AustinReef
Member
Does anyone out there have experience with this bulb? Good, Bad? Its almost time to replace the xm 20k and i would like something a bit brighter. Thanks is advance
-Austin
-Austin
Hamilton 14k
- Thread starter AustinReef
- Start date
AustinReef
Member
oh yeh i have a PFO standard ballast
Witfull
Well-Known Member
check out advanced aquarist article
spectral analysis of 250wt mogal MH bulbs
or
heres a great comparison of bulbs with pics
spectral analysis of 250wt mogal MH bulbs
or
heres a great comparison of bulbs with pics
mps9506
Well-Known Member
the DE or mogul based bulb?
The DE appears very good, I don't have any experience with them however.
The mogul based appear dim to me. Check out www.cnidarianreef.com to compare pictures and PAR measurments on that bulb compared to other 250 mogul based bulbs.
The DE appears very good, I don't have any experience with them however.
The mogul based appear dim to me. Check out www.cnidarianreef.com to compare pictures and PAR measurments on that bulb compared to other 250 mogul based bulbs.
Try the XM 10K's or some of the newer coralvue bulbs....i am in the boat of halide fishing and i think i am going to try 1 of these two.
www.inreef.com is where i suggest you buy from.
there's something to say about someone who stands behind the product they sell.
Regards,
www.inreef.com is where i suggest you buy from.
there's something to say about someone who stands behind the product they sell.
Regards,
AustinReef
Member
i was looking at the comparison on reef central and the 14ks were not in that comparison. I see that the 14ks are pretty dim with even less par than the xm 20k on my ballast. I like the xm 10k, but does anyone think it would be too extreme to jump from a 20k to a very bright 10k. I know i should slowly lengthen the photo period after switching. Another concern i have is the heat the 10k will throw off. A 10k bulb will throw off more heat than a 20k right? Thanks
-Austin
-Austin
AustinReef
Member
also for 55$ for an xm bulb, how can i go wrong
captivereefs
Sponsor
Very nice color and quality. I would only run one in 250 watts or 400 watts though. THe 175 watt version is a little weak!
Barnacle Dave
Member
Welcome back Darin.
XM 10k.
Personally Captivereefs aka Darin is IMO the best person to buy from.. not only discounts for the members but the fastest ground shipping I ever received and the best customer service hands down.
XM 10k.
Personally Captivereefs aka Darin is IMO the best person to buy from.. not only discounts for the members but the fastest ground shipping I ever received and the best customer service hands down.
captivereefs
Sponsor
Thanks Dave good to be back!
Hamilton does put a 6 month limited warranty on there bulbs as well. Not sure about the XM'S though.
Hamilton does put a 6 month limited warranty on there bulbs as well. Not sure about the XM'S though.
AustinReef
Member
Thank you for your input everyone. I think i have decided on a bulb that gives me the best of everything. Let me know what you think. After looking at the 250 watt comparison at cnidarianreef.com, and this site :
http://www.coralforum.com/reference62.html
I have decided to go with the Sunburst 12k. I dont want a very bright tank since it is in my bedroom, but i want something just a bit brighter and with a bit more PAR than the xm 20k i have now. I like the looks of coralvue bulbs, but i dont like the things i hear about these bulbs causing bleaching. The other bulb i would possibly consider if i could actually find a distibutor that carried it would be the Sun Aquatics 10k. I will post pics as soon as I get the new bulb screwed in. Thank you for the help everyone
-Austin
http://www.coralforum.com/reference62.html
I have decided to go with the Sunburst 12k. I dont want a very bright tank since it is in my bedroom, but i want something just a bit brighter and with a bit more PAR than the xm 20k i have now. I like the looks of coralvue bulbs, but i dont like the things i hear about these bulbs causing bleaching. The other bulb i would possibly consider if i could actually find a distibutor that carried it would be the Sun Aquatics 10k. I will post pics as soon as I get the new bulb screwed in. Thank you for the help everyone
-Austin
mps9506
Well-Known Member
I hope you like it. when I first got into SPS, I had lots of people tell me the Sunburst was not a reliable bulb on certain ballasts, I have not really heard much of them in the last year.
For whatever it is worth, I have a coralvue side by side an AB right now. I honestly have not had an issue with the coralvue bulb, and will still recomend both bulbs to people.
I will admit that I have not had as good growth with the Coralvue as I do with the AB. I honestly think you would be happy with a 14k CV bulb.
I personally am contemplating an Aquaconnect 14k for my next bulb, although it is pretty pricey, I'm thinking I might be happier upgrading to 20k HQI's instead.
I agree, I wish I could find the Sun Aquatics, I can show you a side by side pic of a burned in CV 10k and burned in AB if you want.
Mike
mps9506
Well-Known Member
I dunno if this will kelp ya out at all...
Here is a pic of CV 10k side by side an AB 10k
It's hard to tell the difference b/c the PFO reflector mixes the bulbs very well.
Here is the CV 10k by itself
It is not as bright as the AB, and actually now that it is about 6 months old or so, it isn't quite as white as the AB, it's bee a long time since I had these bulbs on individually. The colors on the corals actually appear more vibrant under these bulbs however.
Here is the AB, it is about 4 months older than the CV, still brighter, apparently still whiter. The color rendition isn't quite as good as the CV however.
Like I mentioned before, I'm thinking of trying the aquaconnects next time through.
Here is a pic of CV 10k side by side an AB 10k
It's hard to tell the difference b/c the PFO reflector mixes the bulbs very well.
Here is the CV 10k by itself
It is not as bright as the AB, and actually now that it is about 6 months old or so, it isn't quite as white as the AB, it's bee a long time since I had these bulbs on individually. The colors on the corals actually appear more vibrant under these bulbs however.
Here is the AB, it is about 4 months older than the CV, still brighter, apparently still whiter. The color rendition isn't quite as good as the CV however.
Like I mentioned before, I'm thinking of trying the aquaconnects next time through.
AustinReef
Member
Which distributors carry the AquaConnect
AustinReef
Member
This is the Sun Aquatics homepage. I'm going to call first thing in the morning. http://www.sunaquatics.com/page6.html
AustinReef
Member
The coralvue 14k that you recomend; Is that the same bulb as the 15k that is tested at cnidarianreef.com?
mps9506
Well-Known Member
Honestly I'm a little confused about it.
The places selling CV bulbs sell a 14k, I'm thinking maybe it is a new style bulb after all the complaints they recieved with the intial bulbs. I think intially they released a 10, 12, 15 and 20k.
Maybe give Joe an email just to make sure it was a 15k and not 14k. I think it was an older bulb he tested that is not being produced anymore.
Mike