Best 150W MH bulb?

Zucker26 · 09/09/2007, 12:32 PM

I am coming up on 4 months with my new 29gal setup. I have a Catalina Ultra Reef Hood w/ 150W HQI + 2x65W PCs. So far I'v just been using the bulbs that came with it (generic 150W HQI and generic 50/50 actinic & 10000K PCs), but I want to start planning ahead on what bulbs to switch to in a few months.

My tank is only going to be used for mushrooms, zoos, softies, and maybe some LPS eventually. What is the best PC for this setup? Should I stick with 50/50 or go to straight actinic? What's the best double-ended 150W HQI bulb for the money?

I'm not looking for the cheapest bulbs, but I also still haven't found that elusive money tree. Any advice/opinions are welcome!

JetCat USA · 09/09/2007, 12:55 PM

Iwasaki 20kk for the 150w DE, two 50/50s on the PC if you want a less blue tank, or two actinic if you like the blue.

sabbath · 09/09/2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
Iwasaki 20kk for the 150w DE, two 50/50s on the PC if you want a less blue tank, or two actinic if you like the blue.

Jetcat, Have your tried this bulb with the catalina ballast. There is a lot of talk about matching a ballast to a bulb....

I have this very same setup and question.

JetCat USA · 09/09/2007, 01:07 PM

i use IceCap & ARO electronic and a few Advanced magnetic ballasts.

Zucker26 · 09/09/2007, 03:29 PM

I don't want to get into buying a new ballast, so I want something that matches the included Catalina ballast. Unfortunately I have no information about it, but I e-mailed the company to see if they can send me the spec sheet.

If the Iwasaki bulb will work with the ballast, where can I buy it?

JetCat USA · 09/09/2007, 04:57 PM

your ballast will fire the Iwasaki bulb with no problems. Hello Lights usually has the best price w/ free shipping on MH bulbs......if that special is still going on

AMIFL · 09/09/2007, 05:01 PM

I don't know about the ballast but, phonix 14k's are supposed to be great. I just ordered some myself.

Zucker26 · 09/09/2007, 09:08 PM

10K, 14K, 20K? I understand the spectrum difference here, and the blue tints, etc. Is this simply a personal / esthetic concern, or is there a certain spectrum that should be used with certain corals? I just want to keep mushrooms and simple softies, so esthetics are probably more of an issue than the actual light output.

JetCat USA · 09/09/2007, 09:27 PM

lower kelvin gives better growth in stony corals, higher kelvin gives better coloration but it all boils down to what YOU like best so aesthetics plays a big part, if you are going softies and you like a blue tank, 20kks are hard to beat.

reefer1024 · 09/09/2007, 09:34 PM

Just wondering if anyone has compared the Iwasaki 20kk to the 50kk

JetCat USA · 09/09/2007, 09:49 PM

i never had the 50kk and the 20kk Iwasaki's at the same time, but they both look just about exactly like an XM 20kk so I'd say side by side they'd be minimal differences.

revenant · 09/09/2007, 10:04 PM

I really like the reeflux 12k 150W HQI mh... very nice balanced color you don't need actinics with if you don't want yet it still has decent PAR. I have heard people say they look more like 20k bulbs when they fully break in, takes about two weeks or so... they get more and more blue.. I run mine with and without my actinics, dep on how much light I want.. while battling cyano I ran without actinics for a long while and these bulbs look great on their own.

sabbath · 09/12/2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by revenant
I really like the reeflux 12k 150W HQI mh... very nice balanced color you don't need actinics with if you don't want yet it still has decent PAR. I have heard people say they look more like 20k bulbs when they fully break in, takes about two weeks or so... they get more and more blue.. I run mine with and without my actinics, dep on how much light I want.. while battling cyano I ran without actinics for a long while and these bulbs look great on their own.

I thought that I have read that the reeflux 150w de's don't like electronic ballasts. They will flicker, Is that true?

revenant · 09/12/2007, 07:04 PM

well - possibly the earlier edition ones did.. one of the first 12ks I got last year burned a ballast I had out upon first lighting attempt, but the mfg was VERY understanding got me new parts, examined the old bulb, and sent me a new one saying it should work fine.. I haven't had a problem since.

kuramura · 09/12/2007, 11:28 PM

I been using phonix 14k ,electronic ballast on tank with some sps and clam vary happy with it

09/09/2007, 12:32 PM	#1
Zucker26 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 251	Best 150W MH bulb? I am coming up on 4 months with my new 29gal setup. I have a Catalina Ultra Reef Hood w/ 150W HQI + 2x65W PCs. So far I'v just been using the bulbs that came with it (generic 150W HQI and generic 50/50 actinic & 10000K PCs), but I want to start planning ahead on what bulbs to switch to in a few months. My tank is only going to be used for mushrooms, zoos, softies, and maybe some LPS eventually. What is the best PC for this setup? Should I stick with 50/50 or go to straight actinic? What's the best double-ended 150W HQI bulb for the money? I'm not looking for the cheapest bulbs, but I also still haven't found that elusive money tree. Any advice/opinions are welcome!

09/12/2007, 11:28 PM	#15
kuramura Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Schiller Pk. IL Posts: 471	I been using phonix 14k ,electronic ballast on tank with some sps and clam vary happy with it __________________ Click red house to see my tank. Current Tank Info: 36 corner, DIY stand and sump, Phoenix 14K 250W M\H

09/09/2007, 12:55 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	Iwasaki 20kk for the 150w DE, two 50/50s on the PC if you want a less blue tank, or two actinic if you like the blue.

09/09/2007, 01:07 PM	#4
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	i use IceCap & ARO electronic and a few Advanced magnetic ballasts.

09/09/2007, 03:29 PM	#5
Zucker26 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 251	I don't want to get into buying a new ballast, so I want something that matches the included Catalina ballast. Unfortunately I have no information about it, but I e-mailed the company to see if they can send me the spec sheet. If the Iwasaki bulb will work with the ballast, where can I buy it?

09/09/2007, 04:57 PM	#6
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	your ballast will fire the Iwasaki bulb with no problems. Hello Lights usually has the best price w/ free shipping on MH bulbs......if that special is still going on

09/09/2007, 05:01 PM	#7
AMIFL Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: FL Posts: 359	I don't know about the ballast but, phonix 14k's are supposed to be great. I just ordered some myself.

09/09/2007, 09:08 PM	#8
Zucker26 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sandusky, OH Posts: 251	10K, 14K, 20K? I understand the spectrum difference here, and the blue tints, etc. Is this simply a personal / esthetic concern, or is there a certain spectrum that should be used with certain corals? I just want to keep mushrooms and simple softies, so esthetics are probably more of an issue than the actual light output.

09/09/2007, 09:27 PM	#9
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	lower kelvin gives better growth in stony corals, higher kelvin gives better coloration but it all boils down to what YOU like best so aesthetics plays a big part, if you are going softies and you like a blue tank, 20kks are hard to beat.

09/09/2007, 09:34 PM	#10
reefer1024 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lake Elsinore Posts: 940	Just wondering if anyone has compared the Iwasaki 20kk to the 50kk

09/09/2007, 09:49 PM	#11
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	i never had the 50kk and the 20kk Iwasaki's at the same time, but they both look just about exactly like an XM 20kk so I'd say side by side they'd be minimal differences.

09/09/2007, 10:04 PM	#12
revenant Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 200	I really like the reeflux 12k 150W HQI mh... very nice balanced color you don't need actinics with if you don't want yet it still has decent PAR. I have heard people say they look more like 20k bulbs when they fully break in, takes about two weeks or so... they get more and more blue.. I run mine with and without my actinics, dep on how much light I want.. while battling cyano I ran without actinics for a long while and these bulbs look great on their own.

09/12/2007, 07:04 PM	#14
revenant Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 200	well - possibly the earlier edition ones did.. one of the first 12ks I got last year burned a ballast I had out upon first lighting attempt, but the mfg was VERY understanding got me new parts, examined the old bulb, and sent me a new one saying it should work fine.. I haven't had a problem since.