MH bulbs

Discussion in 'Metal Halide Aquarium Lighting' started by salt4me, Sep 5, 2010.

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  1. salt4me

    salt4me Skunk Shrimp

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    What metal halide bulb brand and K rating is best?
    Hamilton
    Ushio
    Radium
    Xm
    Iwasaki
    Coralvue


    Or any others i left out.
     
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  3. ReefBruh

    ReefBruh Giant Squid

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    You left out Phoenix. But I have had experience with Xm and Coralvue. I do like Coralvue thus far.
     
  4. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    First, you need to know what color temperature you like

    Hamilton- ok bulbs... very blue though
    Ushio- the 10 and 14k are very high quality, its more of a white bulb though
    Radium- amazing color and really good growth. one of the best bulbs out there
    Xm- they are all really good bulbs with super high PAR... just not the best for color
    Iwasaki- the 6500k or the 50,000k?
    Coralvue- these bulbs are really bad. dont waste your time

    Phoenix- amazing bulbs as well... right up there with radium. bettter PAR but the color is only slightly less than radiums
     
  5. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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    SPS South Pacific Seas. I love the color. Par is supposedly weak on 14K.

    Dingo, do you have the sheets for the spa bulbs?
     
  6. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    +1 on the SPS 14k being really bad... the 10k and the 20k are very high though! I think i may be trying the 10k out next.

    Im on my iphone right now but pm me and i will send you some data when i get on a real computer today
     
  7. salt4me

    salt4me Skunk Shrimp

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    Lets say best overall bulb in each temp rating. Being rated by color (to white or to blue) and par.

    Radium and Phoenix being the top of the line in the 10k, 14k, and 20k.