250 watt SE mogul bulb suggestions

D-Nak · 02/23/2011, 04:45 PM

As the title says, just looking for opinions on 250 watt single ended bulbs. I have a 120 gallon tank with two 250 watt SE bulbs on a spider reflector driven by Icecap ballasts, supplemented with two 48" VHO actinics. I have Iwasaki 6500k bulbs that I was using to test the system, but now I'm ready to buy new bulbs.

I don't like the look of the Iwasakis since they are too yellow. I'm looking for more of a crisp white, but not much blue since I already have the actinics. I've seen 20k bulbs and they are too blue for my taste. I know color preference is subjective, but I was just checking to see what others are using and how they like the color.

Eventually the plan is to switch to LEDs, but for now I'll be using the halides with the spider reflectors (no space in canopy to get different reflectors).

TIA.

JRoweNole · 02/23/2011, 07:25 PM

Aquaconnect 14K's

vogs82 · 02/23/2011, 09:07 PM

I have used them all and my favorite for color and growth is the reeflux 12k. Imo

grigsy · 02/23/2011, 09:54 PM

I have used them all too including Iwasaki 250 watt 6500K (a good bulb IMO) and the Reeflux is a low PAR MH bulb.

Since you have actinic VHOS, if you want a crisp white type of bulb with good growth, try Ushio 10K, Hamilton 10K or XM 10K.

All 3 of those will give better growth and a more consistent color spectrum.

02/23/2011, 04:45 PM	#1
D-Nak Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 5,797	250 watt SE mogul bulb suggestions As the title says, just looking for opinions on 250 watt single ended bulbs. I have a 120 gallon tank with two 250 watt SE bulbs on a spider reflector driven by Icecap ballasts, supplemented with two 48" VHO actinics. I have Iwasaki 6500k bulbs that I was using to test the system, but now I'm ready to buy new bulbs. I don't like the look of the Iwasakis since they are too yellow. I'm looking for more of a crisp white, but not much blue since I already have the actinics. I've seen 20k bulbs and they are too blue for my taste. I know color preference is subjective, but I was just checking to see what others are using and how they like the color. Eventually the plan is to switch to LEDs, but for now I'll be using the halides with the spider reflectors (no space in canopy to get different reflectors). TIA.

02/23/2011, 09:07 PM	#3
vogs82 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: McFarland WI Posts: 16	Bulb I have used them all and my favorite for color and growth is the reeflux 12k. Imo

02/23/2011, 07:25 PM	#2
JRoweNole Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kennesaw, Georgia Posts: 324	Aquaconnect 14K's

02/23/2011, 09:54 PM	#4
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	I have used them all too including Iwasaki 250 watt 6500K (a good bulb IMO) and the Reeflux is a low PAR MH bulb. Since you have actinic VHOS, if you want a crisp white type of bulb with good growth, try Ushio 10K, Hamilton 10K or XM 10K. All 3 of those will give better growth and a more consistent color spectrum.