My 14K Metal halide doesn't look right

[binylee]

I currently have 65K MH bulb. Recently, I just bought a used Hamilton 14K blue MH bulb (5 months old) . When I swap it, the bulb has blue output but it's not intense. It just looks like has equal output as my 96W antinic bulb?
Is that how 14K blue suppose to look? I turned all the order light off. The MH bulb still make the water effect on the botton, but once again it's not intense as my 65K.

Thanks

 

[mountainbiker619]

yes, the 14k bulbs are quite blue. I did not care for mine and switched to a 12k Sunburst...much better look. But, my Sunburst started out quite blue until it finally burned in..now it looks great..I did not give the 14k bulb ample time for it to burn in. It took about a month with bulbs on for 8 hours a day for it to fully burn in and to get to its final coloration. My 14K bulb is made by Blueline (marked as a 10k+).

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Nothing beats Iwasaki's 6500K MH in terms of output. What wattage is your Hamilton? If it is 175W, it is not much brighter than a new 3 feeter PC bulb if the MH is old, but it should be a lot brighter than the 96W PC if you have a higher wattage.

Again, nothing is as bright as the 6500K even if it is new, so your situation is understandable.

 

[binylee]

Yes you are correct. it is 175W and it is not much brighter than a new 3 feeter PC bulb. I don't like it much compare to my 65K.
Then what is the point of having 14K bulb? I heard that the antinic blue will promote the growth of coral. So coral will grow better under 14K compare to 10K?
I have 14K and kinda disappointed. SO about between 10K and 20K? What will more benefit from it?
Thanks

 

[mountainbiker619]

Most of the people I have talked to who use the 14k bulbs also use them with 10k VHO's or PC's. I just run two 175w 12k Sunburst and love the look.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

I heard that the antinic blue will promote the growth of coral.

hi.
Assume that the statement you heard is true. Then when you find out that the amount of blue radiation in 6500K Iwasaki is more than the 12kK, you will feel that the statement is not the reason for the use of the 12kK bulb. High Kelvin bulb is for the looks only, not for growth, particularly for those people who can't fit any VHO or PC in the hood.