Another MH Question

angnak · 10-26-2004, 06:51 PM

I need to purchase new bulbs for my tank. I currently have Ushio 400w 10k. I am looking at the 20k now, would like more blue in the tank, and was wondering everyone's opinion on which is the best MH bulb out there. I did a search here and WOW there are a lot of pages on bulbs!!!

TIA Also which tend to last the longest before turning yellow if there is even a way to figure this out. I know at about 6 mnths most start turning yellow, but as most of you know these bulbs aren't cheap and I need 3 of them!!!

Boomer · 10-26-2004, 07:02 PM

was wondering everyone's opinion on which is the best MH bulb out there

An Iwasaki 400W 6500 K . Nothing is close. I don't believe in 20 K. The XM 10K is a nice light.

Why do you want more blue ?

wooddood · 10-26-2004, 07:29 PM

i run 2 250 watt 10k xm's, and i'm with boomer why would you want more blue. imo the 10k's are the way to go. nice crisp white light. again my personal opinion. you could always to a mix between the 2.

dave.

mps9506 · 10-26-2004, 07:36 PM

IMHO I really like the 10k's. Either Ushio or AB. I've never run or seen the XM's in person so I can't comment other than what I've read is good.
If you have ever gone diving, and want your tank to look like that, get the Saki's, they perfectly replicate what you see when you dive.
20k's IMO basically turn your tank a shade of blue. Everything that isn't already blue will look some shade of blue, either orange-blue red-blue brown-blue or blue blue

If you like that, then get the 20k radiums, you will be happy.

If you want more blue in your tank, then slap a few actinics on it. Also FWIW most of my 10k bulbs have lasted about a year. Ballast choice is importnat on bulb longevity also. I've never run E ballasts, but apparently they really extend the life of the bulbs.
Mike

cward43062 · 10-27-2004, 02:32 PM

I used the 65k Iwasaki's which gave me good growth, but the color was a little too yellow for me (even with the 440w of actinic vho's I run). I switched to 10k Ushio's after that, which looked a little better but I still wanted something a bit more blue. I finally switched to the Hamilton 14k about 4 months ago and I couldn't be more pleased with the color. I still get good growth, and my corals have colored up very nicely.
I will buy the 14k Hamiltons next time for sure....

angnak · 10-27-2004, 02:42 PM

I have 480w of actinic and 160w of 50/50 with the 10k Ushio's and have a great white color but want just a little more blue like you said cward. I might have to try those 14k? Is Hamilton a good bulb? I am scared the 20k will be to much blue. Anyone else's thoughts?

Thanks guys.

mps9506 · 10-27-2004, 11:29 PM

I've been watching Steve Tyree's dvd presentation on lighting, some very interesting info on there. Nothing to suprising yet, still have to watch the last 20 minutes of it.

When it comes down to it saki's with lots of actnic are the way to go hands down if you are really interested in producing light that the corals use.

Mike

Boomer · 10-28-2004, 12:44 PM

and want your tank to look like that, get the Saki's, they perfectly replicate what you see when you dive.

I thought that is what we are trying to do, duplicate a real reef and the lighjt corals USE. I know, it sucks to look at

That's is why I like 10K's and the XM produce lots of light and it is not as drab lookin' to the eye, like Saki's but still Saki's are the best bulb. That is why I brought it into the hobby more tha 10 years ago. Of course then we only had 5K bulbs.

One should not be buying lights based on how appealing it looks

I know.............

10-26-2004, 06:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	Another MH Question I need to purchase new bulbs for my tank. I currently have Ushio 400w 10k. I am looking at the 20k now, would like more blue in the tank, and was wondering everyone's opinion on which is the best MH bulb out there. I did a search here and WOW there are a lot of pages on bulbs!!! TIA Also which tend to last the longest before turning yellow if there is even a way to figure this out. I know at about 6 mnths most start turning yellow, but as most of you know these bulbs aren't cheap and I need 3 of them!!! Last edited by angnak : 10-26-2004 at 06:54 PM.

10-26-2004, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,608 View Gallery Karma Komment	was wondering everyone's opinion on which is the best MH bulb out there An Iwasaki 400W 6500 K . Nothing is close. I don't believe in 20 K. The XM 10K is a nice light. Why do you want more blue ? __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-26-2004, 07:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	i run 2 250 watt 10k xm's, and i'm with boomer why would you want more blue. imo the 10k's are the way to go. nice crisp white light. again my personal opinion. you could always to a mix between the 2. dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

10-26-2004, 07:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	IMHO I really like the 10k's. Either Ushio or AB. I've never run or seen the XM's in person so I can't comment other than what I've read is good. If you have ever gone diving, and want your tank to look like that, get the Saki's, they perfectly replicate what you see when you dive. 20k's IMO basically turn your tank a shade of blue. Everything that isn't already blue will look some shade of blue, either orange-blue red-blue brown-blue or blue blue If you like that, then get the 20k radiums, you will be happy. If you want more blue in your tank, then slap a few actinics on it. Also FWIW most of my 10k bulbs have lasted about a year. Ballast choice is importnat on bulb longevity also. I've never run E ballasts, but apparently they really extend the life of the bulbs. Mike __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

10-27-2004, 02:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
cward43062 Tunicate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pataskala, Ohio Posts: 24 View Gallery Karma Komment	I used the 65k Iwasaki's which gave me good growth, but the color was a little too yellow for me (even with the 440w of actinic vho's I run). I switched to 10k Ushio's after that, which looked a little better but I still wanted something a bit more blue. I finally switched to the Hamilton 14k about 4 months ago and I couldn't be more pleased with the color. I still get good growth, and my corals have colored up very nicely. I will buy the 14k Hamiltons next time for sure.... __________________ CORA Treasurer

10-27-2004, 02:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
angnak Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 556 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have 480w of actinic and 160w of 50/50 with the 10k Ushio's and have a great white color but want just a little more blue like you said cward. I might have to try those 14k? Is Hamilton a good bulb? I am scared the 20k will be to much blue. Anyone else's thoughts? Thanks guys. __________________ 210gal AGA SW tank. 3 250w MH 4 160w VHOs, 30 gal refuge, ASM Skimmer, Orange shoulder tang, Black tang, Naso tang, 2 orange percs, 2 black percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, a pair of scooter blennies, 5 cleaner shrimp, 5 peppermint shrimp, zebra crabs, halloween crabs, scarlett crabs, various other crabs and snails, 1 rock anemone, 2 colonies of button polyps, 3 colony of star polyps, 3 BTAs, monti cap, various acros

10-27-2004, 11:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've been watching Steve Tyree's dvd presentation on lighting, some very interesting info on there. Nothing to suprising yet, still have to watch the last 20 minutes of it. When it comes down to it saki's with lots of actnic are the way to go hands down if you are really interested in producing light that the corals use. Mike __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

10-28-2004, 12:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,608 View Gallery Karma Komment	and want your tank to look like that, get the Saki's, they perfectly replicate what you see when you dive. I thought that is what we are trying to do, duplicate a real reef and the lighjt corals USE. I know, it sucks to look at That's is why I like 10K's and the XM produce lots of light and it is not as drab lookin' to the eye, like Saki's but still Saki's are the best bulb. That is why I brought it into the hobby more tha 10 years ago. Of course then we only had 5K bulbs. One should not be buying lights based on how appealing it looks I know............. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

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