Any recomendations on 175 watt M.H. bulbs?

SINNERMF · 09/07/2008, 08:00 PM

Time to get new bulbs. Looking for bulbs that have good color and may encourage grownth. I currently have 10k Ushios (M.H.) and 116 watt actinic blue URI(VHO). Any opinions will be appreciated. Thanks

Ehgemus · 09/07/2008, 08:02 PM

12k reeflux, Very Nice.

jazzmanb · 09/07/2008, 08:11 PM

iwaski 15ks are preety amazing...

Nanook · 09/07/2008, 09:13 PM

10K Ushios are tough to beat in 175w....keep them.

herostar · 09/07/2008, 11:00 PM

I switched from Hamilton 10K to the Iwasaki 15k and love the 15k. It's bright enough to grow acros on the bottom of my 58g.

joeycadre · 09/07/2008, 11:06 PM

iwasaki. for sure. i had them on my tank before going up to 250w's. the iwasaki 14k's are amazing.

Nanook · 09/07/2008, 11:08 PM

I use 175 Ushios on my 96x30x30 tank and I have acros on the bottom 8" as well.

SINNERMF · 09/08/2008, 01:28 PM

Did your Ushios have a somewhat yellow tint?, Is that normal w/ all 10ks? I've been debating on switching to 250 watt, but I dunno.

uhuru · 09/08/2008, 02:22 PM

Ushio 175w 10K on ARO ballast = 66 PPFD

Iwasaki 175w on ARO ballast = 86 PPFD

That's more than a 250w Ushio 10K on Icecap ballast.

GSMguy · 09/08/2008, 02:30 PM

iwasaki is king, by a large margin plus the color is much better than any 10k ive seen

uhuru · 09/08/2008, 02:39 PM

the only downside IMO is it's the only bulb you will want to use in that wattage, everything else looks really weak in comparison, and your corals won't like the change.

if you go with a 250w bulb there are so many more options. I'm deciding what to go with myself but I'm probably gonna stick with the iwasaki's due to power savings.

Toddrtrex · 09/08/2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by uhuru
the only downside IMO is it's the only bulb you will want to use in that wattage, everything else looks really weak in comparison, and your corals won't like the change.

if you go with a 250w bulb there are so many more options. I'm deciding what to go with myself but I'm probably gonna stick with the iwasaki's due to power savings.

That is why I upgraded from 2*175 to 2*250 --- better bulb choice. I used the iwasakis for a while, and just didn't like the color of the bulbs, wasn't blue enough for me.

uhuru · 09/08/2008, 03:03 PM

so what do you have now?

Toddrtrex · 09/08/2008, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by uhuru
so what do you have now?

I really should have said that in my other post.

Using 20,000K XMs. Very pleased with the color and growth I am getting with them.

stanlalee · 09/08/2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by uhuru
Ushio 175w 10K on ARO ballast = 66 PPFD

Iwasaki 175w on ARO ballast = 86 PPFD

That's more than a 250w Ushio 10K on Icecap ballast.

The Iwasaki only does those numbers on an electronic ballast. If you have a pulse start like I had it performs no better than the Aqualine 13k, XM 10k or Ushio your always using. My bulb of choice is the Aqualine AB for magnetic and Iwasaki for electronic. the color of the AB, Iwasaki and Reflux 10k are all simular. white with a hint of blue. The Ushio 10k and 14k dont look as good as the AB/Iwasaki/reflux. not enough hint of blue. The only reason to get the reflux over the other two is its alot cheaper. I dont think it can match the PAR of the AB or Iwasaki.

NONE of them are the best choice if your interested in color more than growth (if you consider blue bulbs better looking. I personally prefer the look of the above bulbs over say 20k or bluer 14k bulbs like hamilton).

SINNERMF · 09/09/2008, 01:01 PM

I've got the blue covered w/ my VHOs. Just trying to find a bulb that isn't super yellow, if there is such a bulb. Is there anywhere online that has bulbs cheaper than othe site?

SIguy · 09/09/2008, 03:56 PM

I like XM 14ks nice ice white with a slight tint of blue

09/07/2008, 08:00 PM	#1
SINNERMF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 415	Any recomendations on 175 watt M.H. bulbs? Time to get new bulbs. Looking for bulbs that have good color and may encourage grownth. I currently have 10k Ushios (M.H.) and 116 watt actinic blue URI(VHO). Any opinions will be appreciated. Thanks

09/07/2008, 09:13 PM	#4
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	10K Ushios are tough to beat in 175w....keep them. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

09/07/2008, 11:00 PM	#5
herostar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 1,024	I switched from Hamilton 10K to the Iwasaki 15k and love the 15k. It's bright enough to grow acros on the bottom of my 58g. __________________ Do a good turn daily. Current Tank Info: 58g Oceanic (Est. 2007)

09/07/2008, 11:06 PM	#6
joeycadre Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: jackson Posts: 1,371	iwasaki. for sure. i had them on my tank before going up to 250w's. the iwasaki 14k's are amazing. __________________ "it's not the heat, it's the humility" Current Tank Info: 90 gal. sps mostly. bubble master 200. pci cl-300 chiller

09/07/2008, 11:08 PM	#7
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	I use 175 Ushios on my 96x30x30 tank and I have acros on the bottom 8" as well. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

09/07/2008, 08:02 PM	#2
Ehgemus Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central City Ky Posts: 1,585	12k reeflux, Very Nice.

09/07/2008, 08:11 PM	#3
jazzmanb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: san francisco,ca Posts: 508	iwaski 15ks are preety amazing...

09/08/2008, 01:28 PM	#8
SINNERMF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 415	Did your Ushios have a somewhat yellow tint?, Is that normal w/ all 10ks? I've been debating on switching to 250 watt, but I dunno.

09/08/2008, 02:22 PM	#9
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Ushio 175w 10K on ARO ballast = 66 PPFD Iwasaki 175w on ARO ballast = 86 PPFD That's more than a 250w Ushio 10K on Icecap ballast. __________________ August 2011 TOTM

09/08/2008, 02:30 PM	#10
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	iwasaki is king, by a large margin plus the color is much better than any 10k ive seen __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

09/08/2008, 02:39 PM	#11
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	the only downside IMO is it's the only bulb you will want to use in that wattage, everything else looks really weak in comparison, and your corals won't like the change. if you go with a 250w bulb there are so many more options. I'm deciding what to go with myself but I'm probably gonna stick with the iwasaki's due to power savings. __________________ August 2011 TOTM

09/08/2008, 03:03 PM	#13
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	so what do you have now? __________________ August 2011 TOTM

09/09/2008, 01:01 PM	#16
SINNERMF Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Posts: 415	I've got the blue covered w/ my VHOs. Just trying to find a bulb that isn't super yellow, if there is such a bulb. Is there anywhere online that has bulbs cheaper than othe site?

09/09/2008, 03:56 PM	#17
SIguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cortland, NY Posts: 107	I like XM 14ks nice ice white with a slight tint of blue