Cheap bulbs?

salineh2o · 01/18/2008, 08:15 AM

Can anyone tell me how there can be such a price difference.

between two metal halide bulbs of the same specs?

I can buy a 250W 20000k mogul bulb on E-bay for $20 shipped.

My LFS sells a similiar bulb for up to $150 is it all mark-up or is there a difference?

The E-bay bulbs look good and the coral seems to like them.

DSMpunk · 01/18/2008, 09:59 AM

It sounds like you are on the extremes of the price spectrum on both ends. 150$ is a lot for any bulb and 20$ is suspiciously low. That said, all bulbs are of the same quality and some bulbs may be worth a premium price. You know what they say, you get what you pay for.

However, for the best bang for the buck 20k bulb, I would look at the XM 20ks. They go for about 60$ or so.

www.hellolights.com has free shipping on their bulbs, they have good customer service and they are a Reefcentral sponsor to boot.

I would start there.

rustybucket145 · 01/18/2008, 10:02 AM

I spent $9.99/ea for some 175w halides a year ago on Ebay. I've been unexpectedly satisfied with them. Coloration is comparable to the high dollar bulb, and growth is as good, if not better than any high dollar bulb I've ever used.

ranran · 01/18/2008, 11:35 AM

customaquatics sells 20k coralvues for $35 bucks I run them on hqi's and my sps love them.

silvers · 01/18/2008, 11:38 AM

I have the 9.99 pulseright ebay bulbs and I cannot say one bad thing about them. for the price you cant go wrong

01/18/2008, 08:15 AM	#1
salineh2o Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ontario Posts: 254	Cheap bulbs? Can anyone tell me how there can be such a price difference. between two metal halide bulbs of the same specs? I can buy a 250W 20000k mogul bulb on E-bay for $20 shipped. My LFS sells a similiar bulb for up to $150 is it all mark-up or is there a difference? The E-bay bulbs look good and the coral seems to like them.

01/18/2008, 09:59 AM	#2
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	It sounds like you are on the extremes of the price spectrum on both ends. 150$ is a lot for any bulb and 20$ is suspiciously low. That said, all bulbs are of the same quality and some bulbs may be worth a premium price. You know what they say, you get what you pay for. However, for the best bang for the buck 20k bulb, I would look at the XM 20ks. They go for about 60$ or so. www.hellolights.com has free shipping on their bulbs, they have good customer service and they are a Reefcentral sponsor to boot. I would start there. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

01/18/2008, 10:02 AM	#3
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	I spent $9.99/ea for some 175w halides a year ago on Ebay. I've been unexpectedly satisfied with them. Coloration is comparable to the high dollar bulb, and growth is as good, if not better than any high dollar bulb I've ever used. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

01/18/2008, 11:35 AM	#4
ranran Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: vanc wa Posts: 765	customaquatics sells 20k coralvues for $35 bucks I run them on hqi's and my sps love them. __________________ Randy Current Tank Info: down sized to a 200 gal starfire!

01/18/2008, 11:38 AM	#5
silvers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ga Posts: 356	I have the 9.99 pulseright ebay bulbs and I cannot say one bad thing about them. for the price you cant go wrong __________________ Lord knows Im weak wont somebody get me off this reef-Sublime Current Tank Info: 120g