bulb confused . . .

[BigAl07]

I have the Current USA Outer Orbit Pro 48" 150 HQI. It's got the "Stock" bulbs in it which are listed as

four 54W T-5 bulbs (420/460 nm)
two 150 watt 10000°K HQI metal halide bulb

Now I'm looking at this light fixture sitting beside my 10g PC tank and it's too yellow when the Mh's come on. I'm thinking it needs a more "Crisp" look to it. If the stock bulbs are listed as "10000°K" would moving up to 12, 13, 14, 15, 20 give this look?

What brand is most "enjoyed" by my trusted reefers here? Here are my immediate options for bulb replacements . . .

Hamilton Technology
150W 10,000°K (880052)
150W 20,000°K (10913)

Current PowerPaq
150W 6,500°K (21133)
150W 10,000°K (21134)
150W 14,000°K (22896)
150W 20,000°K (21135)

Ocean
150W 12,000°K (26095)

Coralife
150W 10,000°K (18798)
150W 20,000°K (22934)

XM
150W 10,000°K (24646)
150W 15,000°K (27345)
150W 20,000°K (24647)

Ushio
150W 10,000°K (24642)

Aqualine Buschke
150W 13,000°K (25858)
150W 20,000°K (25859)

[zy112]

If you can afford it the AB's are awesome. I use the XM 15k

[BigAl07]

Thanks Zach. I don't see a few dollars on one brand to another to make a difference in choices. If it's a good bulb it's worth the upcharge

thanks for your input.

[mps9506]

Are you limited to those bulb choices Al? I think the 12.5k (13k) Geismann Megachromes are right up your alley. I haven't seen what they look like in person in the 150 watt flavor.
12.5 K MEGACHROME marine 150 Watt - DE: Premium Aquatics
Giesemann Megachrome Bulbs

[Frankie]

What about Reeflux Al?
I will never go XM again.
The AB 13k sounds interesting.
I agree with Mike also. JFK's tank looked killer with those.

[BigAl07]

That's just the "easy" choices I got when I went to Drs F&S. Actually the SKY is the limit (along with my debit card ).

I'll have to check into those

[BigAl07]

I'd probably be better off just getting ONE as a test and see if I even like it. I'm not into pinching pennies but I can't afford to throw $70+ out the window and honestly if I don't like it I wont run it regardless of the cost. It would mean extra shipping & handling but may save bigger money.

[zy112]

I forgot to mention Al my experience is with 250 watters. I would think they would look the same though. Whatever you decide, I like ordering from hellolights. They are awesome IMO. Frankie- I think XM has fixed their problems they used to have but I can uderstand why you changed if you got bulbs from them awhile back.

Im actually thinking of tryin iwasakis and seeing how they look with high actinic supplementation.

[mps9506]

You can't beat the price on the Megachrome bulbs at PA. $100+ bulb everywhere else.
I think reeflux, megachrome or AB would be the best choices for ya.

I have used all the corallife bulbs and thought they were bummers and hamiltion bulbs were downers as well. We were pretty happy with the XM (XDE) 10k probably too yeller for you though.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by zy112

I forgot to mention Al my experience is with 250 watters. I would think they would look the same though.

I can personally attest 150 watt and 250 watt of the same brand and color temp can look very different coloration wise side by side

[BigAl07]

Does anyone know if there is a "Color/Temp" chart for bulbs in each of the K range? I'd like to have something "visual" to help me decide between 10k, 12k, 13k, 14k, 15k, 20k. I'm lost and the SAD part is I've ready a LOT of "bulb" articles and am still just as lost as day one.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by BigAl07

Does anyone know if there is a "Color/Temp" chart for bulbs in each of the K range? I'd like to have something "visual" to help me decide between 10k, 12k, 13k, 14k, 15k, 20k. I'm lost and the SAD part is I've ready a LOT of "bulb" articles and am still just as lost as day one.

Al, one of the problems is that what one company sells as a 15k bulb another company will sell as a 20k bulb. One companies 10k bulb might be similar to another companies 12k.... It sucks, but just the way it is.
Stick two different brands of 10k next to each other and one will look bluererer or whiter than the other. One 20k bulb will look blue, another will look purple. Not to mention we all will perceive the coloration differently.
What's one person's pure white bulb is another persons pee yellow...

My suggestion is to read up on Sanjay Joshi's bulb reviews on PAR and PPFD output of specific bulbs, then look at the spectral plots he posts for the bulbs. find something that you think you will like, search for a pictures of tanks with those bulbs and see what you like.