I was looking at some MH bulbs on foster smith to burn up those gift certificates. I need a 14000k 150 W DE. So my choices are: Current USA, Ushio, Hamilton Technologies & Coralife. I was wondering if any of you guys out there have used these bulbs and what you liked or disliked about them. Does anybody have a link to the spectral plot of these bulbs? I may get a pair of 250 W DE also for the other fixture, same brands available. Same questions.
Hi Scott. You can find plots here on Sanjay’s website on Manhattan Reefers.
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting
although im having some trouble loading plots recently. Im not sure if its because of a problem on their website, or my browser.
I use Phoenix 150w 14K DE bulbs on the acro frag tank. they seem just fine with supplemental T5 420nm actinics. XM 20Ks are very similar.
Sanjay’s review is the reason I went with Phoenix 14k 250w bulbs. Google it and it almost seems to be the most popular bulb so something has to be good about it. I also remember in Ken’s(if I am correct) light spectrum slide show the Phoenix bulb had a peak at 453nm. And you get a good balance of growth. There have been reviews online that involved testing growth on same type corals and the 14k was the best IMO some thrive in 20k and some thrive in 10k but the 14k was the best medium and also had many thrive better too.
Sanjay’s review was why I looked into Phoenix 150w 14K DE as well. The appearance of the tank and corals is why I have stuck to them.(when I use MH which I typically do not) I may have a brand new bulb infact I could hook you up with cheap as I use them so rarely I would rather get it out of my basement. Let me see what size it is. Shoot me a PM to remind me.
abcd That is a great link. I could not remember where it was when looking at the bulbs. Is Current USA under a different name, Sun lighting maybe? I know they are affiliated with other names. That name was not on the graph if I remember.
what ballast will you use to fire the bulbs? That will also come into play with bulbs. I only use M80 ballast to fire my bulbs to get them to burn the way they were met to. I use Radium 150w de and in 250w I use Radium se and if using de I also like the Phoenix 14k
I agree on the Phoinix bulbs 100% that is the only bulbs I run and agree the ballasts make a different the m80 seem to overdrive the bulb but I’ve had 2 in the past fail and catch fire so carefull, the electronics work almost as well and safer.
Bill what type of ballast did you have fail?
I use the bluewave 7 and 3 and love them never a problem
It was a magnetic ballast with cap and coil
Scott are you using the light fixture like mine from the market forum? 2x 250w mh and 4 t5’s? That was the older version of the one I have and you have seen my tank with the phoenix bulbs.
Yes the 250 W DE has 4 T5 bulbs, just purchased on here. The 150 W DE has 2 96 W PC 420/460 actinics. I need to climb under to check the ballasts because I don’t know what they are right now. They are what ever it came with when I bought it. I noticed the 150 W fixture has 1 bulb that will intermittently go out sometimes. It comes back on fine and not sure why. When it happens the PH meter goes into a negative reading which makes me think it may be a short in the water. I do not use a ground probe. The PH meter runs on battery. The ORP meter does not change. The GFCI has not tripped. Any thoughts on this? The ballast does not feel hotter than the other, both are pretty warm but not burn you hot. About like they have always been. It only started since the new bulbs I don’t care for were installed. I might re-install the old ones to see if that helps. I wish Foster & Smith had the Phoenix bulbs, but not as of now. :-("
Check marine depot Scott. they are on sale.
Looks like a winner. Any one know of a valid promo code to use there?