The Cheapest Mh Bulbs I Have Ever Seen!!!!

DaveTheReefGeek · 01-28-2008, 06:22 AM

Ok, ...
Something seems fishy about this. I was looking around on ebay last night and found Several individuals/stores selling 150w/250w/400w metal halide bulbs (6500k to 20,000k).

FOR ONLY $10 - $15 EACH!!!
Now... in my experience, if it smells like poo, looks like poo....
well... you know.

Anyone ever purchased these bulbs? I didn't see a brand posted.
What I am thinking is if the drawback to these bulbs is "shorter life" then it actually may be worth it, but.. if the color or par is off that's another story!

Any advice or info would be wonderful!
Thanks,
Dave.

Loverotties · 01-28-2008, 06:24 AM

I alway say."you get what you pay for".

DaveTheReefGeek · 01-28-2008, 06:25 AM

I tend to agree. But at that price (depending on circumstances) frequent replacement (ever 6-8 months) just might be tollerable! lol

ckusnierek · 01-28-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

I alway say."you get what you pay for".

Ditto, But like everything else made in China. Whos knows they maybe "high end" bulbs without the namebrand. Patent, and copyright infringement runs rampant in China. Who know these bulbs may be comming out of the same factory and XM, Ushio, Radium, or Hamilton. BUT I WOULD NOT RISK IT!!

VWD · 01-28-2008, 06:53 AM

IMO don't buy bulbs because of the low price

silvers · 01-28-2008, 06:57 AM

I have ordered the 9.99 pulseright bulbs from ebay the 10k and 14k and I have to say I WOW. best 40.00 I have spent these are quality bulbs just as good as many 90.00 bulbs.

Reefinator · 01-28-2008, 07:07 AM

I bought some of these bulbs off Ebay and they work great! I had a 10k going for about 6 months with no issues and I just changed it to a 14k recently from the same seller (Trust Deals). The shipping was a little slow but the price was the cheapest I'd seen. If you put my bulb next to a Coralife I bet you couldn't tell the difference...aside from the price tag. There are only so many ways to make a MH bulb so I don't really see how different they could possibly be. I say save yourself $60 and try one out.

DaveTheReefGeek · 01-28-2008, 09:30 AM

will have to think about it.

ckusnierek · 01-28-2008, 10:18 AM

I would like to see them compared with a PAR meter. Maybe somone can send one to Whiskey???

ckusnierek · 01-28-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvers

I have ordered the 9.99 pulseright bulbs from ebay the 10k and 14k and I have to say I WOW. best 40.00 I have spent these are quality bulbs just as good as many 90.00 bulbs.

T-12 atinics look good and also give the WOW effect.... But they will starve your corals. It's all about how much of the light is actually "feeding" your corals.

Just because they look good they could still be worthless.

aquawolf · 01-28-2008, 10:21 AM

That is intriguing indeed. If they are of the same quality as the Coralife ones I buy for my fixture, I may just have to give them a try as well. My wife, the finance manager for our family, would be very happy if I could save money like that on replacement bulbs.

That might even leave a little money for a new coral.

An actual PAR test would really seal the deal though.

ckusnierek · 01-28-2008, 10:24 AM

And they really need a long term PAR test. It's accpeted that "quality" MH Bulbs will last roughly 12 months. If these "cheap" bulbs only put out enough PAR for a few months they are not worth the risk.

For some one with $100's even $1,000's worth of corals spending a few more bucks a year for "quality" bulbs should not be a problem

aquawolf · 01-28-2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckusnierek

Any they really need a long term PAR test. It's accpeted that "quality" MH Bulbs will last roughly 12 months. If these "cheap" bulbs only put out enough PAR for a few months they are not worth the risk.

For some one with $100's even $1,000's worth of corals spending a few more bucks a year for "quality" bulbs should not be a problem

You have very valid points! I wonder if someone who has used these bulbs could send Whiskey a used one, stating how long they used it, for him to do a test on.

Larry Mc · 01-28-2008, 10:51 AM

I don't know about the bulbs but I do know that since they don't have any over head that they can be alot cheaper in price. We bought a camera that way and saved $100.00 on it compared to walmart or any other place.

hng · 01-28-2008, 11:51 AM

You never know what you're going to get with a deal on ebay, especially if the price seems too good to be true. Sometimes it's a fake, sometimes stolen, sometimes real thing or a comparable generic. Like someone said, you get what you pay for and there's also no guarantee that you will consitently get the same quality bulb either. So maybe you get a good ne this time, but a horrible one next time. I'm not telling anyone not to use it, but keep in mind that you should test the bulb or at least be real careful with it.