Favorite MH bulb(s)?

Woodstock · 03-23-2005, 08:27 AM

For anyone who uses MH lighting, please select your favorite MH bulb type. Please select all options that apply to your tank. Thanks!!

Woodstock · 03-23-2005, 08:39 AM

I use SE 250 watt 10k xm's in my mixed reef with an additional 192 watts actinic supplementation. VERY good growth, but I'd like to have a bit more blue. The XM's are extremely bright and overpower the blue actinics. But overall, I am very happy with them.

hunterd_67 · 03-23-2005, 09:23 AM

i like the 250 14k hamiltons(the look) and the bulbs i got off of a Kevin come pretty close

cheeks69 · 03-23-2005, 06:42 PM

I like the look of the higher K bulbs especially the Hamilton 14k but I decided to go with the XM 10k SE, now that's a bright bulb just watch out for those yellow bulbs.

Woodstock · 03-23-2005, 06:58 PM

Robert, did you notice a difference in coral growth or color when you switched from the hamilton 14k to the xm 10k??

cheeks69 · 03-23-2005, 07:12 PM

I actually had the CV 12k loved the color but my corals didn't react very well to it especially some SPS frags I got from BrianE. The first XM bulb was very yellow and it was so bright that you didn't even notice the 130w of actinics but I got a replacement. I have noticed that my SPS like this one much better I'm even getting polyp extension from a couple of tiny frags I thought were dead. AFA growth I haven't had them long enough to notice but with the PAR the XM's get I have no doubt there will be good growth.

mattie · 03-23-2005, 10:42 PM

250W 14k hami's and i swear by them blue enough to not need actinic and crisp pale blue color.
but if you want more growth go 10k's all the way.

mps9506 · 03-23-2005, 10:54 PM

Well, I was a 10k 250 watt user. I believe for my next sps tank I will be going back to good ole 6500k saki's. I think a 6500k 20000k combination of MH bulbs is the way to go for SPS tanks if you have the space over your tank.
I don't need any stinkin blue

IslandBound · 03-24-2005, 02:31 AM

We were using 20K XM on our personal tank and it was way too blue so we had to supplement them with white T5s. We recently got new bulbs and switched to the 12K Sunbursts and we love them. We don't have any supplementation and the coloring is a nice crisp blueish white and the shimmer is amazing. We have a mixture of LPS, SPS, softies and a clam and everything is doing great under the new bulbs.

Woodstock · 03-24-2005, 09:44 AM

I don't get much of a shimmering effect from my bulbs

just a little. My bulbs are only 6" from the water surface; being that close could reduce the shimmering? Maybe the actinics reduce it too?

Craig Manoukian · 03-24-2005, 12:07 PM

I use the best priced 175 watt MH 10,000K bulbs I can find.

Woodstock · 03-24-2005, 12:21 PM

Craig, are you toing to try XM's new 175 watt 15k bulb?

mattie · 03-24-2005, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodstock

I don't get much of a shimmering effect from my bulbs

just a little. My bulbs are only 6" from the water surface; being that close could reduce the shimmering? Maybe the actinics reduce it too?

you just need a little flow at the surface to ripple and you'll have your shimmer

Woodstock · 03-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Thanks Mattie. I do have the return flowing across the top of the water. It creates very good surface ripples without any splashing. But there does seem to be more of a shimmering affect if I turn off the actinics.

Scooterman · 03-24-2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Manoukian

I use the best priced 175 watt MH 10,000K bulbs I can find.

I like that reply!

View Poll Results: Which is your favorite MH bulb? Select all that apply...
SE (single ended)	72	41.62%
DE (double ended)	53	30.64%
HQI	41	23.70%
175 watt	25	14.45%
250 watt	74	42.77%
400 watt	18	10.40%
6500 k	8	4.62%
10000 k	67	38.73%
12000 k	11	6.36%
14000 k	57	32.95%
20000 k	27	15.61%
SPS Corals only	19	10.98%
Soft/LPS Corals only	26	15.03%
SPS/Soft/LPS mixture	78	45.09%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 173. You may not vote on this poll

03-23-2005, 08:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Favorite MH bulb(s)? For anyone who uses MH lighting, please select your favorite MH bulb type. Please select all options that apply to your tank. Thanks!! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-23-2005, 08:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I use SE 250 watt 10k xm's in my mixed reef with an additional 192 watts actinic supplementation. VERY good growth, but I'd like to have a bit more blue. The XM's are extremely bright and overpower the blue actinics. But overall, I am very happy with them. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-23-2005, 09:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
hunterd_67 Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: P.A. Posts: 649 View Gallery Karma Komment	i like the 250 14k hamiltons(the look) and the bulbs i got off of a Kevin come pretty close __________________ Honorary Flood Club Member Feb. 13, 2005

03-23-2005, 06:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	I like the look of the higher K bulbs especially the Hamilton 14k but I decided to go with the XM 10k SE, now that's a bright bulb just watch out for those yellow bulbs. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

03-23-2005, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Robert, did you notice a difference in coral growth or color when you switched from the hamilton 14k to the xm 10k?? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-23-2005, 07:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,600 View Gallery Karma Komment	I actually had the CV 12k loved the color but my corals didn't react very well to it especially some SPS frags I got from BrianE. The first XM bulb was very yellow and it was so bright that you didn't even notice the 130w of actinics but I got a replacement. I have noticed that my SPS like this one much better I'm even getting polyp extension from a couple of tiny frags I thought were dead. AFA growth I haven't had them long enough to notice but with the PAR the XM's get I have no doubt there will be good growth. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

03-23-2005, 10:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
mattie RS Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance CA Posts: 522 View Gallery Karma Komment	250W 14k hami's and i swear by them blue enough to not need actinic and crisp pale blue color. but if you want more growth go 10k's all the way. __________________ www.reef-care.com

03-23-2005, 10:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,122 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, I was a 10k 250 watt user. I believe for my next sps tank I will be going back to good ole 6500k saki's. I think a 6500k 20000k combination of MH bulbs is the way to go for SPS tanks if you have the space over your tank. I don't need any stinkin blue __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

03-24-2005, 02:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
IslandBound Star Polyps Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	We were using 20K XM on our personal tank and it was way too blue so we had to supplement them with white T5s. We recently got new bulbs and switched to the 12K Sunbursts and we love them. We don't have any supplementation and the coloring is a nice crisp blueish white and the shimmer is amazing. We have a mixture of LPS, SPS, softies and a clam and everything is doing great under the new bulbs. __________________ Join Care2.com's Race for the Oceans!

03-24-2005, 09:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I don't get much of a shimmering effect from my bulbs just a little. My bulbs are only 6" from the water surface; being that close could reduce the shimmering? Maybe the actinics reduce it too? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-24-2005, 12:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 17,828 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I use the best priced 175 watt MH 10,000K bulbs I can find. __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

03-24-2005, 12:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Craig, are you toing to try XM's new 175 watt 15k bulb? __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

03-24-2005, 01:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22,783 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Thanks Mattie. I do have the return flowing across the top of the water. It creates very good surface ripples without any splashing. But there does seem to be more of a shimmering affect if I turn off the actinics. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)