MH bulbs

[Anonymous]

I need to replace my metal halide bulb. Right now I'm using a CoralLife 65K bulb with about 10 months usage, but it's not a color I'm pleased with. Much too yellow. I would appreciate some input as to color choices of brands.

As I recall, different brands with the same kelvin can look quite different. What I am looking for is a nice blue-white bulb, like a 50/50 look, but just a tad bluer.

I believe most brands 10K bulbs would be too white, and 20K's are wayyyy too blue.

So I figure 14K would be fine, but I don't know which brand would suit my color needs.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I love my Phoenix 14K. Nice balance, with a blue tone, but not too blue.

 

[dodo99]

Here's a link to some bulb color comparison pics. It may help you decide...

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm

...DoDo

 

[Anonymous]

Take note, metal halide bulbs are very nice for showing you how dirty your water really is. 10000k should not be very yellow at all, yet in my tank they are a tad on the yellow side, 6500k bulbs do not make anything else look yellow (ie when they're used as flood lights) but for tanks they tend to look more yellow (this is due to crud in the water mostly). So looking at a site to find the "good bulb color" you want might be quite decieving, also wattage matters too, I bought 10000k XM bulbs because they didn't look yellow at all in some pictures, but for my tank.. meh.. yellowish.

My first MH bulbs were 14000k bulbs though, hamilitons, only reason I went with the XM was because I wanted more light energy out of them.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies

I'm not worried about water quality affecting the color, it's a small tank that gets weekly waterchanges and bi-monthly fresh carbon. I can easily see the difference between the MH and the 50/50 (they are on different timers). I AM worried about spending a hundred bucks on a new bulb I won't like :x

Arrrgh!

So far it's a toss up between the Venture and the Phoenix.

 

[Unarce]

I had the Phoenix bulb over my frag vat. Very nice color. Here's how it looks next to the pricy AC bulb.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I know what you mean about spending the money on a bulb you aren't sure about. with the Phoenix you can't go wrong. I paid $69 for my 250W Phoenix at www.reefgeek.com. Looks like all he has in now is the 150W bulbs.

I bought this bulb after going in on a "deal" for some less expensive MH 14K bulbs. I got what I paid for. The supposed 14K bulb was a nasty yellow color. Even my husband complained and he pays no attention to my tank. Bought the Phoenix, popped it in and he commented on how much better it looked. I had been running the old 15K Coralvue bulb.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Sugar I only see double-endeds at that site, does Phoenix make a mogul bulb? I have a pendant. I will try to find one.

 

[Anonymous]

They have the Venture bulb that I liked the look of. I cannot find any info on if they ship to Canada or not. I will need to phone them tomorrow when they are open.

 

[Anonymous]

Reefnutz, that's a frag vat?? LOL impressive. I can't tell the difference between the bulbs, either.

 

[Unarce]

Sorry, that's not my frag vat. I pulled the pic from another site.

I think Phoenix still doesn't make moguls. Here's a good reference for bulbs. Hopefully, you'll find a color you like:

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Ah, sorry about that Gwen, I didn't realize you needed mogul.