Northeast Florida Marine Aquarium Society  | Our purpose is to enhance the hobby by promoting the exchange of information, equipment, and livestock. We are located in NE Florida within the Great City Of Jacksonville and welcome all to join from both the surrounding areas and from distant locations. Check us out at www.nfmas.org |
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02-12-2007, 09:00 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fernandina Bch
Posts: 87
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Current USA HQI lamps
I just pieced together a DIY 70watt MH and I have been searching for a lamp for some time . This will be my first MH light. I found this lamp for like 38.00 dollars http://www.aquamartonline.com/01667_1_3_1554.html I'm not really sure on it just wondering if anyone has ever used this brand or what you all think of it I was really looking for a 10k but I'm not too picky also, if anyone has a 70 HQI bulb just sitting around with not too many hours on it I am local here in Jax so no shipping...  anyway just thought I would run this bulb past everyone thanks......
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02-13-2007, 07:04 AM
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#2
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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I have a Current USA 48" Outer Orbit Fixture on my 75G with the 10K bulbs and I love the colors. I have had many more compliments on this fixture's colors than on any of my others I have or have had.
These are the 150W HQI 10K bulbs but color should be similar among the same brand.
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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02-13-2007, 08:37 PM
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#3
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No Pinch!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 697
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I used the 70w current usa bulbs on my aquapod, but I noticed sometimes it would run really blue and nice and then other times it would run really brown. It looked terrible, everything in the tank looked brown.
We thought it was a bad bulb so we replaced it. Same thing.
I have the 150w now and it does it sometimes as well.
I would try to find another brand of bulb.
Last edited by Discdogge; 02-13-2007 at 08:37 PM.
Reason: typo
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02-13-2007, 08:43 PM
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#4
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Pismo Beach, CA
Posts: 2,288
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I have a 24" fixture with a 250w MH and 4x24 T5 Actinics. I had to take out the 420nm purple two they gave me, and put in my old 460nm blue actinics, because the 10k was too white. I like the fixtures, I think theyre nice. But I wouldnt use another Current bulb.
http://hellolights.com/70wattmhbulb.html
There are some Ushio bulbs on there. ITs pricier, but they should be better bulbs.
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190g Reef In Progress! Octopus 250 Pro Skimmer (2) Tunze 6080 & (2) Tunze 6045 (2) Lumenarcs w/ 14k Hamiltons & PFO ballast
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02-14-2007, 01:36 PM
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#5
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Professional Acro killer!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: florida
Posts: 1,147
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I would have to say current makes some terrible blubs. They never are the same color, some days brown, some days blue, some days purple.
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GO BUCKS!
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02-14-2007, 03:06 PM
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#6
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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Interesting to hear all the bad comments. I am very happy with mine and have had many compliments on the lights.
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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02-14-2007, 04:20 PM
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#7
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Professional Acro killer!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: florida
Posts: 1,147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ReefNeck
Interesting to hear all the bad comments. I am very happy with mine and have had many compliments on the lights.
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does your fixture have actinics?
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GO BUCKS!
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02-14-2007, 05:30 PM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: beach
Posts: 78
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We have 4 Current HQI fixtures in the store with a total of 10 bulbs. I see these lights for 9 hours every day. The color is consistant day to day, what we have seen is that the 14k bulbs are as blue as some companies 20k's.
Mike
Ocean Reef
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02-14-2007, 05:49 PM
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#9
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Professional Acro killer!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: florida
Posts: 1,147
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We have used 2 different current usa fixtures 1 at 70w and 1 at 150w and we have used 3 different usa bulbs, all 14k. The color has fluctuated with all of those combinations day to day.
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GO BUCKS!
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02-14-2007, 07:26 PM
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#10
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nikonosis
does your fixture have actinics?
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Yes, It has 2 130W PC Actinics. And the HQI's are 10K. Maybe that is why I am not seeing what others are.
__________________
I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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02-14-2007, 07:29 PM
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#11
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Pismo Beach, CA
Posts: 2,288
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Ive noticed my bulbs are the same color every day. I have a 250w 10k MH, but it does also have 24x4w of 460nm actinics.
My bulbs is flickering though....
__________________
190g Reef In Progress! Octopus 250 Pro Skimmer (2) Tunze 6080 & (2) Tunze 6045 (2) Lumenarcs w/ 14k Hamiltons & PFO ballast
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02-14-2007, 08:00 PM
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#12
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Fernandina Bch
Posts: 87
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Thanks everyone for the info. It's ironic that I actually got the idea to check on the current bulbs after I was at Ocean Reef and asked them what they use I agree with mike the tanks look good everytime I am in there usually every week I would rather get the Ushio bulb but 79.00 vs 38.50 with free shipping I think I will at least give it a try.......
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02-14-2007, 09:44 PM
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#13
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Professional Acro killer!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: florida
Posts: 1,147
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i really think the actinics are keeping you guys from seeing the problems that the bulbs have. Doesn't anyone see a reason as to why they are half the price of ushio bulbs? There must be some reason.
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GO BUCKS!
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02-14-2007, 09:59 PM
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#14
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Shark
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Pismo Beach, CA
Posts: 2,288
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I think you do get what you pay for. I personally would buy a nicer replacement bulb than current USA. But I dont see a problem with the bulbs really. Maybe you have had a bad experience, rather than us masking these bulbs. Or maybe, the fluxuation in the bulbs isnt a big deal as far as par goes, maybe its just appearance. So maybe the addition of acinics is what suits the bill, so be it.
What good is a supercharger, high flow intake, exhaust, yada yada yada, without the Chip to compliment the adjustments? I know thats kinda apples and oranges, but its the same principal.
Give the Current USA bulb a shot. If you like em, buy em again. If you dont, go get the higher end bulbs next time around.
__________________
190g Reef In Progress! Octopus 250 Pro Skimmer (2) Tunze 6080 & (2) Tunze 6045 (2) Lumenarcs w/ 14k Hamiltons & PFO ballast
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02-15-2007, 07:57 AM
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#15
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 460
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Well said...
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