MH bulbs have me stumped

helidude · 11-10-2003, 10:03 PM

I recently made a change over to 2x250 watt MH. THe two bulbs are OEM as the storre called them.

I'm also running 2x55 watt actinic PC's.

My tank colors are horrible! Everything is growing up a storm. But I cant stand to look at it! Compared to most I see here,it's ugly

Ok. I need to buy some quality MH bulbs. But what brand and kelvin rating?

I'm feeling really inadequite right now and would appreciate some help figuring this out.

Thank you,
Roy

helidude · 11-10-2003, 10:04 PM

another

Mafiaman · 11-10-2003, 10:06 PM

Your MH are 2700k need to be at least 6500K in color

Rick O · 11-10-2003, 10:48 PM

Yikes. That first one looks pretty bad (sorry

). The second looks like you used the flash.

The minimum I would recommend is 6500K. And then only if you use actinic supplementation. An Iwasaki 6500K will give you more PAR than any other 250 watt mogel base bulb. If that's still too yellow I would go with 10,000K Ushio. I would not go above 10,000K but that's just my opinon. Many others like the higher kelvin bulbs. I'm just not a fan of blue light.

Illusion · 11-10-2003, 11:46 PM

The XM 10k bulbs are nice as well you can check them out at www.hellolights.com they are like 65.00ea and look really nice.. From some of the Readings around they give out a higher par than the Iwaski bulbs..

HTH,
James

tdwyatt · 11-10-2003, 11:50 PM

ditto to Rick's post. If you're chasing color rendition, go 10kK Ushio bulbs, if growth and coloration are your goals, then definitely Iwasaki bulbs in the 250 watt 6.5kK color with actinic supplementation. I use the Iwasaki bulbs in the prop system alone, occasionally with a 12kK sunburst bulb (don't use the sunburst bulb, when these are done, I will be going back to the Ushio bulbs for the display tank)

helidude · 11-11-2003, 12:46 AM

I've been looking at the XM 10k&20k bulbs for $52.99ea. Are the 10k very yellow?

Any opinions on the Hamilton MH's? How about Radiums? Does anybody have any links to their tanks with MH specs? I'd like to do some comparisons.

It's amazing how many newbees go through the exact same thing as I. Have any forums ever archived any of these results?

A search might be alot easier than going through this everytime someone wants to know which bulb suits their needs best.

Seems like it may save alot of people alot of $$. I'd rather spend my money on corals rather than lining the bulbs companies pockets.

My .02 cents

Roy

Illusion · 11-11-2003, 12:48 AM

The 250 10k XM bulbs seem white too me...

James

helidude · 11-11-2003, 12:50 AM

Hi James,

Got any pics of your tank? I'd love to see them.
Thank you,
Roy

Illusion · 11-11-2003, 12:54 AM

why yes I do.. here ya go all that is on for lighting is 2x250 XM 10k bulbs along with 2x55w Catalina Actinic Pc bulbs..

James

Illusion · 11-11-2003, 01:01 AM

BTW this is the first day that I have recieved the bulbs.. My bulbs have been on for about a week and still look identical to the picture above.. From my understanding they were supposed to be manufactured to Meet/exceed the Ushio bulbs.. Now I have not used the Ushio bulbs but this is what I was told..

HTH,
James

Rick O · 11-11-2003, 06:09 AM

James that color looks real good.

Geoff · 11-11-2003, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick O
James that color looks real good.

Ditto!!

G~

BuckWheat · 11-11-2003, 08:27 AM

That color looks Awesome dude!
I have too much of a bluish color in my tank, next bulbs will be whiter.

REILLY13 · 11-11-2003, 08:33 AM

To add my 2 cents, Previously I ran the ushio 10k and was very pleased with those, plain old bright white, but I still wanted more blue.
So I purchased the coralvue 20K and they are exactly what the doctor ordered! They are very white with an obvious blue tint, but not as blue as a radium in my opinion.
In the past I have purchased some of hellolights "new" bulbs, I can't remember which, and was not that impressed. They seem like they're cheap overseas bulbs that they get on clearance.
I'd stick with the main stream bulbs.