Help with color of halides I need to purchase

liquidfunk · 09-08-2004, 10:48 AM

Ive got a 150 gallon cubish shape tank with 2x 400w halides, 3x110w VHO actinic, and 1x110w daybulb (the white URI bulb).

the bulbs ive had in the tank are 400w 10k "bluelines". this is what came with the tank. Ive got a bunch of other bulbs, but I dont know how old or what they are (other than partial labels). These blueline bulbs were really too blue for my liking, and Id like to whiten it out without getting yellow.

What are the segestions for bulb brands colors etc? Im not interested in getting a new ballast and yadah yadah, I just want to replace the bulbs. I am very neive regarding this part of the hobby since Ive never bought it (it all came with the setup).

Thanks for your help!

Illusion · 09-08-2004, 11:10 AM

I would go with either 10k Ushios or 10k XM bulbs.. IMO the XMs are whiter than the Ushios but it depends in the ballasts... Either one of those bulbs would Rock... IMO I would do the XMs as I really Enjoyed them.. FWIW mine are 10k ushios..

HTH<
JAmes

liquidfunk · 09-08-2004, 02:44 PM

anyone else have some different opinions?

Hey Ryan, how much are 10K XM's at your place?

chewie · 09-08-2004, 03:10 PM

Joel,

The 10k ushios(400w) will look yellow if run off a regular ballast, and even off of the HQI(430w) ballast I have. You've seen what the 13kPFO looks like on my tank, but they will be slightly bluer when ran off the regular ballast. So those 2 are out. I've only seen a 250w 10k XM in person, and IMO the 250w was a little yellow. I don't know about the 400w though.

If you want to spend over a bill on a bulb, try the 14k aquaconnect bulbs.

Or get rid of the daylight VHO, put in another Actinic and run ushio 10k's. The extra actinic will balance out the yellow.

Sorry, not much help

Quote:

Originally Posted by liquidfunk

anyone else have some different opinions?

Hey Ryan, how much are 10K XM's at your place?

Illusion · 09-08-2004, 03:17 PM

I have to say that I did only see the 250w 10k XM in person as well... Never tried the 400w version of it...

Here is a website that goes over the 250w SE bulbs in detail.. might help a bit
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

James

Ryan Mackey · 09-08-2004, 03:32 PM

I have 400w 10K XM running in the shop if you want to see them. Ryan

Ryan Mackey · 09-08-2004, 03:34 PM

We also have 250w and 400w Radium, Ushio 10K, 400w 13K PFO, and 400w 20K XM.

Renzema · 09-08-2004, 04:08 PM

I think this question is about impossible to answer. It really depends on the person, you should just take a trip to ryans and look at the different K's. Personaly I would go with a 20k radium, I love the look you get from the corals. They will be much brighter and I think that is much more important that major growth.

Good Luck
JR

liquidfunk · 09-08-2004, 05:46 PM

chewie, only reason I have the daylight VHO in there is it makes for a good transition from dark to halides. I run the VHO alone for about an hour before and after the halides. I dont really want a fully blue tank during those periods.

I think Ill try the 10k XM's, if it looks yellow then ill add that forth actinic. They are much cheaper, and if I dont like it, Ill just tough it out for a little while and replace them.

Thanks for all the insight though,,,

Oh JR, the difference is just going and looking at Ryans wont tell me much, since he may not have the same number of VHO's etc. Im just trying to get an idea of what people suggest, sounds like 10K XM's are very likeable for most folks.

Krux · 09-08-2004, 08:55 PM

i will have aqualine 10k's running on my tank by monday and can post pics of those. just waiting for the bulbs to arrive. i will not have as much actinic as you do, but if i run just the bulbs, you can see what they would look like in your tank if your actinics are off.

they are 250 watt hqi, but it will give you another color reference.

liquidfunk · 09-08-2004, 09:46 PM

im neive with lighting stuff,,,, whats hqi? is that brand or type of bulb?

Illusion · 09-08-2004, 09:48 PM

Its the Double Ended Bulb TYpe.. They burn a bit brighter but also need the added UV protection of a glass Shield as the bulb offers no UV protection...

Hth,
James

Ryan Mackey · 09-09-2004, 09:46 AM

HQI is a term that is used loosely to refer to both the DE, or double ended bulb configuration, and to the "hard start" ballast which is used for these bulbs as well as the Radium 20K bulbs. This ballast has an additional component called an "igniter"(spelling) and generates(and draws) more energy. Standard bulbs(ones that don't require an HQI type ballast to start) will burn brighter and often with a different color when run with an HQI ballast. HQI bulbs might not even start if run with a standard ballast. Ryan

micaheli · 09-09-2004, 07:53 PM

But, running an HQI ballast with a standard bulb will decrease the life of the bulb pretty dramatically won't it?

liquidfunk · 09-10-2004, 12:34 AM

Im pretty certin I have a typical type ballast,,, (giant thing with cooling fins etc...) but for some reason I cant get one of my bulbs to fire up now. I had a power outage (caused by me when installing a new lamp outside) and now one of two of my bulbs (too ballasts in one box I believe) wont fire. Ive tried different bulbs etc with no luck.

Any thoughts?