Which 400 watt SE Bulb?

[Ralph ATL]

I just purchased a Dual Hamilton Reefstar Pendant SE with Hamilton 20k bulbs & 400 watt individual ballasts.
It has 2 Magnetic M59 ballasts.

Currently I have 2 Hamilton 20k bulbs, but I wanted suggestions for some other 20k options.

Par is not really an issue, since they are over a 85 (75 custom) 48" long tank.

I want "bluer" bulbs. What do you think? please opine. Thanks!

Ralph

 

[Dustint21]

XM 20K's

 

[Ralph ATL]

Thanks!

 

[jjk_reef00]

I like radium

 

[stugray]

XM 15Ks ( I tried the 20ks and they were too blue for my taste ).

Stu

 

[Ralph ATL]

I like Radiums, but they won't work on a M59.

 

[Volkman]

Mind if I jump in? I have Radium HRT-I 400's and they are a great looking bulb, but don't seem to last very long. Any other suggestions besides the XM's that may last a little longer and have the same colors? Thanks!

 

[Plato]

I have been using Coral Vue ReefLux bulbs for the past two years and love the color of the 20k.

 

[Ralph ATL]

M59 is probe starting bulbs only. There seems to be an ok smount of choices, just not familar as I just switched from HQI. I had the Radiums in that one. I loved those bulbs. These Halmilton bulbs look good, and are only 4 weeks old, I'm just starting research now. Plenty of time.

 

[Ralph ATL]

Thanks for all the feedback, and please hijack away.

 

[KJAhp098]

i have the same question. I curently use reeflux 20k, but it seems it doesn't hold its blue for too long. I've had mine for about 3 months and it has changed from mainly blue with some white to mainly white with some blue. I'm considering switching to Radiums or possibly Ushios.

 

[Volkman]

Thank you mysterybox! Where do you guys get your bulbs in the Chicagoland area? Or do you order them online? The place where I buy them at in the burbs here is pretty expensive, like $120 for a bulb. Have seen them around $89 or so online, just don't know if it's a trusted vendor.

 

[Pyrrhus]

I have had good luck in the past with Hamilton 20k's on that ballast. Good color, good growth, and decent life.

I have not been happy at all with any of the Reeflux lamps, they really seem to be one color temp lower than advertised (at least to me) and have some fairly large differences from lamp to lamp. Quite a few people that I have talked to like the regular Coralvue lamps much better than the Reeflux.

 

[Canarygirl]

My LFS has run the Coralvue 20K, Helios 20K, and Reeflux 20K on their display tanks. The Coralvue was a deeper blue than the Reeflux or the Helios. I really liked the Helios, but would choose the Coralvue over the Reeflux (now why did I buy the Reeflux?)

 

[Volkman]

Thanks guys! I ended up getting 3 of the Radium Hrt 400W bulbs... do love the color, but they just don't seem to last that long and they are so darn expensive! Nicest looking bulb I have seen in a while.

Thanks!

 

[africangrey]

The radiums are meant to be driven by 360watts ballast, overdriving them with 400 watters will shorten they life. On the other note, I really like Helio 20k's for the past year, rich blue with hint of crisp white. I got them from reeffarmer.com last year, but stop carrying them since the business was sold to someone else.

 

[Volkman]

I have two each running off Coralvue HID MH-250W, and then the center is running on a PFO AQ2-400HQI-120V alone. What ya think?