Topic: coralvue Reeflux Mh bulbs

PelagicMagic

PelagicMagic

New member
I have been using the Coralvue Reeflux 10k's (250 watt) since 10/6/05 and bought another in December. I am very happy with these lights compared to other brands that I used in the past. I have been discussing the bulbs elsewhere on RC and have gotten some complaints and praises about these bulbs. I enjoy the growth and color that I have seen in my sps. I buy brown acro frags and bring them home and they turn purple, green, or red under these bulbs with in 3-4 weeks. Has anyone else used these bulbs with the same results? I have been reading on Sanjayââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s study on the bulbs and am very impressed. I am using the PFO ballast, which seems to get great results out of the bulbs according to sanjay. Here is a link to the findings http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/5/aafeature


I found this interesting
ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œThe Coralvue Reeflux 10000K is a rather interesting lamp, which should have a more appealing look given that it has the large spike at 452 nm which is typical of the ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œ20000Kââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ lamps but has additional peaks at 534, 588 and 670 nm which should help in ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œwhiteningââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ the appearance of the lamp. The 250W lamp had a correlated color temperature ranging from 10093K- 17060K depending on the ballast used.ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚
(Sanjay Joshi ,2006 -www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/5/aafeature)

I plan to add another fixture to my 3 existing lights and when it comes time to replace the bulbs I will buy the reeflux bulbs again.
 
Hmmm this is interesting I've always liked the XM bulbs I use. I need a 14 or 15 K bulb at the moment and may give reeflux a try. Carrie
 
I've been following the threads on the Reeflux 10k as well and have thought about getting some (2 - 400watt). Right now I am using 10k XMs and they look very nice to me. I've been keeping my eye out at LFS wanting to see the reeflux without supplement lighting so I can get a good idea of how they look.

Pelagic - I have a PFO ballast as well, but am not sure what type and how it will drive the reeflux. It's in the silver heat sink casing and supports both 400 watt mogul bulbs. My label on it with part number etc has worn off the hand written ink over the years so I can't read it. Any ideas on how to find out what type it is without opening it up?
 
yep, if you open it up which isnt a much trouble. I replace my capacitors every 2 years. Thatââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s why I love PFO they are very simple and easy to replace parts. Don't be scared to open it up. Or you can call PFO at 800.577.9690. They have great costumer service and will be able to provide you with the info. You have the same ballast, as mine just in 400w .You are welcome to stop by to see my lights. Bioreef has them on their 75 sps tank and john will shut the actinics off
 
John had the 400w 10k Reefluxs running for almost a month on his system without actinics.

I use the 12k Reeflux 250w and think they're more like a 14-20k pretty darn blue! I think next time I'll go with the 10k with my 03s...
 
...if you open it up which isnt a much trouble
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That all depends where you have it located :)


I replace my capacitors every 2 years.
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Can you explain this further? I've had mine for about 6 years and only change the bulbs. Is my PAR or output being reduced or something? Where do you buy your caps locally...not sure how large they are until I open it up.


Don't be scared to open it up.
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Nah, I'm not scared. I worked on electronics since I was 13 ...up until you just throw away circuit boards instead of reading schematics, using a scope/probe, cross referencing and replacing components. I use to work on CRT computer monitors too with flyback transformers. Now those were scary ..if you forgot to discharge them!

I just didn't want to pull it out from where it's located unless I had to.

You are welcome to stop by to see my lights
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Maybe I can do that sometime when you have some free time. I asked about the reeflux in the SPS tank and BioReef when he set it up. He's got T-5s in there too, but didn't turn them off to see the difference. I think John has all 20k, right?

Are you running any supplement lights with yours? I'm looking at the T-5s to add to my MHs. I'm still trying to figure out how the best way to fit them in there.
 
I am using reeflux 10K now and enjoy the color and growth I am getting. I have one actinic VHO bulb but the tank does look good with out it.
 
I've got some Reeflux 10k's here at the shop. If you want I can screw one in on the frag tank, so you can see the difference. They are 400's.
 
Are you running any supplement lights with yours? I'm looking at the T-5s to add to my MHs. I'm still trying to figure out how the best way to fit them in there.
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2- five footers URI t-12 VHO's on an icecap 660. both bulbs are an inch from the surface of the water.

I change my capacitors when PFO carries a new brand or model. I order direct form PFO they are about 22 bucks each. On my dual 250 ballast one burnt out and I replaced it and that one socket burned the bulb at a different color so I had to replace the other cap. Since then I just change them to avoid a burn out. The new ones are almost 2x bigger than the older ones. Next year I might replace the ballast component its self to a pulse start.
 
Thanks Rob, I'd like to see one during our meeting tomorrow, if possible.

Pelagic - Sounds like a good idea to have one on hand. Luckily mine has not had problems -knocking on wood-. When you replaced the cap and the bulb color changed, was it a good or bad change? Did the bulb seem to burn brighter or did it just give off a slightly diff color like you mentioned (more to the blue or yellow end)?

I never though of keeping the housing and just upgrade the components. From what I've found the upgrade to pulse start runs about $14 on the single and $20 on the double. Not too bad, but it's noted that the pulse start will run the bulb closer to spec. So I wonder how much of a change should be expected. One site says it will make the Radium 20K bulb super blue and they highly recommend to add white supplement. I wonder if a 10k reeflux will still be "crisp" white.

If your upgrading soon let me know and maybe we can go in together to make up for shipping cost.
 
pulse start is great. It makes the bulbs last longer too. The old cap made the bulb burn deep blue which i didnt like. the new ones are super bright. The bulbs at that time were ventures.

Man PFO's are great
 
Now I'm gonna have to open up the PFO tonight and take another look. I did before, but I think that was when I first bought it. Since the pulse start upgrade on a dual is only $20 guess I'll call PFO and order it. Let me know if you want to get something on this order to cut back on shipping cost. I may get the new caps and replace those too. If I do, I'll take some before/after pics.
 
i think you have to buy a new ballast which is about 80-100 bucks. They also won't sell them to non whole sellers. I could be wrong, let me know. call them up and ask for carla, she knows her stuff and is very nice

I wish our LFS store would realize how good PFO is and STOCK THEM hint hint
 
Hey Steve, I think Bioreef also runs them on the big coral bank of tanks. I believe they are 10k's as well. I think I'm going to try them also...in the DE 250 variety. Should be better color than my AB 20k bulbs which everyone says are good bulbs. Maybe they are but the color isn't great IMO.
 
i just came back in town worked in lfs yrs ago they have to pay cash for everything that comes through their doors they cant stock all the items you want no room one person buying it i have gone back and read alot of post on this site to catch up seems i can see maybe 10 of you that really give your lfs a chance to compete and the rest of you are internet only and complain maybe as a club when you meet a discussion might be how to or who wants to buy lets see what our lfs can do when we buy together. i was up norht and its twice the cost down here.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6981011#post6981011 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjinjax
i was up norht and its twice the cost down here.
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Could you be more specific? What's twice the cost? Everything on average?
 
PFO is wholesale only. I spend cash daily at bio, fishmaniac, and am starting to shop at Atlantis and robs. Internet stores are bad stuff. I only bought off the Internet when I got my Life reef reactor b/c no one stocked them locally.

Actually I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t see where your post fits in here jjinjax. We were never talking about Internet shopping
 
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