400 watt MH users

broncofish · 09/13/2008, 08:29 AM

I have to pick a new bulb for our dual 400 w MH tank. We dont have the money for any actinic so what would you get? Looking for no yellow color and average growth. I've tried Reeflux 10k and I had a bulb that wouldnt fire after two weeks. I'm looking at either XM or Hamilton 14k. Any suggestions? Thanks!

sonnus · 09/13/2008, 10:06 AM

I have tried the Hamilton 14k, XM 10k and XM 20k. Of the three I like the Hamilton the best. The XM 10k is very bright but not blue enough. The XM 20k is too dim (even the 400w) but has a nice color.

Check out http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm for more options.

dew2loud1 · 09/13/2008, 10:36 AM

reeflux 12k and the radium 20k are my favorites their color is actually very very close, I've been really happy with my reeflux 12k, both are run on coralvue electronic ballasts

broncofish · 09/13/2008, 10:47 AM

Thanks for the input. We have a pfo magnetic so I dont know how this will affect the color or output. Any growth difference between Hamilton 14k and XM 20k?

Nuuze · 09/13/2008, 11:42 AM

I run Radiums without any T5. I only use my T5 for sunrise/sunset. Helios looks nice as well.

grigsy · 09/13/2008, 04:16 PM

If you have PFO M59 magnetic ballast, I would use the Hamilton 400 watt 14K - it looks great on that ballast.

broncofish · 09/13/2008, 05:43 PM

Right now I have votes for the Radiums and Hamilton 14k. Hamiltons are about $18 cheaper ea.......

PaulErik · 09/13/2008, 07:51 PM

If you have a standard PFO magnetic ballast (ANSI M59) you should avoid the Radium lamp. The Radium lamp requires a ballast equipped with a high voltage lamp starter (ignitor). The standard (ANSI M59) ballast does not have a lamp starter and will cause unreliable lamp starting with the Radium lamp.

skriz · 09/13/2008, 11:05 PM

Paul is right on about the Radium.

The reeflux 12k has very nice colouration. It makes the reds/purples pop a bit more than the xm 20k.

Jayreefer · 09/14/2008, 01:28 AM

Helios 20k.

broncofish · 09/14/2008, 06:51 AM

Thanks for the adive on the magnetic ballast. I would have been ticked if I bought Radiums and they didnt fire. So I think now its looking like Hamiltons, XM20k, or back to the Reeflux. I bought the Reeflux 10k by accident and wasnt very impressed with the color.

skriz · 09/14/2008, 07:54 PM

I've heard good things about the Hamilton although I have never used or seen them in action.

I am running both the xm20kk and reeflux 12kk on my tank and like the reeflux better. The colours of the corals are nicer, and afterall, that's what it's all about.

eshark · 09/22/2008, 04:38 PM

I have used this company for years and I am always happy with their bulbs. The color stays a nice blue-white, and coral growth is good.

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/sh...lacement+Bulbs

09/13/2008, 08:29 AM	#1
broncofish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hartford Posts: 157	400 watt MH users I have to pick a new bulb for our dual 400 w MH tank. We dont have the money for any actinic so what would you get? Looking for no yellow color and average growth. I've tried Reeflux 10k and I had a bulb that wouldnt fire after two weeks. I'm looking at either XM or Hamilton 14k. Any suggestions? Thanks!

09/22/2008, 04:38 PM	#13
eshark Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 147	Use Hamilton 14k bulbs! I have used this company for years and I am always happy with their bulbs. The color stays a nice blue-white, and coral growth is good. http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/sh...lacement+Bulbs

09/13/2008, 10:06 AM	#2
sonnus Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 596	I have tried the Hamilton 14k, XM 10k and XM 20k. Of the three I like the Hamilton the best. The XM 10k is very bright but not blue enough. The XM 20k is too dim (even the 400w) but has a nice color. Check out http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm for more options.

09/13/2008, 10:36 AM	#3
dew2loud1 backyard berghia breeder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Marion, Oh Posts: 703	reeflux 12k and the radium 20k are my favorites their color is actually very very close, I've been really happy with my reeflux 12k, both are run on coralvue electronic ballasts

09/13/2008, 10:47 AM	#4
broncofish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hartford Posts: 157	Thanks for the input. We have a pfo magnetic so I dont know how this will affect the color or output. Any growth difference between Hamilton 14k and XM 20k?

09/13/2008, 11:42 AM	#5
Nuuze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NorCal, California Posts: 3,550	I run Radiums without any T5. I only use my T5 for sunrise/sunset. Helios looks nice as well.

09/13/2008, 04:16 PM	#6
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	If you have PFO M59 magnetic ballast, I would use the Hamilton 400 watt 14K - it looks great on that ballast.

09/13/2008, 05:43 PM	#7
broncofish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hartford Posts: 157	Right now I have votes for the Radiums and Hamilton 14k. Hamiltons are about $18 cheaper ea.......

09/13/2008, 07:51 PM	#8
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	If you have a standard PFO magnetic ballast (ANSI M59) you should avoid the Radium lamp. The Radium lamp requires a ballast equipped with a high voltage lamp starter (ignitor). The standard (ANSI M59) ballast does not have a lamp starter and will cause unreliable lamp starting with the Radium lamp.

09/13/2008, 11:05 PM	#9
skriz Moved On Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 502	Paul is right on about the Radium. The reeflux 12k has very nice colouration. It makes the reds/purples pop a bit more than the xm 20k.

09/14/2008, 01:28 AM	#10
Jayreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peoria Az Posts: 2,022	Helios 20k.

09/14/2008, 06:51 AM	#11
broncofish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hartford Posts: 157	Thanks for the adive on the magnetic ballast. I would have been ticked if I bought Radiums and they didnt fire. So I think now its looking like Hamiltons, XM20k, or back to the Reeflux. I bought the Reeflux 10k by accident and wasnt very impressed with the color.

09/14/2008, 07:54 PM	#12
skriz Moved On Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 502	I've heard good things about the Hamilton although I have never used or seen them in action. I am running both the xm20kk and reeflux 12kk on my tank and like the reeflux better. The colours of the corals are nicer, and afterall, that's what it's all about.