Who makes the best 250W 10K DE?

[snslarison]

XMs for me. I use DE 150 20K but a friend has the 10K and his sps grow way faster than mine.

 

[johnnstacy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8007295#post8007295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nunez1980
johnnstacy,

you bough ushio 10k 250w DE or BLV 10k 250w DE, thx

sam

I'm not sure if you were asking a question. The BLV I guess just means Ushio. I asked that very question today from the online vendor I bought it from because everyone here in the forum kept recommending Ushio BLV. I didn't understand what the BLV mean. Here was the vendors response:

"BLV and USHIO anre the same company, BLV is the European trade name and Ushio is the American / Asian trade name. We do not make reference to BLV anywhere on our website because Ushio does not want the BLV name used in the USA."

 

[samsfishnchips]

johnnstacy,

it was a question, ex.

reefgeek has
Ushio 250W 10000K Metal Halide Bulb (Double-ended) $79.95
BLV 250W 10000K Metal Halide Bulb (Double-ended) $94.95

and have seem people talk about how the BLV is whiter and a better bulb, sanjay shows similar but, don't think is the same bulb,

sam

 

[johnnstacy]

This is really strange to me. Based on the vendors response in the reply above, the Ushio and BLV are exactly the same yet it appears that may not be the case. Anyone else know anything about the difference between the two bulbs?

 

[prodman]

I heard from (moonpod I think) that the blv and ushio are made on the same line. And that some 10ks burn more blue/white and become blv10k where as the others become ushio. I think the 14k and 20k are identical. Either blv or ushio 10 is a good bulb.

 

[johnnstacy]

I was just reading an article that compares those very 2 bulbs along with a couple of others:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2004/feature1.htm

Looks to me as though all 4 that were tested were fairly close. The AB beating out the other 3 based on PPFD but lacking on the color.

 

[samsfishnchips]

johnnstacy,

the graft shows similar, but seem many cases bulbs with very close grafts that in reality look distinct,

sanjay shows BLV as whiter than the ushio,

sanjay calls BLV, HIT.

but lets now forget the already stated, both are quality bulbs, ushio is old school

sam