150W aqualight pro
 

I know the aqualight pro's aren't the "best" lights out there but I think there are a lot of used ones out there making it easy to aquire one for cheap eventually.

What would the bluest MH bulb a guy could use for softies/lps in a tank 16" high?

Actually, I've been happy with my Aqualight Pros. With a 29" deep tank though, I upgraded from 150w to 250w DE. I use 14000k Aquaconnects which are nice & bright with good colour. Usually don't even have my actinics on with those. The Geisemann 14500k would be as good or better. With such a shallow tank, you could go for a higher k but I like some balance & not the 20000k blue. I've read that the XMs in this mid-range are really low par.

I use the aquaconnect bulbs myself and I really like them. Just the right amount of blue and white.

I used Giesemanns in the past and always found them to be yellow.

My aqua pro works great actually and have aqua connect 14000k as well and love them best color I've seen out of a halide bulb

150W and 250W bulbs are physically different sizes aren't they?

If i were to upgrade the ballast down the road, it still wouldn't hold a 250W bulb wouldn't it?

I'm pretty sure it's the 75W/150W bulbs that are the same size, not the 150W/250W

I've got the 150 also, and I'm not sure it's going to be bright enough. Ballastsfor 250w are 112 each and sockets are about 20. I'll upgrade after the new year.

the 150 watts should be more than bright enough on a 16 inch high tank