Ebay Bulbs
 

Anybody ever tried the 14K bulbs available on Ebay. One seller in Canada

http://cgi.ebay.com/250W-250-WATT-10...4.c0.m14.l1262

I believe Sanjay Joshi tested some ebay bulbs a while back and found that they weren't too bad at all. The problem is that you can't be sure that you're getting the same ones that he tested or that there's any consistency at all with off-brand bulbs.

I've never tried the bulbs from that ebay seller, but most of the ones that I've purchased on ebay I haven't been too impressed with. I've tried 14K and 20K bulbs from 2 different sellers and both bulbs were closer to 10K than what they were advertised as.

A few years back I found one decent ebay seller that carried Reef Optics bulbs. I was impressed with these bulbs, but they were not as cheap as most of the other ebay bulbs. Pretty much identical to XM bulbs so you could always try them for yourself. He no longer sells on ebay but here is his online store: http://www.reefopticslighting.com/bulbs.html

I got a 175w SE 14K bulb for my frag area from here: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Trust-De...__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Really like the colour, more like the 250w DE 14k Hamiltons I used to run, definitely more blue than my current 14k Ushio. Can't make a fair comment on growth as using a crappy old grow light ballast and reflector.

Price was 19.99 plus 7.00 shipping (in USD).

I've bought from this guy and am very impressed with the bulbs

I have to agree with stones. I have tried the cheap lighting, and its definitely more 10K than 14K. I dont think I would buy them again, I dont like the look of 10K. Other than that they work, things will grow.

I am running lights from this place pn my 150. I havnt run and "expensive" fish store bulbs to compare them to, but I like them.\

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Trust-De...__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Thanks, for the price and the reasonable shipping cost might be worth a shot.

I think I've tried just about all of em honestly :) Some were good, some sucked, some (including those i'm running right now - 18 months in on this pair i realized this week) lasted a long time - some burned out in weeks...

Overall - Probably continue to buy them, at 20-25$ a bulb - I don't mind chasing through 3-4 to find bulbs I like... Compared to 200$ or so at the pet store; still coming out ahead... They're also bulbs you don't mind loaning/giving to someone who's burned out and doesn't have spares...

i have 2 150watt DE 14,000K and u can have them.
they are junk, flikers white n blue
i have tried them on a galaxy ballast.