with $5 shipping. Since I do not have any actinics, they put out the color I have been looking for.

 

[shanealanbeaty]

waynesworld, take a look at

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-06/totm/index.php

here is a pic of a tank with just those bulbs.

 

[waynesworld]

I wonder how the giseman will look because it you compare the two for performance the giseman are considerable higher on performance and efficiency but the Phoenix has a high blue content.

 

[shanealanbeaty]

Do you have a link that compares the performance of bulbs?

 

[waynesworld]

This is the testing that Sanjay did it is nice to use but it doesn't have the ballast that I will be using. Also I wish I could pick more then two bulbs. www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

 

[waynesworld]

The giseman I was looking at is the 1300 coral but it cost a little more I also was looking at the ushio that was a little cheaper

 

[shanealanbeaty]

Thanks for the link, it was very interesting information. What kind of bulbs have you used before? I have used 10k exclusively since I got metal halides a year and a half ago. Just some really cheap bulb brand I got off the internet. Plus I am in the process of switching from soft corals to hard. So right now I have both. Seems like the sps and lps love the current color temp, but the soft corals don't really thrive under it. Plus, as mentioned earlier, I do not have actinics, and want a bulb with more blue in it. I am really looking for a bulb that sps and lps love, but has a little more blue than the bulbs I have currently.

 

[poolkeeper1]

Coralvue 14k are a good bulb and fairly cheap, Shawn at Ebay carries them. They have just the right amount of blue IMO for use without Actinic. I have used them for several years and had no problems, also had good growth with them.

 

[waynesworld]

I have used a couple of different ones before I changed to T5 but now I have a t5 and MH combo so I am going to try to get a couple of good bulbs. I want one that will have color at more then one range. If you compare the ones I am looking at to the other mentioned you can see the difference I also like the work Sanjay did to compare the bulbs and will weigh that more then other opinion. But you have to be happy with your colors I want growth and efficiencies.

 

[shanealanbeaty]

Yeah, I understand. The look is most important to me, then a close second would be growth.