Iwasaki 15k or 14k? or different bulbs?

[Obi-dad]

I see Sanjay's website lists the 175w Iwasaki 14k bulb, as does Premium Aquatics. The boxes for my Iwasaki bulbs are printed with '15k'. Does anyone know if these are the same bulbs?

I bought the bulbs last spring, I am wondering if Iwasaki has changed the bulb since the Sanjay test, or if they just changed the name. PremiumAquatics still sells it as '14k', and I keep seeing posts where people type 14k.

[GSMguy]

the 14 is the par monster

[Ti]

same

[Obi-dad]

Originally posted by GSMguy
the 14 is the par monster

The bulbs I have from boxes marked 15k are higher in PAR than my older XM 10Ks - I think the designation '14' is not current - it is now called 15k. Can anyone verify this? (and not guess)

If you have a bulb/box marked 14, when did you purchase it?

[rockindacheeks]

they have always been the same lamp.

[Froggy]

Originally posted by rockindacheeks
they have always been the same lamp.

This is correct. The key phrase you want to look for is "Aqua 2". as long as it has that description when you order, you are getting the right bulb. They have been and still are being referred to as both 14 K and 15 K bulbs depending on who lists them.

[Obi-dad]

Originally posted by Froggy
This is correct. The key phrase you want to look for is "Aqua 2". as long as it has that description when you order, you are getting the right bulb. They have been and still are being referred to as both 14 K and 15 K bulbs depending on who lists them.

I also believe they are the same bulb, and that the 14k designation is either incorrect, or old (since I have a box clearly marked 15k purchased within the year). Anyone know for sure?

[rockindacheeks]

i know for sure...

[Obi-dad]

Originally posted by rockindacheeks
i know for sure...

So...which is the correct, current designation? And how do you know for sure?

[rockindacheeks]

15,000K Aqua2 is what they have always been called. Some places call them 14,000k because their actual color temp is closer to 14,000k. Iwasaki hasnt changed anything in the lamp since they came out with it.

[Froggy]

Originally posted by Obi-dad
So...which is the correct, current designation? And how do you know for sure?

Here is the deal......

Kelvin ratings and names put on bulbs is marketing and that is all really. It has not too much to do with the actual color temperature of the bulb in reality in most cases. 10 K bulbs usually appear on the yellower side of the spectrum even though 10 K by definition is cooler and should be on the bluer side. That being said the Iwasaki aqua 2's are actually labeled as they appear on spectral charts ( according to Sanjay's testing ). On a M57 ballast they test out over 15 K at CCT of 15215. On an electronic ballast they have more PAR ( PPFD ) and also are a bit warmer in color temp at 14565 CCT. When seen my the naked eye, the bulb actually looks more like a 10 K bulb and appear very white and not blue even though the spectral plot shows it to be on the blue side. Since the bulb tests at both 14.5 K and over 15 K, marketers have decided to call it both 14 K and 15 K. Of course, I do not have inside information on this so take it for what it is worth but trust us when we all say......it is the same bulb.

[Obi-dad]

Originally posted by Froggy
Here is the deal......

Kelvin ratings and names put on bulbs is marketing and that is all really. It has not too much to do with the actual color temperature of the bulb in reality in most cases. 10 K bulbs usually appear on the yellower side of the spectrum even though 10 K by definition is cooler and should be on the bluer side. That being said the Iwasaki aqua 2's are actually labeled as they appear on spectral charts ( according to Sanjay's testing ). On a M57 ballast they test out over 15 K at CCT of 15215. On an electronic ballast they have more PAR ( PPFD ) and also are a bit warmer in color temp at 14565 CCT. When seen my the naked eye, the bulb actually looks more like a 10 K bulb and appear very white and not blue even though the spectral plot shows it to be on the blue side. Since the bulb tests at both 14.5 K and over 15 K, marketers have decided to call it both 14 K and 15 K. Of course, I do not have inside information on this so take it for what it is worth but trust us when we all say......it is the same bulb.

You misunderstood my question - I understand fully about the spectrum and perceived color temp issue. My question is about the actual designation of the bulb by the manufacturer - because I see places like Premium Aquatics refer to it as 14k, and many people on this board refer to it as 14k. First I wanted to make sure there weren't really two different bulbs, and to find out which designation is the current one from Iwasaki.

The end result is that places like Premium Aquatics and other people on this site are using the incorrect designation. I think that for people who are looking at which bulbs to buy, that using the wrong designation is confusing. I am trying to get people to stop using the 14k designation when referring to this bulb.