175 watt MH Bulb Suggestions

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 01:02 AM

O.K. it is getting to be time for a bulb replacement and I have not done any research yet into the newest bulbs for 175 watt SE. I have mag m57 ballasts with xm 15k bulbs, they were new last year and thought to be a great new product until now we all know that they did not perform as well as expected and now I need to know what you all think I should consider I want to consider bulbs 10k-15k

:

DrBDC · 12/16/2006, 06:21 AM

Go with the Iwasaki 15,000K bulbs. More par than most of the 250's.

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 12:47 PM

who also has the suggested bulbs for the lowest price?

DrBDC · 12/16/2006, 12:54 PM

Here's where I got mine:

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 03:43 PM

could someone post the perfomance plots for various bulb manufactures here for me to review

Obi-dad · 12/16/2006, 04:02 PM

If you go with the Iwasakis, make sure to acclimate your corals - switching from the xm15ks to the Iwasakis will put a LOT more PAR in the tank and will probably cause bleaching unless the corals are acclimated (screen method or raising the lights being preferred over just shortened photo-period).

I have had XM10k (slight yellow/purple cast) and much prefer the Iwasaki (much whiter, no yellow). But it is not a blue bulb even though it says '15k'.

You can see performace in articles like this . Or you can go to Sanjay's website .

DrBDC · 12/16/2006, 05:57 PM

Here you go. Plug in your bulbs and ballasts, read em' and weep.

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 07:30 PM

well made some comparisons and the Aqualine buschke13k looks like a good bulb also anyone tried this bulb?

DrBDC · 12/16/2006, 08:41 PM

On an M57 ballast that def. does have a good output. Although it will be very white compared to what you're used to.

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 08:51 PM

DRBDC,thanks for your input, I guess I'll need to decide how to go. It is just such a risk when we have to make decisions like these, I sure a dissappointed in the way the xm's did for me at first the looked good and just faded faster than expected.

DrBDC · 12/16/2006, 09:00 PM

Like Obi-dad said though, plug in the XM 15,000k's you have and compare to the par of the new bulb choice. The XM15,000K's are so low in par it will take a bit of acclimation to the increase. I had a pair of the XM 15's and I loved the color. The XM10,000k's are so high in par I thought I was in heaven. Then the par results came out and I just couldn't stay with it so I went with the XM10's at that time. I'm on electronic ballasts and the Iwasaki's are some serious par with these ballasts so that was my choice at the time. I do want a little bluer I think so I'm almost thinking about going to 400's and pick any bulb I want since I now have a chiller to hook up. I know, big jump, but with my bulb/ballast combination I just can't see spending money for a 250 ballast set when many of the cool bulbs are lower par than I have now.

It's really hard to pick a bulb just on the numbers too since every tank and coral selection is different. I think even the surrounding room colors/lights end up making a difference in perception. Sometimes if you check the LFS's you can pick up 6 month used bulbs for about 15-20 and do some testing to see what you like. You could probably pick up 4 different ones and bring back the 3 you didn't like, maybe depending on the store. Doesn't hurt to ask.

supertech3 · 12/16/2006, 09:07 PM

On my last bulb acclimation I did 4hr 1st day, 6hr 2nd day, and 8hr 3rd day. Do you think it will work for my next set-up?

Obi-dad · 12/17/2006, 09:44 AM

If I was going from xm15k to any 10k bulb, I would not risk 4 hours the first day, unless you are putting a screen over the tank, or raising the lights.

Hammercoral · 12/17/2006, 01:20 PM

look at the reeflux 10K bulbs, Will the m57 start up the Iwasakis??

DrBDC · 12/17/2006, 01:28 PM

It should. He has a par output on the pages with it. If it didn't it would have a 0 pppfd!

supertech3 · 12/17/2006, 01:29 PM

from what i've read the iwasaki's will start, but the usio's will be a problem with the m57

12/16/2006, 01:02 AM	#1
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	175 watt MH Bulb Suggestions O.K. it is getting to be time for a bulb replacement and I have not done any research yet into the newest bulbs for 175 watt SE. I have mag m57 ballasts with xm 15k bulbs, they were new last year and thought to be a great new product until now we all know that they did not perform as well as expected and now I need to know what you all think I should consider I want to consider bulbs 10k-15k :

12/16/2006, 06:21 AM	#2
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Go with the Iwasaki 15,000K bulbs. More par than most of the 250's. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/16/2006, 12:54 PM	#4
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Here's where I got mine: http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/16/2006, 04:02 PM	#6
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	If you go with the Iwasakis, make sure to acclimate your corals - switching from the xm15ks to the Iwasakis will put a LOT more PAR in the tank and will probably cause bleaching unless the corals are acclimated (screen method or raising the lights being preferred over just shortened photo-period). I have had XM10k (slight yellow/purple cast) and much prefer the Iwasaki (much whiter, no yellow). But it is not a blue bulb even though it says '15k'. You can see performace in articles like this . Or you can go to Sanjay's website . __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer

12/16/2006, 05:57 PM	#7
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Here you go. Plug in your bulbs and ballasts, read em' and weep. http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/16/2006, 12:47 PM	#3
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	who also has the suggested bulbs for the lowest price?

12/16/2006, 03:43 PM	#5
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	could someone post the perfomance plots for various bulb manufactures here for me to review

12/16/2006, 07:30 PM	#8
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	well made some comparisons and the Aqualine buschke13k looks like a good bulb also anyone tried this bulb?

12/16/2006, 08:41 PM	#9
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	On an M57 ballast that def. does have a good output. Although it will be very white compared to what you're used to. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/16/2006, 08:51 PM	#10
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	DRBDC,thanks for your input, I guess I'll need to decide how to go. It is just such a risk when we have to make decisions like these, I sure a dissappointed in the way the xm's did for me at first the looked good and just faded faster than expected.

12/16/2006, 09:00 PM	#11
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Like Obi-dad said though, plug in the XM 15,000k's you have and compare to the par of the new bulb choice. The XM15,000K's are so low in par it will take a bit of acclimation to the increase. I had a pair of the XM 15's and I loved the color. The XM10,000k's are so high in par I thought I was in heaven. Then the par results came out and I just couldn't stay with it so I went with the XM10's at that time. I'm on electronic ballasts and the Iwasaki's are some serious par with these ballasts so that was my choice at the time. I do want a little bluer I think so I'm almost thinking about going to 400's and pick any bulb I want since I now have a chiller to hook up. I know, big jump, but with my bulb/ballast combination I just can't see spending money for a 250 ballast set when many of the cool bulbs are lower par than I have now. It's really hard to pick a bulb just on the numbers too since every tank and coral selection is different. I think even the surrounding room colors/lights end up making a difference in perception. Sometimes if you check the LFS's you can pick up 6 month used bulbs for about 15-20 and do some testing to see what you like. You could probably pick up 4 different ones and bring back the 3 you didn't like, maybe depending on the store. Doesn't hurt to ask. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/16/2006, 09:07 PM	#12
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	On my last bulb acclimation I did 4hr 1st day, 6hr 2nd day, and 8hr 3rd day. Do you think it will work for my next set-up?

12/17/2006, 09:44 AM	#13
Obi-dad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CT Posts: 4,314	If I was going from xm15k to any 10k bulb, I would not risk 4 hours the first day, unless you are putting a screen over the tank, or raising the lights. __________________ Greg, member of ARKSC and CTARS Visit our CTARS club website by clicking my RC name then 'visit homepage' - and please support your LFS Current Tank Info: 75g mostly stonies. DIY LEDs (24 CW XP-G, 48 RB XR-E) on dwizum CAT4101 drivers, DIY Hydra controller, SSB, Korallin Ca Reactor, Euroreef skimmer

12/17/2006, 01:20 PM	#14
Hammercoral Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Elmhurst Posts: 220	look at the reeflux 10K bulbs, Will the m57 start up the Iwasakis??

12/17/2006, 01:28 PM	#15
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	It should. He has a par output on the pages with it. If it didn't it would have a 0 pppfd! __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/17/2006, 01:29 PM	#16
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	from what i've read the iwasaki's will start, but the usio's will be a problem with the m57